Huawei Technologies Uganda in meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday proposed to establish a Digital Village Prototype in Uganda. Hover Gao, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Region informed President Museveni that the project aims to demonstrate the transformative power of digital infrastructure in rural communities.
The Digital Village initiative includes Smart Classrooms, Learning Centers, Remote Diagnosis, and Smart PVs (Solar) and comes at no cost to the Ugandan government, Gao confirmed.
“Huawei is committed to accelerating Uganda’s digital transformation,” said Gao. “As a testament to this commitment, we are prepared to fully fund a pilot smart village project that leverages our cutting-edge technologies.”
Gao further pointed out that the initiative aligns with Uganda’s national strategy for rural development, showcasing Huawei’s dedication to supporting these areas.
President Museveni expressed strong support for the project authorizing the team to go ahead with the smart village project which he will come to commission upon completion.
Ms. Sooma Mukyala Fouziya, Public Relations Manager of Huawei Technologies Uganda informed the President that Butaleja District has been identified for the pilot study of the digital village. She emphasized the project’s potential to contribute to the Parish Development Model (PDM) by promoting digital transformation and sustainable growth through ICT.
“The smart classrooms will provide students with better education opportunities, improve self-learning capabilities, and enhance information sharing and communication among residents,” said Fouziya.
She also noted that the initiative will establish a remote diagnosis system to connect village health centers with national and regional hospitals, thus improving medical conditions in rural areas. Furthermore, she said the project will supply green residential smart PVs to ensure stable and continuous power for residents.
Fouziya also outlined Huawei’s “One Country, One Network, One Cloud, One Platform” strategy to inspire further investment and collaboration towards a smarter and more connected Uganda. “By providing a tangible example of the benefits of a unified digital ecosystem, we hope to inspire further investment and collaboration,” she said.
Fouziya also emphasized that the digital village project will serve as a blueprint for future smart village initiatives across the country, showcasing the potential of technology to transform lives and drive sustainable development, while minimizing the financial burden on the government,” she added.
At the end of the meeting, the Huawei team handed over a plaque to the President as a symbol of their commitment to the digital village prototype initiative.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury-Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Ramathan Ggoobi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde and Mr. Gao Jian, the Deputy Managing Director of Huawei Uganda.
