Since June 2018, the GSMA has been working with partners Sida, DFID and UNDP to build a collective vision for the role of mobile in Uganda’s digital future, convening a multi-institutional Technical Working Group to input into a report highlighting opportunities and a draft action plan where stakeholders commit to working towards realising that vision.
On 28 March 2019, GSMA and partners worked with the Ugandan Government to host a High-Level Roundtable to launch these outputs and advocate the vital role of mobile in national development planning. This Roundtable was opened by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and the 50+ attendees included Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministries covering ICT (our co-host), Gender, Urban Development and Local Government along with government agencies Uganda Communications Commission, Bank of Uganda, National Planning Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority.
Participants affirmed that mobile will be vital in enabling inclusive access to digital technologies, which are key to Uganda’s progress against the SDGs and its national development goals. In particular, participants acknowledged the need to recognise mobile as a key enabler in the next National Development Plan. All attendees made a symbolic commitment to supporting this vision and we are now in discussions with members, government and development partners to continue shaping the next stage of the engagement.