Nkurunungi Gideon, Chief Executive Officer of the Information Communication Technology Association of Uganda (ICTAU), has urged Ugandans to embrace technology as a means to economic development.
Nkurunungi made the remarks on Wednesday during the release of key data on the latest Trends Shaping Organizational Strategy and Innovation at a landmark gathering with sector players at the Protea Skyz Hotel.
He pointed out the fact that Nigeria is ahead of East African countries in the use and uptake of technology which has made it an African powerhouse.
“American companies like Amazon and Apple are richer than Uganda. Why? Because America gave priority to technology,” he stated.
Amazon has a market cap or net worth of $1.85 trillion as of March 21, 2024. Its market cap has increased by 90.33% in one year. Apple has a market cap or net worth of $2.76 trillion as of March 21, 2024. Its market cap has increased by 14.28% in one year.
He added: “I urge Ugandans to embrace technology. We have the internet like everyone else. We should use it to develop ourselves.”
According to him, this is an era where digital transformation in organizations is paramount, and the role of digital mindsets in today’s organizational leadership is indispensable.
“We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of Uganda’s digital landscape, where networking is not an opportunity but essential.”
The event featured insightful conversations on key trends shaping organizational strategy and innovations where panellists shared their perspectives and experiences.
Some of the panelists included; James Byaruhanga (MD, Roke Cloud), Ali Monzer (CTIO, MTN Uganda), Peter Muramira (Directorate of Investment at UIA), Rowena Turinawe (Head, Innovation & Digital Solutions, Cente Tech), and Ritah Kabanyoro (Country Director, Action Against Hunger).
The session was moderated by Isabel Odida (Peering Manager, Gcore).
Byaruhanga and Monzer gave a brief on what the telecoms are doing to stay ahead of the curve underscoring the fact that technology is always evolving.
Muramira, on his part, revealed the fact that investors cite technology readiness when looking for companies to invest in.
“We have a pool of talents. We need to develop capacity in terms of talent pool where investors can tap from,” he said while emphasizing talent development.
He added: “We would like to see a cross-country initiative in terms of budget, planning and strategy regarding ICT development.”
On her part, Kabanyoro highlighted the opportunities and challenges not-for-profit organizations face in trying to adopt the latest technology trends, and how they are leveraging technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
“Innovation is very important. We have to innovate; we have to think in the CSO sector. Every day, we receive hundreds of refugees from South Sudan,” she stated.
She added: “Human needs are increasing and this is where technology and innovation comes in.”
At the event, ICTAU appreciated Monzer Ali for his contributions to the telecom sector in Uganda and wished him all the best in his new role in South Sudan.
The fireside chat sparked many engaging conversations before the event was wrapped up with a networking session between members of Uganda’s ICT sector, including top CTOs, IT executives, policymakers, and innovators, coupled with cocktail snacks and drinks with lots of games.
