Uganda to advance digital transformation with a national ICT infrastructure platform

Uganda is taking bold strides toward a smarter, more connected future following the Multi-Stakeholder Sensitisation and Validation Workshop of the National ICT Infrastructure Spatial Data Store (NISDS) Baseline Study held on August 27, 2025, at 4 Points by Sheraton in Kampala. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance convened the workshop in partnership with NITA-Uganda and Esri Eastern Africa, bringing together over 100 senior representatives from government, regulators, utilities, local authorities, the private sector, academia, and development partners.

At the heart of the initiative is the National ICT Infrastructure Spatial Data Store, or NISDS, a centralised geospatial platform that will integrate data from telecom operators, utilities, regulators, and government institutions. The system is designed to eliminate duplication, improve oversight, and accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation, providing a coordinated approach to infrastructure planning across sectors.

The workshop served to consolidate findings and secure institutional commitment for the next phase of system development and rollout. Discussions addressed inefficiencies in data collection, the need for centralised access, and strategies to harmonise utility and ICT infrastructure to prevent road damage among others. Stakeholders noted that cross-sector collaboration and data sharing are essential to realising the system’s full potential.

Geoffrey Agoi, Commissioner for ICT Infrastructure Development, emphasised the importance of integration. “The national ICT infrastructure data store is going to help us eliminate issues of duplication, issues of silos, as far as implementation and rollout infrastructures are concerned,” he said, highlighting how coordinated planning can reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Richard Obita, Director of Technical Services at NITA-U, highlighted governance and sustainability. “As custodian of the National Backbone and the e-Government Infrastructure, NITA-U is committed to ensuring the NISDS operates with strong governance, harmonised standards, and sustainability at its core,” he noted.

Flavia Zabali Musisi, a Spatial Planner and GIS Analyst at the Kampala Capital City Authority, highlighted the practical benefits. “This system will actually help us check on the exact status at a given time, and also be able to respond to where connectivity issues normally come from,” she said, emphasising improved urban planning and service delivery.

Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Senior ICT Infrastructure Engineer at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, highlighted the value of infrastructure sharing. “The special data store provides a centralised source of information on operators along routes, enabling better planning and negotiation opportunities for sharing agreements. Knowing where multiple operators are located allows everyone to plan smarter and collaborate more effectively,” she explained.

In his closing remarks, Commissioner Agoi reflected on data access, integrity, and governance. He stressed that a unified system is critical for tracking development and ensuring accountability, while technical advisers should periodically guide government policy. He also emphasised the importance of secure protocols to foster trust in data sharing and confirmed that the technical team will continue to work with ministries to strengthen governance, interoperability, and compliance, in line with presidential directives aimed at protecting critical infrastructure.

Beyond ICT, NISDS is expected to enhance various sectors, including health, education, transportation, energy, and tourism, by enabling data-driven planning and interoperability.

The message from the workshop was clear: NISDS belongs to everyone. It will be a cornerstone of Vision 2040 and the Digital Uganda Vision, supporting coordinated planning, smarter investments, and a connected, future-ready nation. With validation secured, the next step is to translate momentum into action and ensure the system delivers on its promise to transform Uganda’s ICT landscape.