By Edrisa Ssentongo:
Uganda will host the first-ever Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit(MEA-DTS) from 25th to 27thJune, 2025 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. This has been revealed by Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance during the launch at Uganda Media Center today.
According to Dr. Baryomunsi, the summit will be hosted under the theme; “Driving Digital Transformation for a Connected and Inclusive MEA Region”, with H.E. President Yoweri K. Museveni as the Chief Host. “Working with COMESA Business Council and HiPipo, we are happy to announce the Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit that is going to take place here in Kampala”, said Baryomunsi.
He further added, “The MEA-DTS is consistent with Uganda Vision 2040, where we have ICTs as pivotal to transforming Ugandan from a predominantly agricultural community to a modern and prosperous country. Further, the summit supports the EAC Vision 2050, by leveraging ICTs for value addition in critical sectors like agriculture, tourism, minerals, oil & gas, and knowledge, to create more jobs and boost livelihoods.”
The summit will champion digital technologies that facilitate enhanced economic transformation and regional competitiveness. It will enrich Africa and the Middle East’s contribution to SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
The 2025 Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit, the first of its kind is being co-organised by the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, COMESA Business Council (CBC) and HiPipo – a leading entity in ICT and financial inclusion in Africa. It was recently named the most Innovative Financial Inclusion Organization in the Middle East and Africa 2024 while its Chief Executive, Innocent Kawooya, was honoured as the FinTech CEO of the Year in 2024 across the Middle East and Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Kawooya said, “When we talk about the Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit, we are talking about creating interoperable synergies by leveraging tools such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cryptography, to ensure that we build interconnected communities and economies and help each one of us to maximise our digital dividend”.
Kawooya added that HiPipo has been at the forefront of digital transformation for the past twenty years, with leading projects such as 40 Days 40 FinTechs, Women In FinTech Initiative, HiPipo Music Awards, Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa.
On his part, Dr. Jonathan Pinifolo, the Chief Operating Officer at COMESA Business Council noted that the Summit offers an opportunity for governments and private players in the ICT sector to find a common ground for seamless trade across borders. “COMESA is the biggest trading block in Africa and we believe that it is important to connect with the rest of Africa and the Middle East by leveraging digital tools, policies and innovations for trade,” he said.
The summit will be a multi-stakeholder engagement, with participants from over 60 countries including policymakers, ICT industry leaders, innovators, and investors. It will facilitate showcasing advanced digital solutions, emerging breakthroughs fostering economic growth, improving public services and enhancing quality of life. There will also be networking sessions to facilitate collaboration, including by the participating youth from over 70 Universities in Africa and the Middle East.
