{"id":363020,"date":"2025-11-03T15:40:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T10:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/?p=363020"},"modified":"2025-11-07T15:41:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:11:05","slug":"gsma-unveils-latest-report-showing-digital-policy-reforms-could-add-ugx-14-6-trillion-to-ugandas-gdp-connecting-4-million-more-citizens-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/gsma-unveils-latest-report-showing-digital-policy-reforms-could-add-ugx-14-6-trillion-to-ugandas-gdp-connecting-4-million-more-citizens-by-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"GSMA Unveils Latest Report Showing Digital Policy Reforms Could Add UGX 14.6 Trillion to Uganda\u2019s GDP, Connecting 4 Million More Citizens by 2030"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>3 November\u00a02025, Kampala:\u00a0<\/strong>Unveiled\u00a0today at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/digitalafricasummit.org\/uganda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GSMA Digital Africa Summit Uganda<\/a>,\u00a0a new GSMA report reveals that with the right digital reforms, Uganda could connect\u00a0<strong>4 million more citizens to the internet<\/strong>, create\u00a0<strong>1.79 million new jobs<\/strong>, and generate\u00a0<strong>UGX 14.6 trillion<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0additional\u00a0economic value by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>Titled\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/africa\/gsma_resources\/digital-economy-uganda-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Uganda \u2013 Opportunities, Policy Reforms and the Role of Mobile<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0the report outlines how collaborative policy action can accelerate inclusive growth\u00a0and ensure every Ugandan benefits from the digital economy envisioned in\u00a0the\u00a0National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) and the Digital Uganda Vision 2040\u00a0(DUV).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advancing Uganda\u2019s Prosperity Through Digital Inclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Uganda\u2019s mobile sector is a cornerstone of the nation\u2019s digital transformation \u2013 connecting people to education, healthcare, and financial services, and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs across both urban and rural communities. It also provides the digital backbone for growth in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and services.<\/p>\n<p>According to Uganda\u2019s Digital Transformation Roadmap, the ICT industry contributes 9% to national GDP, employs over 2.3 million Ugandans, and continues to expand at an impressive annual rate of 14.8%.<\/p>\n<p>GSMA analysis shows that Uganda now has 96% 4G population coverage and 11.46 million unique mobile internet users,\u00a0equivalent to 22% of the total population and 48% of adults. This progress supports the country\u2019s NDP IV 2030 goals of achieving 70% national broadband coverage and 45% internet usage.<\/p>\n<p>However, three in four Ugandans who live within mobile broadband coverage still do not use it \u2013 a usage gap driven by barriers such as the\u00a0high cost\u00a0of entry-level smartphones, unreliable energy supply, sector taxes that impact affordability and limited digital skills. Overcoming these challenges is vital to ensuring that every Ugandan can connect,\u00a0participate, and prosper in the country\u2019s digital future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Unlocking the Next Phase of Uganda\u2019s Digital Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Uganda has already\u00a0established\u00a0solid foundations for its digital economy, with clear strategies under\u00a0the\u00a0NDP IV, the DUV, and the\u00a0roadmap. The GSMA notes that the country\u2019s policy direction is well aligned with its ambitions, but reaching the next stage of digital adoption will require greater policy predictability, affordable access, and long-term investment in innovation and skills.<\/p>\n<p>The report calls for a renewed partnership between government,\u00a0industry\u00a0and development partners to ensure that every Ugandan can\u00a0benefit\u00a0from digital progress. This collaboration is centred on five priority reforms designed to expand connectivity, enhance\u00a0inclusion\u00a0and strengthen Uganda\u2019s long-term competitiveness in the digital age.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Five Priorities to Empower Citizens and Grow the Digital Economy<\/strong><br \/>\nThe GSMA calls for a people-centred policy framework that promotes affordability,\u00a0innovation\u00a0and digital skills. Five\u00a0proposed\u00a0key priorities would help Uganda achieve its\u00a0NDP IV and DUV objectives:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create a stable investment environment:\u00a0<\/strong>Amend the coverage obligation requirements in the National Telecom Operator license from 5-years\u00a0to 20-years\u00a0and a phased investment rollout programme agreed with the operators,\u00a0review signal strength\u00a0measures,\u00a0and formally designate telecom infrastructure as\u00a0<em>Critical National Infrastructure\u00a0<\/em>to address energy supply and infrastructure security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Accelerate the use of digital technology to increase domestic revenue mobilisation and\u00a0optimise\u00a0taxation\u00a0to\u00a0increase\u00a0digital affordability and inclusion:\u00a0<\/strong>Remove the 12% excise duty on data services,\u00a0parity\u00a0for\u00a0mobile money\u00a0with electronic transaction\u00a0withdrawal levies (0.5%),\u00a0and exempt\u00a0advanced\u00a0telecoms\u00a0equipment and services\u00a0(e.g.\u00a04G and 5G)\u00a0from\u00a018% VAT\u00a0on imported services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Implement measures\u00a0on entry-level smartphone\u00a0affordability\u00a0and other demand-side reforms:<\/strong>\u00a0Eliminate\u00a0entry-level smartphone\u00a0taxes, fast\u00a0track\u00a0the Digital\u00a0Skills Framework,\u00a0cybersecurity,\u00a0and\u00a0use embedded solutions and APIs\u00a0to increase digital adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Strengthen energy and infrastructure coordination:<\/strong>\u00a0Implement a joint ICT-Energy master plan to ensure reliable power supply and\u00a0encourage renewable energy solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Modernise regulation for\u00a0digital:<\/strong>\u00a0Update\u00a0regulatory framework,\u00a0including\u00a0National AI Strategy\u00a0and\u00a0digital policies such as cloud and data location and cross-border transfer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Delivering Shared Prosperity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to GSMA modelling, implementing these reforms by 2030\u00a0could:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Expand coverage:\u00a0<\/strong>Extend 4G population coverage from 96% to 99%, achievable with an investment of just USD 10 million, compared with the current USD 550 million required under existing policy conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Boost connectivity:\u00a0<\/strong>Connect an\u00a0additional\u00a0<strong>4 million Ugandans<\/strong>\u00a0to the internet, reaching\u00a0<strong>19 million users\u00a0<\/strong>in total (32% of the population and 61% of adults), and\u00a0<strong>reduce the usage gap by 7%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Drive economic growth:<\/strong>\u00a0Create\u00a0<strong>1.79 million new jobs<\/strong>, add\u00a0<strong>UGX 14.6 trillion in economic value<\/strong>, and generate\u00a0<strong>UGX 2.1 trillion\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0additional\u00a0tax revenue through increased\u00a0digitalisation\u00a0across key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, transport, and public services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Enable sustainable fiscal gains:\u00a0<\/strong>Increased mobile data usage across all sectors could deliver\u00a0<strong>UGX 3.1 trillion\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0additional\u00a0tax revenue\u00a0\u2013\u00a0far outweighing the estimated\u00a0<strong>UGX 370 billion<\/strong>\u00a0loss from reducing mobile sector taxation, providing government with more resources to reinvest in national priorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at GSMA<\/strong>, said\u00a0<em>\u201cUganda\u2019s digital transformation is about people \u2013 enabling every citizen,\u00a0entrepreneur\u00a0and community to thrive in a connected economy. By making access more affordable and policies more predictable, Uganda can ensure that digital progress delivers for everyone<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>3 November\u00a02025, Kampala:\u00a0Unveiled\u00a0today at the\u00a0GSMA Digital Africa Summit Uganda,\u00a0a new GSMA report reveals that with the right digital reforms, Uganda could connect\u00a04 million more citizens to the internet, create\u00a01.79 million new jobs, and generate\u00a0UGX 14.6 trillion\u00a0in\u00a0additional\u00a0economic value by 2030. Titled\u00a0Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Uganda \u2013 Opportunities, Policy Reforms and the Role of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14090],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-363020","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-latest-mobile-news-and-updates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363020"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":363021,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363020\/revisions\/363021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}