The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has begun the extension of the ICT-Intellectual Property (IP) Guidelines. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding and commercializing innovation within the country’s rapidly growing technology sector.
Launched in February 2025, the ICT-IP Guidelines are designed to stimulate innovation, promote adherence to best practices, protect intellectual property rights, and support commercialization efforts to drive economic growth.
Speaking at a dissemination meeting held on Wednesday at the Regional ICT Innovation Hub at Kabale University in Western Uganda, Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe, a Senior ICT Officer and Intellectual Property Specialist at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, emphasized the need to integrate ICT across various sectors. She also underscored the importance of a strong legal framework to prevent intellectual property violations.
Shimpei Watanabe, JICA’s ICT and Industry Promotion Project Expert, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Uganda in the development and dissemination of these transformative ICT guidelines. He noted that JICA aims to fuel innovation, generate employment, and create expanded opportunities, particularly for youth,while exploring pathways for Ugandan IT engineers to secure jobs in Japan.
Prof. Johnny Mugisha, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Kabale University, welcomed the dissemination of Uganda’s ICT-IP Guidelines through the Regional ICT Innovation Hubs, calling it a significant step forward in advancing the country’s technological development. He noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) itself is a powerful form of innovation that enhances human thinking and creativity, as long as it is used responsibly. However, Prof. Mugisha stressed that despite AI’s growing influence, human creativity and critical thinking must remain central.