Uganda is currently at a crossroads, trying to deal with a dual imperative: the overarching strategic objective to harness the full potential of AI as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation of Uganda, and the need to establish robust governance mechanisms that will ensure transparency, accountability, equity, and alignment with national values. This capstone outlines a framework for Uganda to develop a practical National AI Strategy that guides the country’s actions and strategic interventions to facilitate the safe and responsible use of AI.
While AI is recognised as a transformative driver for governance, public service delivery, and national security, its development globally has outpaced Uganda’s existing safeguards. This project addresses a governance vacuum: AI adoption remains fragmented, with no coordinated national strategy to guide responsible, scalable deployment. Critically, the project serves as a safeguard against systemic risks that emerge when powerful technologies are deployed without oversight. Without the comprehensive framework proposed in this study, the use of AI in Uganda risks ethical violations, state surveillance abuses, and further exclusion of marginalised populations.