NITA-U Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Strategic Plan to Drive Uganda's Digital Transformation

KAMPALA – The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) has officially launched its Strategic Plan for Financial Years 2025/26 to 2029/30, outlining an ambitious roadmap aimed at accelerating Uganda's digital transformation and ensuring that government digital services become more accessible, efficient, and impactful for citizens.

The five-year strategy seeks to bridge the gap between the country's growing digital infrastructure and the citizens it was designed to serve, with a strong focus on increasing the adoption and utilization of e-government services across Uganda.

Speaking during the launch, NITA-U officials emphasized that while Uganda has made significant investments in digital infrastructure over the years, the next phase of transformation will focus on ensuring that citizens and government institutions fully utilize these investments to improve service delivery.

One of the key targets outlined in the Strategic Plan is increasing the proportion of Ugandans actively using e-government services from the current 9.2 percent to 40 percent by the end of FY 2029/30. The target reflects NITA-U's commitment to making digital government services more accessible, user-friendly, and beneficial to citizens across the country.

The strategy also sets out several ambitious performance indicators aimed at strengthening digital governance and service delivery. Under the plan, the percentage of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) integrated onto the Government interoperability platform, UGHub, is expected to rise from 37 percent to 73 percent. This integration will facilitate seamless data sharing and improve coordination among government institutions.

Similarly, utilization of the National Data Centre is projected to increase from 70 percent to 83 percent, maximizing the value of the country's critical digital infrastructure and enhancing the efficiency of government operations.

Public satisfaction with e-government services is also expected to improve significantly, rising from the current 22.2 percent to 35 percent by 2030. NITA-U believes that enhanced service delivery standards, increased system reliability, and user-centered digital solutions will contribute to achieving this goal.

In the area of governance and compliance, the Authority aims to increase adherence to national IT laws and standards from 67 percent to 81 percent. This objective is intended to strengthen cybersecurity, improve accountability, and ensure consistent implementation of ICT policies across government institutions.

The Strategic Plan further prioritizes the growth of Uganda's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sectors through the establishment and expansion of innovation and incubation hubs. These initiatives are expected to create employment opportunities, nurture innovation, and position Uganda as a competitive player in the regional and global digital economy.

Additionally, NITA-U has committed to the full enforcement of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap. 97, a move expected to strengthen public trust in digital services by safeguarding personal information and promoting responsible data management practices.

Alongside the Strategic Plan, NITA-U also launched its Client Charter and Service Delivery Standards documents. These frameworks clearly outline the Authority's commitments to stakeholders and establish measurable service benchmarks, while providing citizens with a basis for holding the institution accountable.

The Strategic Plan is aligned with Uganda's Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), and the National Digital Transformation Programme, reinforcing government's broader agenda of leveraging technology as a catalyst for socio-economic development.

Representing the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Kenneth Bagarukayo, Commissioner for Data Networks Engineering, noted that the country has already laid a strong digital foundation and that the next step is ensuring effective utilization by government institutions.

"Uganda has invested significantly in building the digital foundations, the infrastructure, the platforms, and the regulatory framework. What this plan now demands is that government uses what has been built. Every Ministry, Department, and Agency has a role to play and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance will be watching that progress closely and offering our oversight and support," Bagarukayo said.

NITA-U Board Chairman Alexander Kibandama highlighted a shift in how the Authority's success will be measured moving forward.

"For years, success at NITA-U was measured in infrastructure—data centres built, fibre laid, networks connected. This plan changes that narrative. Success from here on will be measured by how many Ugandans are actually utilizing what we have built, and whether it is making a difference to them," Kibandama said.

NITA-U Executive Director Dr. Hatwib Mugasa described the strategy as a commitment to transforming the way citizens interact with government services.

"By 2030, interacting with your government should feel different—faster, simpler, and more reliable. That is our promise to you through this plan," Dr. Mugasa stated.

The launch marks a significant milestone in Uganda's digital transformation journey, signaling a shift from infrastructure development to citizen-centered digital service delivery. If successfully implemented, the Strategic Plan is expected to improve efficiency in government operations, enhance public access to services, stimulate innovation, and strengthen trust in digital platforms, ultimately contributing to Uganda's vision of becoming a digitally empowered and knowledge-based economy.