Digitizing LC1 Letters for Improved Service Delivery

At the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit 2025, held from 4th to 6th November 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Uganda joined a global community of nations shaping the next generation of digital governance. The summit, themed “DPI in Practice: Implementing Tomorrow’s Digital Society Today,” convened delegates from more than 100 countries, bringing together leaders, innovators, and policymakers to exchange insights and chart pathways for inclusive, people-centered digital transformation. Eng. Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Senior ICT Infrastructure Engineer at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, representing Uganda,together with Vimbai Tsododo from Zambia, collaboratively presented a pioneering project titled “Designing the LC1 Digital Certification System: Building Trust Infrastructure for Uganda.” For decades, the Local Council (LC1) letter in Uganda has been a critical verification document for citizens applying for bank accounts, schools, employment, and public services. However, the traditional handwritten process has often been slow, prone to forgery, and difficult for people in remote communities to access. The LC1 Digital Certification System aims to redefine this experience. The system is designed to replace manual letters with digitally signed credentials that can be verified instantly. Institutions such as banks, schools, and police departments will be able to authenticate information in seconds. To support this,the system will be integrated with Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Electoral Commission for secure identity validation. It will also support offline access through QR-coded printouts, ensuring inclusion for citizens in low-connectivity areas. With a digital registry of over 70,000 LC 1 chairpersons, issuance will take only minutes instead of days, and verification will reduce from hours to seconds. “Our goal is to build digital trust from the grassroots up. By digitizing the process of issuing LC1 letters which certify a person’s identity and residence we’re making access to public services faster, safer, and more transparent, ensuring that every Ugandan, no matter where they live, can securely access essential services,” remarked Eng. Doreen Gift Bujjingo. Her presentation was recognized as one of Africa’s strongest use cases of Digital Public Infrastructure in showing how government-led innovation can enhance governance, reduce fraud, and empower citizens. It also attracted interest from MTN, which expressed willingness to support the initiative. The LC1 Digital Certification System showcases a growing collaboration between Uganda and Zambia.Through the development of this initiative, delegates from both countries exchanged knowledge on digital health, governance, and infrastructure, paving the way for stronger regional cooperation and shared digital growth. As Uganda advances its Digital Transformation, this initiative stands as a milestone in the government’s commitment to making public services efficient, inclusive, and citizen-focused. By turning local systems into trusted digital ecosystems, Uganda is redefining public service delivery and inspiring countries across Africa to follow suit.