On January 28, 2025, stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and academia convened online to discuss the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Uganda. Organized by CfMA, the webinar explored AI’s regulatory landscape, key challenges, and opportunities for strengthening policy frameworks to ensure ethical and inclusive AI deployment.
The State of AI Governance in Uganda
Discussions revealed that while Uganda has made strides in digital governance through frameworks like the Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy, there is a critical lack of AI-specific legislation. Participants highlighted that existing policies broadly cover digital transformation but do not explicitly address AI-related concerns such as algorithmic bias, automated decision-making, and accountability mechanisms.
Key Challenges Identified
- Regulatory Gaps: AI governance in Uganda remains underdeveloped, with no clear legal provisions specifically addressing AI ethics, transparency, or accountability.
- Limited Institutional Capacity: The AI task force under the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) lacks inclusivity, particularly in gender and youth representation.
- Algorithmic Bias and Discrimination: AI systems, if unregulated, may reinforce social inequalities due to biased training data and limited contextual adaptation.
- Lack of Public Awareness: Many policymakers and citizens have a limited understanding of AI’s risks and benefits, affecting policy adoption and implementation.
- Right to Explanation: The lack of transparency in AI-driven automated decision-making raises concerns about fairness and accountability.
Proposed Solutions and Recommendations
Participants reached a consensus on the following recommendations:
- Develop AI-Specific Legislation: A comprehensive legal framework tailored to Uganda’s AI landscape should be developed.
- Enhance Institutional Representation: AI governance bodies should include women, youth, and marginalized communities to ensure inclusive policymaking.
- Strengthen Transparency and Accountability: The government should mandate AI impact assessments and establish ethical guidelines for AI deployment.
- Invest in AI Education and Capacity Building: Training programs should be introduced for policymakers, developers, and the public to foster AI literacy.
- Review and Amend Existing Digital Policies: Current regulations, such as the Data Protection and Privacy Act, should be updated to include AI-specific provisions.
The Way Forward
Government representatives acknowledged the need for regulatory reforms and committed to further dialogue on AI policy development. The private sector pledged to promote ethical AI practices, while civil society organizations emphasized the importance of continued advocacy for fair and responsible AI governance. Academia highlighted the need for more research to guide evidence-based policymaking.
The webinar underscored the urgency of prioritizing AI governance in Uganda’s digital transformation agenda. With a collaborative and inclusive approach, Uganda can build a regulatory environment that fosters innovation while ensuring AI is developed and deployed responsibly.
