{"name":"Applied AI in Uganda — the record","description":"Every announced initiative, deployment, published result and regulation of applied AI on the record for Uganda, tagged by kind, industry, region and role, sourced and dated. A slice of the State of Applied AI record, maintained continuously by the Industrial Research Unit of the Straits Institute for Applied AI.","source":"https://www.straitsai.institute/state-of-applied-ai/uganda","partOf":"https://www.straitsai.institute/state-of-applied-ai/evidence.json","attribution":"Industrial Research Unit, Straits Institute for Applied AI","updated":"2026-10-29","facet":{"kind":"country","name":"Uganda","slug":"uganda","iso2":"UG","region":"Sub-Saharan Africa"},"counts":{"entries":27,"deployments":22,"evidenceImpact":1,"evidenceAdoption":2,"regulation":2,"industries":7,"countries":1,"linked":27},"entries":[{"kind":"evidence-impact","industry":"Education & Training","region":"Uganda","org":"Five Ugandan universities (Discover Artificial Intelligence study)","text":"Students who leaned on generative AI often reported markedly better grades, but heavy use showed almost no measurable link to the deeper competencies the competence-based education reform targets, a survey of 565 respondents (513 students, 52 academic staff) at five universities found, rare AI in higher education evidence. Mabirizi and colleagues published the cross-sectional study in Discover Artificial Intelligence on 23 September 2026, sampling Kabale University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Bishop Stuart University, Uganda Martyrs University and Busitema University. They warn that online convenience sampling may bring self-selection and technology-access bias, a limit on the university AI findings.","date":"2026-10-19","source":"https://bioengineer.org/ai-use-linked-to-better-grades-but-not-deeper-skills-in-ugandan-universities/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Park ranger","org":"Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (Uganda)","text":"Uganda's Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities plans AI-powered CCTV for wildlife tracking and park security, digital content hubs for marketing the destination and predictive analytics on visitor data, an AI in wildlife conservation agenda set out at the World Tourism Day 2026 Thematic Conference at the National ICT Hub in Nakawa, Kampala. Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime, in a speech read by Under Secretary Geoffrey Sseremba, said AI can reshape the entire tourism chain, going well beyond a marketing role. The Ministry of ICT and security agencies are helping build the park surveillance AI.","date":"2026-09-23","source":"https://nilepost.co.ug/news/372843/uganda-unveils-ai-push-to-transform-tourism-conservation"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Manufacturing, Energy & Resources","region":"Uganda","role":"Mining engineers and operators","org":"H5 Resources","text":"H5 Resources runs agentic AI mining tools at Mwerasandu mine in Ntungamo District, including an edge agent handling 1,300 sensor snapshots daily since February 2026. The Ugandan tin firm built its own AI in mining for IoT monitoring, document analysis and operational intelligence, earning it OpenAI Select Partner status in September 2026.","date":"2026-09-17","source":"https://cxotrail.com/africa/uganda/h5-resources-named-an-openai-select-partner-to-scale-industrial-agentic-ai-for-mining-operations/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Transport & Logistics","region":"Uganda","role":"Airline schedule planners","org":"Uganda Airlines","text":"Amadeus will supply Uganda Airlines with SkyWORKS, an AI scheduling in aviation platform, making the carrier the first in Africa to adopt the system. It brings schedule editing, feasibility checks and AI-driven flight planning to support the airline's growing regional and long-haul routes.","date":"2026-09-08","source":"https://travelprnews.com/uganda-airlines-adopts-amadeus-skyworks-as-expanding-network-raises-scheduling-demands/travel-press-release/2026/09/08/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Doctors and nurses","org":"Chil Group","text":"Chil Group's new E-Ward Round Platform brings AI-powered triage in healthcare to nearly 400 rural Ugandan facilities. Remote clinicians now consult city-based specialists through shared virtual rounds, as software scans vital signs to spot and rank urgent cases automatically. Linked devices and digital records drive this AI-driven patient prioritisation.","date":"2026-09-03","source":"https://www.independent.co.ug/chil-group-launches-digital-ward-rounds-in-rural-health-facilities/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Police officer","org":"Uganda Police Force","text":"An AI chatbot for police services is planned by Uganda Police Force, speeding citizens' access to emergency guidance and general information. Dr Aisha Kayongo unveiled the plan at the Wakiso District ICT facility, framing it as a simpler route for people confused about crisis response. This AI-powered policing assistant supplements 999 rather than replacing it.","date":"2026-09-02","source":"https://nilepost.co.ug/news/368455/upf-set-to-launch-ai-chatbot-to-improve-access-to-police-services"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Village Health Teams","org":"Uganda Ministry of Health","text":"AI febrile illness surveillance is under trial by Uganda's Ministry of Health with partner Medic, running Audere's HealthPulse AI Interpreter in Mpigi, Moyo, Buikwe and Lira districts. Over a silent four-month stretch, Phase I let the tool operate unseen next to Village Health Teams (VHTs); outcomes revealed strong matching between computer-generated and human calls. Phase II now lets VHTs weigh their own judgement against the machine's suggestion, checking whether visible AI-assisted illness detection boosts ground-level choices.","date":"2026-08-26","source":"https://ugdiplomat.com/uganda-tests-ai-powered-tool-to-strengthen-community-level-disease-surveillance/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Finance & Insurance","region":"Uganda","role":"Financial operations analyst","org":"Airtel Money Uganda","text":"Fraud detection in financial services now relies on machine learning at Airtel Money Uganda, which flags risky wallets for human checks rather than freezing them outright. A robotic process automation tool reconciles balances, and staff view product results through a live dashboard. This AI-driven fraud monitoring covers reconciliation and analytics alike.","date":"2026-08-17","source":"https://cito-ea.com/articles/how-sulaiman-mugalasi-used-ai-to-transform-airtel-money-uganda/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Community health workers","org":"Uganda Ministry of Health","text":"Uganda's Ministry of Health has launched Nurse Lina, a WhatsApp AI chatbot for family planning giving immediate, private answers on contraceptive choices, side effects and closest service points. This family planning assistant uses ministry guidelines and common queries within a wider reproductive health information push. It improves with use, referring users to face-to-face care where needed.","date":"2026-08-07","source":"https://theelephant.co.ug/ministry-of-health-rolls-out-ai-chatbot-to-boost-family-planning-uptake/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Citizen","org":"Uganda government","text":"Ugandans now get AI government services Uganda-wide through UGGov Agent, one channel to reach state bodies, follow public project progress and get help in 16 local languages over WhatsApp, Telegram and USSD. AfroSoft IT Solutions built this citizen-facing government AI assistant with presidential backing, drawing data from various ministries, departments and agencies for owners of smartphones and basic feature phones alike, sparing them an office trip.","date":"2026-06-10","source":"https://pctechmag.com/2026/06/uggov-agent-launched-to-easy-access-to-government-information/"},{"kind":"evidence-adoption","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","org":"Civil Service College Uganda","text":"More than 1,000 government secretaries across Uganda attended AI training for government secretaries at the Civil Service College in Jinja City, run by the Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals in Uganda (ASAPU). Kathay Technologies led sessions covering productivity, reporting, data analysis and research using artificial intelligence tools for administrative work.","date":"2026-05-16","source":"https://nilepost.co.ug/news/342061/secretaries-call-for-salary-enhancement-as-they-embrace-ai-training"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Midwife","org":"Uganda Ministry of Health","text":"Uganda's Ministry of Health has introduced AI handheld ultrasound in Kampala, so midwives and nurses can examine pregnant women and read results without advanced radiology training. Nicosam Healthcare delivered fifteen Gates Foundation-funded devices; over 300 health workers are trained, with at least 600 targeted by the end of 2026. Midwives at lower-level facilities can consult referral-hospital specialists on AI-assisted scans; the ministry says only about 28% of pregnant women in the country currently get even one ultrasound.","date":"2026-04-29","source":"https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/uganda-deploys-ai-powered-portable-ultrasound-NV_232896_052026"},{"kind":"regulation","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","org":"Ministry of ICT and National Guidance","text":"Uganda AI strategy work is nearing completion under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, which is finalising a National AI and Emerging Technologies Strategy, an AI and emerging technologies policy meant to steer artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT and robotics uptake across sectors. Nationwide consultations closed in March 2026, with sign-off expected by June 2026 and agriculture, health, education and public administration named as early focus areas. Ethics and oversight provisions will follow Uganda's Data Protection and Privacy Act.","date":"2026-04-02","source":"https://pctechmag.com/2026/04/uganda-to-unveil-comprehensive-ai-and-emerging-tech-roadmap-by-june/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Judicial officer","org":"Judiciary of Uganda","text":"Uganda's Judiciary now runs AI legal research software to sift case files, cutting the time judges once spent digging through records. Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII) added a matching tool that reads filings and condenses long rulings into short summaries, an early example of AI-powered case analysis in the courts. Paper filing disappears by 1 July 2026 under the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).","date":"2026-03-26","source":"https://observer.ug/news/judiciary-goes-paperless-rolls-out-ai-systems/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"ICT support officer","org":"National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U)","text":"Uganda's National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) has rolled out UG Support, combining service requests, incident management, asset tracking, system monitoring and AI-assisted ICT service management in one interface. Proactive issue detection lets technical teams fix problems before users report them, linked into Uganda's e-citizen ecosystem via an AI-assisted support platform.","date":"2026-03-15","source":"https://softpower.ug/nita-u-launches-ug-support-breaks-ground-on-first-service-uganda-centre-in-gulu/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Judge","org":"Uganda Judiciary","text":"An AI judgment writing tool now belongs to Uganda's Judiciary, co-created with the Lexis-Nexis Rule of Law Foundation. Slotted into Microsoft Word, it stocks templates, statutes and prior rulings, trimming research hours so decisions get drafted faster. Judge Geoffrey Kiryabwire dreamed up the concept and flags more AI-assisted judicial decision drafting capability on the way.","date":"2026-03-04","source":"https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/judiciary-acquires-judgment-writing-tool-to-q-NV_229174_092026"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Cervical screening health worker","org":"Uganda Cancer Institute","text":"Uganda's national programme against cervical cancer, operated by the Uganda Cancer Institute and Ministry of Health alongside the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, will roll out AI cervical cancer screening with AI-assisted visual inspection (AI-VIA) devices, expected to speed and sharpen detection. Its three-year pilot has screened over 35,000 women aged 25 to 65 in Kampala and Mbarara, treating more than 3,000 with pre-cancerous lesions.","date":"2026-02-26","source":"https://nilepost.co.ug/health/323392/govt-strengthens-cervical-cancer-prevention-with-ai-screening-and-shs11bn-korean-support"},{"kind":"evidence-adoption","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","org":"Uganda Judiciary","text":"Kampala's Judiciary headquarters hosted 80-plus research magistrates for a single day of Artificial Intelligence training on AI in legal research and judgment drafting. Acting Chief Registrar Pamela Lamunu Ocaya flagged the risk of leaning too heavily on AI, since it commonly invents cases that were never decided, and pressed for responsible AI use going forward.","date":"2026-02-11","source":"https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/avoid-over-reliance-on-ai-judges-warned-NV_227877_062026"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Radiographers","org":"Uganda Ministry of Health","text":"Uganda's Ministry of Health has deployed AI tuberculosis detection through 14 ultra-portable digital X-ray machines fitted to mobile clinic trucks under a US-Uganda partnership with MinXray. The AI-enabled chest X-ray screening system reads scans instantly, flagging TB and signs of up to 20 other lung diseases in communities lacking diagnostic access. The effort targets remote areas previously outside reach of standard screening infrastructure.","date":"2025-12-15","source":"https://nexusmedia.ug/uganda-rolls-out-ai-powered-mobile-clinics-to-strengthen-tb-detection-nationwide/"},{"kind":"regulation","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","org":"Ministry of ICT and National Guidance","text":"Uganda's Ministry of ICT has unveiled its first Uganda AI policy step, standing up a taskforce to steer governance. Specialists must draft guidance touching agriculture, education, health, finance and administration, plus privacy, security, misinformation and bias, aiming toward a national AI governance framework for future regulation.","date":"2025-11-29","source":"https://dailyexpress.co.ug/2025/11/29/prof-lawrence-muganga-named-on-ugandas-first-ever-national-ai-taskforce/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Police officer","org":"Uganda Police Force","text":"Uganda Police Force now runs an AI chatbot for policing queries, built by its Directorate of ICT to mimic ChatGPT-style replies for members of the public. Citizens can ask about events, incidents and general policing matters and receive professional, consistent answers instead of waiting on officers. This AI-powered police assistant will soon sit on the force's website, and SMS access is being explored for people without smartphones.","date":"2025-10-01","source":"https://www.radiocomnetu.org/mamafm/2025/10/01/4369/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Financial regulator","org":"Bank of Uganda","text":"Bank of Uganda is rolling out AI financial supervision via its new E-Supervision (SupTech) project, using analytics to watch banks, fintechs and other regulated firms. Governor Dr Michael Atingi-Ego wants preventative oversight through AI-driven regulatory oversight and real-time data, catching risks before crises hit rather than reacting afterward. The effort backs the nation's digital transformation drive.","date":"2025-09-23","source":"https://eagle.co.ug/2025/09/23/bou-launches-tech-project-to-modernize-financial-oversight/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Healthcare & Life Sciences","region":"Uganda","role":"Mental health counsellors","org":"Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital","text":"Hard-to-reach Ugandan communities can now dial into care via a new AI mental health call centre, built jointly by Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Makerere University and Tanzania's Mirembe Mental Health Hospital. Stretched clinicians gain breathing room, as AI-powered telehealth counselling extends scarce staffing further.","date":"2025-08-12","source":"https://butabikahospital.go.ug/news/mental-health-innovation-with-ai"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Education & Training","region":"Uganda","role":"Mobile money agents","org":"MTN Uganda","text":"More than 213,000 mobile money agents and small merchants across Uganda now access an AI chatbot for agent training built by MTN Uganda into WhatsApp. Called MoMo Coach, it pushes short lessons on launching a venture, handling finances and expanding trade, addressing gaps in this AI-driven agent training at scale.","date":"2025-06","source":"https://famreports.com/mtn-uganda-leads-retail-innovation-with-ai-powered-tools-and-digital-supply-chains/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Agriculture & Food","region":"Uganda","role":"Crop breeders, agricultural researchers","org":"Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT","text":"Bruno, a camera-equipped robotic cart, gauges plant height, leaf spread and colour for the Artemis Project, rolled out by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT to bring AI crop breeding to Uganda. Its scans feed the ONA mobile app, where algorithms swap in instant analysis for hands-on fieldwork. Aim: shrink a breeding timeline that normally runs five to seven years via this AI-driven plant breeding method.","date":"2025-05-30","source":"https://dailyexpress.co.ug/2025/05/31/bruno-robot-cutting-edge-ai-tool-promises-faster-smarter-crop-breeding-for-ugandan-farmers/"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Finance & Insurance","region":"Uganda","role":"Loan officers","org":"Flow Uganda","text":"Flow Uganda now runs AI sales automation in banking via Trembi Sales AI, scrapping 80 agents once posted across 30 districts. The Ugandan lender identifies and wins bigger loan prospects, restaurants and hotels included, at lower cost per signup. This AI-driven client acquisition for lenders swaps legwork for automated, high-value targeting.","date":"2025-04-28","source":"https://www.trembi.com/post/how-flow-uganda-is-leveraging-trembi-sales-ai-to-grow-its-loan-book"},{"kind":"deployment","industry":"Government & Public Sector","region":"Uganda","role":"Tax officer","org":"Uganda Revenue Authority","text":"Uganda Revenue Authority now runs AI in tax administration, covering taxpayer registration and Tax Identification Number processing, aiming past 90 per cent of functions. John Rujoki Musinguzi says the software flags fraud and irregularities manual review misses. Officials want this AI-driven revenue collection to raise Uganda's tax-to-GDP ratio from near 13 per cent toward the regional average of 18 per cent.","date":"2025-04-08","source":"https://risingnationug.com/ura-integrates-artificial-intelligence-to-transform-tax-administration/"}]}