Partnerships
Uganda, South Korea Explore Stronger Cooperation in Digital Transformation
Uganda and South Korea are looking to expand their partnership in digital transformation, focusing on developing ICT skills, supporting local innovation, and using technology to improve public services. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) focused on these areas.
The discussions took place on 15th October 2026, during a meeting between the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, and a KOICA delegation led by its Country Director, Mr. Yongsu Yi.
The meeting followed an earlier engagement between the Ministry and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uganda, during which they discussed opportunities for cooperation in ICT and digital transformation.
Dr. Zawedde appreciated the Korean Government's continued support to Uganda, particularly in education, health, agriculture and community development. She highlighted the importance of building on these partnerships to support Uganda's digital transformation agenda.
She explained that Uganda's Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023–2028 provides opportunities for cooperation in digital infrastructure, digital services, cybersecurity, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of developing digital systems that are sustainable, accessible, and responsive to citizens' needs. “As we implement digitalisation projects across different sectors, we need to ensure that the systems we develop can work together, grow and remain operational even after the projects have ended,” she said.
On skills development, Dr. Zawedde highlighted opportunities for cooperation in strengthening ICT training through the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), including improving training facilities, developing relevant courses and building the capacity of instructors.
She also shared Uganda's progress in supporting technology development through the National ICT Innovation Hub and regional innovation hubs, which provide young innovators and entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop and commercialise their ideas.
The Permanent Secretary invited the KOICA delegation to visit the National ICT Innovation Hub to learn more about Uganda's innovation ecosystem and explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, mentorship and collaboration.
The discussions also explored how digital solutions could support community development programmes, including Uganda's Parish Development Model (PDM), by improving access to information and supporting the delivery of services to communities.
Dr. Zawedde expressed interest in Korea's experience in community development and mindset change, particularly through the Saemaul Undong movement, and how lessons from the programme could support Uganda's national guidance initiatives.
She also proposed exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to translate government information into local languages, helping more Ugandans understand and benefit from government programmes and services.
Responding to the proposals, Mr. Yi welcomed the Ministry's interest in expanding cooperation and highlighted KOICA's ongoing support to Uganda in education, health and community development.
He noted that KOICA is supporting technical and vocational education institutions in Uganda and expressed interest in exploring opportunities to strengthen ICT-related training.
Mr. Yi also welcomed discussions on integrating digital technology into community development programmes and expanding opportunities for knowledge exchange between Ugandan and Korean institutions.
The delegation highlighted the potential for specialised training and study visits to South Korea, allowing Ugandan officials to learn from Korea's experience in digital transformation and technology development.
Both sides expressed interest in continued technical engagement to identify practical areas of cooperation aligned with Uganda's Digital Transformation Roadmap.
The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between the Ministry and KOICA, with a shared interest in developing digital skills, supporting local innovation and using technology to improve the lives of Ugandans.
The discussions took place on 15th October 2026, during a meeting between the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, and a KOICA delegation led by its Country Director, Mr. Yongsu Yi.
The meeting followed an earlier engagement between the Ministry and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uganda, during which they discussed opportunities for cooperation in ICT and digital transformation.
Dr. Zawedde appreciated the Korean Government's continued support to Uganda, particularly in education, health, agriculture and community development. She highlighted the importance of building on these partnerships to support Uganda's digital transformation agenda.
She explained that Uganda's Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023–2028 provides opportunities for cooperation in digital infrastructure, digital services, cybersecurity, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of developing digital systems that are sustainable, accessible, and responsive to citizens' needs. “As we implement digitalisation projects across different sectors, we need to ensure that the systems we develop can work together, grow and remain operational even after the projects have ended,” she said.
On skills development, Dr. Zawedde highlighted opportunities for cooperation in strengthening ICT training through the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), including improving training facilities, developing relevant courses and building the capacity of instructors.
She also shared Uganda's progress in supporting technology development through the National ICT Innovation Hub and regional innovation hubs, which provide young innovators and entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop and commercialise their ideas.
The Permanent Secretary invited the KOICA delegation to visit the National ICT Innovation Hub to learn more about Uganda's innovation ecosystem and explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, mentorship and collaboration.
The discussions also explored how digital solutions could support community development programmes, including Uganda's Parish Development Model (PDM), by improving access to information and supporting the delivery of services to communities.
Dr. Zawedde expressed interest in Korea's experience in community development and mindset change, particularly through the Saemaul Undong movement, and how lessons from the programme could support Uganda's national guidance initiatives.
She also proposed exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to translate government information into local languages, helping more Ugandans understand and benefit from government programmes and services.
Responding to the proposals, Mr. Yi welcomed the Ministry's interest in expanding cooperation and highlighted KOICA's ongoing support to Uganda in education, health and community development.
He noted that KOICA is supporting technical and vocational education institutions in Uganda and expressed interest in exploring opportunities to strengthen ICT-related training.
Mr. Yi also welcomed discussions on integrating digital technology into community development programmes and expanding opportunities for knowledge exchange between Ugandan and Korean institutions.
The delegation highlighted the potential for specialised training and study visits to South Korea, allowing Ugandan officials to learn from Korea's experience in digital transformation and technology development.
Both sides expressed interest in continued technical engagement to identify practical areas of cooperation aligned with Uganda's Digital Transformation Roadmap.
The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between the Ministry and KOICA, with a shared interest in developing digital skills, supporting local innovation and using technology to improve the lives of Ugandans.
The author is a Communications Officer at the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance.
