UCC Warns Uganda Against Rushing Into AI Without Building the Foundations First

Uganda has been challenged to first strengthen the basic systems needed to support artificial intelligence before rushing to embrace the most advanced technologies in the rapidly changing digital world. The call, highlighted by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), stresses the importance of infrastructure, computing power, reliable energy, data and skilled professionals in shaping the country’s AI future.

The message followed discussions at Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, where global technology leaders explored how countries can prepare for the growing influence of AI. The conversations focused not only on the technologies themselves, but also on what countries need to build behind the scenes if they want to have a meaningful role in the AI revolution.A major theme from the discussions was AI sovereignty, which was presented as the ability of a country to have sufficient capacity and choices when deciding how technology is developed, adopted and governed. Frost & Sullivan’s Jackie Yang explained that this capacity should be developed in layers, beginning with energy, computing resources and data before moving to AI models, applications, institutions, national strategies and partnerships.

This approach presents a different way of looking at technological development. Instead of concentrating mainly on sophisticated AI tools, countries are encouraged to invest in the systems that make those tools possible. Without adequate electricity, computing infrastructure, reliable data and people with the necessary expertise, advanced AI adoption could leave countries heavily dependent on external technology providers.The discussions also showed that AI challenges are not limited to developing countries. While presenting Germany’s AI strategy, Professor Herzog highlighted issues surrounding skills shortages and inadequate AI training among businesses. The observation that 43 percent of German companies do not provide AI training to their employees demonstrates that building an AI-ready workforce remains a challenge even in countries with established technology sectors.

For Uganda and the wider African continent, the rapid growth of AI could therefore represent an opportunity to build capacity strategically. With global AI systems and rules still evolving, African countries can invest in education, research, infrastructure, data systems and institutions that address their own development needs while also allowing them to participate in international technology discussions.The discussions further placed equity at the heart of the AI debate. Developing local capacity would not necessarily mean shutting out international partnerships; instead, it could give countries greater ability to negotiate, contribute ideas and participate in decisions about how AI is developed and governed.

For Africa, stronger local expertise could also help ensure that the continent is not simply a consumer of technologies designed elsewhere.For Uganda, the message from Shanghai is that the country’s AI journey may depend as much on the foundations as it does on the technology itself. Strong infrastructure, dependable energy, computing capacity, responsible data governance, skilled professionals and clear policies can create the environment needed for Uganda to adopt advanced AI while having greater capacity to make informed choices about its technological future.