Uganda's Minister of ICT and National Guidance has visited a rural pilot site to assess progress on the Smart Village Initiative, which aims to bring digital services and technological opportunities to communities outside major urban areas. Justine Lumumba visited Buhadyo Smart Village in Butaleja District on Saturday alongside the Executive Director of the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), local leaders and other government officials to review implementation of the programme, which is being run jointly by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and NITA-U.
Lumumba stated that digital transformation should not be restricted to cities but must extend to villages so that more citizens can access government technology programmes. She said that reaching rural communities with digital services would allow them to access information and opportunities through technology. The minister emphasised that initiatives such as the Smart Village programme are crucial for helping rural areas participate in Uganda's digital economy and benefit from technological advances.
The NITA-U Executive Director highlighted the importance of working with local leaders and residents to ensure the initiative meets the actual needs of target communities. The official said that through partnerships with the Ministry of ICT and local leaders, the authority is working to bring digital services closer to communities and ensure technology supports inclusive development.
Buhadyo was selected as the pilot site to provide practical lessons on implementing smart village interventions, including the opportunities and challenges involved in extending digital services to rural areas. The initiative seeks to demonstrate how digital technology can support rural development by improving access to information, communication services and digital platforms, and exploring how technology can enhance access to government services, education and business opportunities.
The assessment forms part of government's broader strategy to promote digital inclusion and ensure that geographical location does not prevent citizens from benefiting from information and communication technology services.