By Ambrose Gahene
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance Dr. Chis Baryomunsi has said an average smartphone will cost UGX 40,000 in two years’ time because the Government is committed to lowering the cost of phones and making communication cheaper in the entire country. He made the remarks during a press conference, to announce the hosting of the 2025 edition of the Middle East-Africa Digital Transformation Summit (MEA-DTS, scheduled to take place from June 25 to 27, 2025, at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
Minister Baryomunsi said the Government has made tremendous strides in reducing the cost of internet data in addition to putting in place free wifi hotspots around major urban places in Uganda.
Regarding the summit, Dr. Baryomunsi said it will be hosted under the theme; “Driving Digital Transformation for a Connected and Inclusive Middle East and Africa (MEA) Region, in which President Yoweri Museveni will be Guest of Honor.
He said MEA-DTS is consistent with Uganda Vision 2040, where Uganda has ICT as pivotal to transforming Ugandans from a predominantly agricultural community to a modern and prosperous country.
“In addition, the summit supports the East Africa Community (EAC) Vision 2050, by leveraging ICTs for value addition in critical sectors like agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil & gas, and knowledge, to create more jobs and boost livelihoods,” he said.
Mr. Jonathan Pinifolo, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Chief Operation Officer, said the summit will champion digital technologies that facilitate enhanced economic transformation and regional competitiveness.
“It will enrich Africa and the Middle East’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs(, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)”, he said.
Mr. Innocent Kawooya, the CEO of Hi Pipo, a leading digital age organization, said MEA-DTS 2025 will feature discussions on cutting-edge innovations such as; artificial intelligence, blockchain, smart city infrastructure, digital health and education, financial technology, and regulatory best practices.
He said the objectives of the summit include among others; bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and investors to collaborate on digital transformation across various sectors.
The 2025 Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit, the first of its kind in Uganda is being co-organized by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, COMESA Business Council (CBC) and HiPipo – a leading entity in ICT and financial inclusion in Africa.
