Uganda is eyeing a major digital upgrade, initiating a strategic partnership with Ethiopian telecommunications giant Ethiotelecom, aimed at propelling Kampala towards becoming a smart city and accelerating the nation's Vision 2040 goals.

A high-level delegation led by Uganda's Minister of City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajit Minsa Kabanda, concluded pivotal discussions with Ethiotelecom in Addis Ababa, setting the stage for potential sweeping technological advancements in the East African nation.

The Ugandan delegation was given an immersive tour showcasing Ethiotelecom's cutting-edge smart solutions, demonstrating the company's commitment to fostering digital inclusivity within Ethiopia.

The delegation witnessed the practical applications of smart city technologies, innovative smart agriculture initiatives, resource-optimizing smart mining solutions, and transformative smart education programs.

This experience strengthened their belief that a collaborative venture with Ethiotelecom is vital for tackling Uganda's most pressing developmental obstacles.

The tour included visits to Ethiotelecom's Experience Centre, a state-of-the-art Data Centre, a forward-thinking Electric Vehicle Charging Station, and existing Smart City deployments.

During the occasion, CEO Frehiwot Tamiru underscored Ethiotelecom's dedication to driving productivity gains across various sectors.

"We are committed to creating employment opportunities and achieving sustainable growth that goes far beyond basic infrastructure development," she stated.

Frehiwot emphasized the need for African nations to unite in leveraging technology for progress. "It is imperative that we work together to transform challenges into opportunities, harness the immense potential of our continent’s natural resources, and build a competitive, inclusive future rooted in digital innovation."

The discussions focused on areas of cooperation encompassing telecommunications infrastructure development, the implementation of secure digital payment systems, and strategic knowledge transfer programs. These initiatives are designed to play a critical role in achieving Uganda's ambitious developmental objectives.