Catherine Muraga, Managing Director of Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC), will deliver the keynote address at the highly anticipated Africa Artificial Intelligence Summit (AAIS) 2025, set to take place this week at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.
The two-day summit, organised by Jjengo Tech Ltd and CEED Uganda, will bring together global AI thought leaders, technologists, government officials, and innovators to shape the future of artificial intelligence across the continent.
“I am passionate about using technology to create business outcomes, championing women in tech, and growing Africa’s digital talent,” says Muraga, a leading voice in Africa’s tech transformation, who will speak on Thursday, May 8, in a keynote titled “AI Integration: Moving Beyond Consumerism to Innovation.”
She is expected to challenge African stakeholders to reframe their approach to AI, from being passive consumers of foreign-made solutions to creators of contextually relevant innovations that solve local problems at scale.
As the head of Microsoft ADC, Muraga oversees one of Africa’s most influential tech hubs, dedicated to engineering and research aimed at solving real-world challenges. Her leadership has helped anchor Microsoft’s mission to empower digital transformation and talent development in Africa.
“Renowned experts and thought leaders sharing insights, innovation, and inspiration to shape the future” is how the AAIS organisers describe their lineup, and Muraga’s presence at the summit reflects that ambition.
The Africa Artificial Intelligence Summit 2025, now an annual event held every May, seeks to position Africa at the forefront of global AI discourse. Its mission is to provide a platform for sharing African perspectives, research, and strategies on AI, guided by values of innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity.
The summit will officially open on Thursday morning with remarks from organisers and the Chief Guest, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance. The day will continue with expert-led panels and masterclasses, including sessions on responsible AI governance and the future of AI in healthcare.
Joining Muraga on the high-profile speakers list are James Byaruhanga, Managing Director of Roke Cloud, Ms Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, UNDP Uganda Resident Representative, and Dr Rose Nakasi, Lead of the Makerere AI Health Lab, among many others representing academia, government, and private enterprise.
Over two days, AAIS 2025 will host sessions that address key sectors like health, finance, and education, while also highlighting AI’s ethical considerations, regulatory challenges, and potential to drive sustainable development.
Who is Muraga?
Catherine Muraga is the Managing Director and Engineering Director at Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC), where she leads a team of over 550 software engineers building global Microsoft products. Under her leadership, ADC has scaled significantly, generating USD 51 million annually and training over 7,000 students across Africa.
A passionate advocate for women in tech and STEM education, she drives digital skilling initiatives across the continent and has spearheaded partnerships like the Cyber-Shujaa Programme and university curriculum transformation projects in Kenya and Uganda.
Muraga holds a BSc in Computer Science from Africa Nazarene University and has completed executive programs at MIT, Columbia, and Oxford. Her past roles include CIO of Stanbic Bank Kenya & South Sudan and Director of IT at Sidian Bank, where she led major cloud migrations and tech transformations. She was recently named Best Female Leader in Digital/Tech at the 2024 CIO & C-Suite Awards.
