President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni engaged in discussions with a delegation from Huawei Technologies Uganda at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi. During the meeting, Huawei announced their plans to set up a Digital Village Prototype in Uganda.
Hover Gao, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Region, explained to the President that the project’s goal is to demonstrate the transformative effects of digital infrastructure in rural areas.
Gao emphasized that the Smart Village initiative will offer Smart Classrooms, Learning Centers, Remote Diagnosis, and Smart PVs (Solar) free of charge to the Ugandan government.
“Huawei is committed to accelerating Uganda’s digital transformation. To prove this commitment, we are prepared to fully fund a pilot smart village project using our advanced technologies,” he said.
He further mentioned that the initiative aligns with Uganda’s national strategy for rural development, demonstrating Huawei’s dedication to these areas.
In response, President Museveni expressed strong support for the project.
“Go ahead with the project, and I will personally attend the commissioning of the smart village,” he stated.
Ms. Sooma Mukyala Fouziya, Public Relations Manager of Huawei Technologies Uganda, informed the President that Butaleja District has been selected for the pilot study of the smart village.
She emphasized the project’s potential to support the Parish Development Model (PDM) by advancing digital transformation and sustainable growth through ICT.
“This Smart Classroom will provide students with enhanced educational opportunities, improve self-learning capabilities, and facilitate better information sharing and communication among residents,” Ms. Fouziya stated.
She also noted that the initiative will implement a Remote Diagnosis System to link village health centers with national and regional hospitals, thereby enhancing medical services in rural areas.
Furthermore, she highlighted that the initiative will introduce Green Residential Smart PVs to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply for residents.
Ms. Fouziya also outlined Huawei’s strategy of “One Country, One Network, One Cloud, One Platform,” aimed at inspiring increased investment and collaboration toward a smarter and more interconnected Uganda.
“We aim to showcase the concrete benefits of a unified digital ecosystem, encouraging further investment and collaboration,” she emphasized.
“This initiative will serve as a blueprint for future smart village projects nationwide, demonstrating how technology can enhance lives, drive sustainable development, and reduce financial burdens on the government,” she added.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Huawei team presented a plaque to the President, symbolizing their commitment to the Digital Village Prototype initiative.
Also, in attendance were Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT and National Guidance; Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Gen. David Muhoozi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs; Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance; and Mr. Gao Jian, Deputy Managing Director of Huawei Uganda.