In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of bad things happened. Among these were the prolonged lockdowns that made it impossible for people to freely move, meet-up and live life like they best know it.
For party goers, there were no parties anymore, when your drinks or eats got finished, you would struggle to get new deliveries as most shops were closed while those that were open, could close early.
“One day, we were at a friends party and we ran short of eats and drinks. One of our friends asked what we would do to address this issue, considering that even for the shops that were open, we couldn’t access them as it was past movement hours. Actually, even one of our friends had a birthday but we couldn’t get him a cake. So, one of us suggested that we could come up with a platform that can ease the purchase and delivery of drinks and cakes. Initially we developed the Cawine APP to deliver Cakes and Wine thus the name Cawine,” Christine Nimusiima, the co-founder and chief product officer at Cawine Technologies traced the story behind the development of this platform.
Launched in 2021, Cawine is a digital platform that eases the purchase and delivery of Eats and Drinks in Uganda.
“Cawine has three APPs in one. We have the client APP, vendor APP and Courier APP. The vendor APP is for the service providers like Bakeries, Wineries, Restaurant owners and Liquor Stall owners while the client APP is what the customers use to make orders for the Eats and Drinks. The Courier APP is for our transport partners. When an order is received by the clients, they prepare it and when it is ready, they give it to the Courier who will then deliver it to the customer’s preferred location.”
Nimusiima noted that the Cawine APP is available on both Google Play and Apple store and allows for digital payments.
“After making your order, you can pay with mobile money or bank cards or cash. Even though we also have cash, we encourage cashless transactions as these are safe for all stakeholders involved in these transactions. So far, we have more than 2000 APP downloads; with 80 per cent of our vendors and customers being women.
Cawine Technologies has featured on Day 5 of the HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative season five.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) are some of the most popular financial institutions serving both the unbanked and underbanked. Unfortunately, because many of these serve the informal sector, they are mainly operated through a cash based, manual approach. But thanks to continuous innovation and growing adoption of technology, many SACCOs are now digitized and able to serve customers from wherever they are located, any time.
One of the platforms that is leading the digitization of SACCOs is MSACCO by FutureLink Technologies, a Bank of Uganda licensed Payment System Operator that works to enhance the financial resilience of Africa’s low- and middle-income earners through a community-driven digital marketplace for affordable financial services.
According to Matia Ssebiranda, the Marketing Manager at FutureLink Technologies, MSACCO is the preferred community driven digital market place for Savings and Credit Societies in Uganda, and Zambia and now expanding to the whole of Africa.
“MSACCO serves the unbanked and underbanked in Africa. This is a channel where customers are able to serve themselves. A customer can be in Kampala and join a Sacco in Mbarara. Through MSACCO, every customer is able to manage their SACCO account anytime. Each customer can easily repay their loan, deposit, withdraw and monitor their account. MSACCO solves the pain of both the unbanked and underbanked by allowing everyone to choose financial services that are relevant to them,” Mr Ssebiranda said.
He added: “The MSACCO APP is available on Google Play and APP Store. After a new customer downloads it, they register and choose which SACCO they want to join after which they start transacting. The second customer we are serving is one that is already a member of a particular SACCO but wants to be digitized. For such a customer, they only download the APP or access through USSD, get an MSACCO number and start transacting.”
Mr Ssebiranda noted that while savings start automatically for new MSACCO customers, accessing credit depends on how long you have been a member of a particular SACCO and how much you have transacted during that period. He highlighted that most SACCOs give credit after someone has been an active member for an average of 6 months as this gives the SACCO sufficient customer behavior history.
MSACCO by FutureLink Technologies was featured on Day Four of 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative, Season Five.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Eurosat Group continues to innovatively use technology to serve the underserved and unserved. Among its solutions is a Financial Management system that supports Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) mainly those that run the Islamic finance business model.
It’s latest innovation is Edusat ERP; a robust School Management platform designed for Academic institutions of all levels. It offers features for managing Academic records, Finance records, discipline records, budgets, staff, and sickbay records, streamlining Administrative tasks and enhancing efficiency.
“We have developed Edusat ERP which combines both FinTech and EduTech. We are looking at providing a complete solution that enables schools engage parents and also manage their day to day processes like finances and academics. Edusat is an academic ERP. ERP to mean enterprise resource planning system. Edusat has so many resources within it. These include finance – school fees, accounting, payrolls and other components. It also has the academic model that is able to manage and flexibly try to integrate a number of curriculums that are being provided in the Uganda education system,” Mr. Alawi Mutebi, the Founder and CEO of Eurosat Group said, adding;
“Edusat is integrated with different school fees payment systems so parents can pay fees and schools receive it directly in addition to following up on their kids’ performance. We have created a mobile APP through which parents can access the Edusat platform. After we enroll a school on to this platform, each parent that downloads the APP and registers is automatically mapped to their kids’ education details – finances and academics. We have so far onboarded over 20 schools with each school having an average of 500 students. Our target is to onboard more than 100 schools by the end of the year.”
Mr. Mutebi highlighted that even though Uganda is still a fresh ground for innovators, limited awareness, high internet and devices costs are the main obstacles to mass uptake and usage of digital solutions.
He noted that active collaborations among industry players are key to curing most of these obstacles and positively impact society.
Edusat by Eurosat Group was featured on Day Three of 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative, Season Five.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Technology continues to change how different businesses are done. Before the twenty-first century, it was unheard of for one to order for a motorbike or car, get picked from their location and be taken to a place of his/her choice.
But with technology, several innovations have been brought onto the market. In the last decade, ride-hailing platforms have become popular among travelers as they offer convenience, are pocket friendly and flexible.
The latest player to come onto Uganda’s ride-hailing market is Faras Technologies; a “pioneer of the continent’s ride-hailing economy and on-demand transport services.”
Faras operates both a customers and drivers/captains’ APPs. Captains are enrolled using the drivers’ APP, and trained before they start providing travel services, while customers only need to download the customers’ APP on Google Play or Apple Store and start ordering for trips.
“We have been here for two years and now looking forward to the third year and more years in Uganda and across Africa. On average, we get about 150 new customers every day in Uganda. More than 40,000 customers have downloaded our APP and are actively using it for their travel needs. As of June, 2024, we had about 25,000 captains offering car and boda boda hailing services,” Karim Katende, the Head of Marketing for Faras Technologies said.
He added; “Minus Uganda, we also operate in Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, and Ethiopia while looking to expand to other countries. Transactions with our Captains are all cashless. We are upgrading our platform to roll out cashless payments for customers, cashbacks, and other gifts before the end of this year.
Faras Technologies has featured on Day Two of 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative, Season Five.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
“We are happy to kick off Season Five of 40 Days 40 FinTechs. Last year, we focused on end-user experiences and this year, we will focus on the innovativeness of the FinTechs. We are going to have candid discussions with FinTechs about their innovations and latest upgrades and what impact they envision these products and services and upgrades will have on their customers,” Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo Chief Executive Officer noted.
With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Season Five of the annual HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative has kicked off with AgriShare; an Agric-tech platform that is using financial technology to transform the fortunes of more than 100,000 farmers and core agriculture stakeholders.
AgriShare’s latest intervention is a Buy-Now, Pay-Later model for irrigation equipment. Aimed at curing the ills caused by drought, this model enables farmers to buy or use solar-powered irrigation equipment on credit and pay in instalments.
“Last year, we launched the solar project which allows farmers to utilize solar energy-powered equipment to irrigate their crops. This is a cost-friendly model for farmers as they don’t need to buy fuel; plus solar energy is environment friendly,” Caroline Nalubwama, the AgriShare Hub Manager for Luweero noted, adding;
“We also have the pay-as-you-go model focused on the irrigation pumps. Farmers that want to own the irrigation pumps and other equipment can pay in installments. This helps them to own the equipment at affordable prices. Most of the farmers pay digitally while some still use cash.”
Nalubwama appeals to the youth to actively take part in Agriculture noting that the industry is profitable, fashionable, and marketable.
“Uganda is an agro-based economy, with the industry employing over 70 per cent of Ugandans. The young people need to seize the opportunities presented by agriculture and use them to grow the economy. At AgriShare, we are here to support farmers and everyone interested in investing in farming. We have offices in Luweero (Central Region), Buwenge (Eastern Uganda) and Nwoya(Northern Uganda). We intend to open more offices in Western Uganda and other parts of the country,” Nalubwama noted.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
“We are happy to kick off Season Five of 40 Days 40 FinTechs. Last year, we focused on end-user experiences and this year, we will focus on the innovativeness of the FinTechs. We are going to have candid discussions with FinTechs about their innovations and latest upgrades and what impact they envision these products and services and upgrades will have on their customers,” Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo Chief Executive Officer noted. With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Henry Lutwama as the HiPIpo, Board Vice Chair, Partnerships and Diplomacy. Mr. Lutwama is a notable leader with a diverse career spanning various sectors, including urban management, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation. His dedication to advancing digital literacy, promoting financial inclusion, and establishing sustainable education programs makes him a valuable addition to our board.
Mr. Lutwama brings a wealth of experience from his extensive professional background. For the past three years, he has been the Senior Political Assistant to the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, playing a major role in shaping ICT policies and programs in Uganda. His strategic insights and ability to coordinate political and administrative activities have contributed to the Ministry’s successes.
Prior to his tenure with the Ministry, Mr. Lutwama held several positions at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). His work in urban management, particularly in youth empowerment within the Kampala Capital City Authority, has left a lasting impact. Additionally, his five-year role as Youth Councillor showcased his dedication to initiatives focused on empowering youth.
Mr. Lutwama’s leadership extends beyond urban management and government roles. He served as Chairperson of the Gender and Community Services Committee at the Rubaga Division Urban Council, overseeing initiatives to improve welfare and gender equality. In his three years as Executive Secretary for Finance, Administration, and Human Resources, he ensured efficient and effective service delivery, contributing to the community’s overall well-being.
As a co-founder of Manya Ekika Kyo, Mr. Lutwama has been instrumental in helping the Baganda people understand their totems through digital tools. His innovative approach led to the development of local caller tunes, which have become some of the best-selling cultural content on telecom platforms. Additionally, through Decent Africa, an organisation where he is a co-founder, Mr Lutwama has promoted solid cultural values and women empowerment, focusing on the decency of fashion and the minds of women and girls.
Mr. Lutwama’s commitment to social causes is further exemplified by his leadership in the Poverty Eradication Mission with Clan Leaders, where he spearheaded a mission to raise significant funds for poverty eradication. His role in co-founding the Busolya Education Fund and the Bataka Mutindo Sacco has been key in promoting education and financial literacy within the Bataka community.
Mr. Lutwama holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Bachelor of International Relations and Diplomatic Studies and a Bachelor of Mass Communication from Makerere University, further strengthening his credentials for this distinguished role. His multilingual abilities complement his extensive skill set, which includes leadership, cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and strategic planning.
We are confident that Mr. Lutwama’s appointment as Board Vice Chair, Partnerships and Diplomacy, will lead to the forging of strong partnerships and advancing our noble mission. His visionary leadership and deep commitment to community development will enrich our organisation and drive us toward even more extraordinary achievements.
Please join us in extending a warm and gracious welcome to Mr. Henry Lutwama as he assumes this critical and impactful role.
We are happy to announce that registration for the fifth season of the annual HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative has opened. The HiPipo 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative has undoubtedly set the Innovation and Financial Inclusion bar very high; particularly showcasing both the time and lifesaving abilities of Financial Technology.
Although the 2020 and 2021 seasons ran in the middle of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, they laid the groundwork for this project with more than 200 submissions and about 85 participants altogether. The third edition, which ran in 2022, was bigger and better as it focused on the East African region. Some 47 participants, drawn from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania were featured, out of more than 150 submissions. The fourth season outshone all the previous editions as it focused on end-user experiences of FinTech customers. From Kampala to Lwengo, to Nakasongola, to Gulu, to Arua, to Lira, to Mbale, to Sheema, to Kabale, end-users shared how financial technology had transformed their lives, businesses and communities alike.
Run under HiPipo’s Include Everyone program that also encompasses other initiatives such as FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit & Incubator, and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and Digital Impact Awards Africa; the #40Days40FinTechs platform aptly provides a setting for the various players and stakeholders involved in digital and financial technology to exhibit their products and services. It also gives players a platform to share their ideas on how the unserved and underserved by the present financial systems can be brought into the fold.
“We are happy to kick off Season Five of 40 Days 40 FinTechs. Last year, we focused on end-user experiences and this year, we will focus on the innovativeness of the FinTechs. We are going to have candid discussions with FinTechs about their innovations and latest upgrades and what impact they envision these products and services and upgrades will have on their customers,” Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo Chief Executive Officer noted.
He added: “We shall seek to find out how affordable, available, accessible and equitable these innovations are. Importantly, we look forward to finding out how safe and secure these FinTech solutions are.”
With over 150 participants in the last four years, #40Days40FinTechs continues to be the world’s premier showcase event for innovations that are enabling underserved populations to join the digital economy space. We know that this can only get better owing to the inspiration and collaboration of our partners; Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner and Crosslake Technologies. Most importantly, the initiative owes its continued success to the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Now is the time for Digital Innovators and FinTechs from all over Uganda to submit their registration details before 30th July, 2024 to stand a chance to participate in 40 Days 40 FinTechs Season Five. Participation is on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as your submission meets all the participation requirements.
Important Dates.
40 Days 40 FinTechs Registration: 15th to 30th July, 2024. Register here.
Profiling and Featuring 40 Days 40 FinTechs Participants: 5th August to 20th September, 2024.
In an exhilarating development for the financial technology sector, HiPipo has been crowned the Most Innovative Financial Inclusion Organization for the Middle East and Africa at the prestigious FinTech Awards 2024, hosted by Wealth & Finance International. This accolade recognizes our past achievements and our future endeavours in global financial innovation.
Through our social media announcement, we shared the joy of this achievement: “We are honoured to receive this global recognition, which is proof to our dedicated team, our generous sponsors like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and robust partnerships with key stakeholders including the Ministry of ICT, Infitx, Mojaloop, and Comesa Business Council. This award reflects our commitment to digital and financial innovation and excellence.”
Our triumph follows a series of accolades, having been named Best Financial Inclusion Organization consecutively in 2022 and 2023. Notably, in 2022, HiPipo stood out as the only African company on Global Business Leaders Magazine’s list of the world’s top 20 innovators in digital financial services.
Adding to our celebration, our very own CEO, Innocent Kawooya, has been distinguished as the FinTech CEO of the Year 2024 for the Middle East and Africa. His visionary leadership continues to drive HiPipo’s mission of ‘Including Everyone’ in the digital financial narrative, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fast-evolving financial landscape.
Our journey from a promising regional innovator to a celebrated global leader in financial inclusion exemplifies our mission to harness technology for community empowerment. We are more than just a company; we are a movement that champions the inclusion of all, mainly focusing on the underserved and marginalised communities across Africa and beyond.
As we look to the future, HiPipo remains committed to pushing the boundaries of financial technology to create accessible, efficient, and inclusive financial ecosystems. We are excited to continue this journey, ensuring that our innovations lead to awards and, more importantly, to impactful, sustainable change.
In this latest issue, we explore the remarkable impact of digital tools on Uganda’s financial landscape. Our report, “DIGITAL LEAP”, reveals that Ugandans have saved a staggering $7.28 billion through digital tools – a testament to the power of technology in driving financial inclusion.
Read the full report to discover:
– The latest trends and insights in digital payments
– Success stories of individuals and businesses thriving through digital finance
– Expert analysis and perspectives on the future of digital money
In 2015, the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA) study under the HiPipo Include Everyone program revealed a lack of corporate websites among 59% of Uganda’s top 1,000 taxpayers. This absence resulted in higher operational costs and reduced profitability.
However, since then, digital transformation, mainly through corporate websites and online presence, has shown substantial benefits in reducing costs and enhancing customer service. It is important to note that HiPipo’s sustained advocacy, with the support and collaboration of partners and stakeholders, has played a crucial role in advocating for digital innovation, leading to this transformation and continuing to drive digital and financial inclusion across economies.
The financial impact on customers of Uganda’s top 1,000 taxpayers is staggering. They save approximately $1,995,000 daily through digital tools. Over ten years since 2014, this figure has scaled to a monumental $7.28 billion, accentuating the substantial financial benefits of digital adoption. This is a clear testament to the potential for further growth and success through digital transformation.
Digital adoption has led to tangible operational efficiency. Customers can find the information they need online and interact with service providers in real-time. Each online interaction saves customers an average of 30 minutes, and customers of these organisations save approximately 1.5 million hours daily. This boosts organisational efficiency and profitability, aligning with broader economic growth, and stresses the tangible benefits of digital innovation, instilling confidence in the future of digital transformation.
The 2015 HiPipo study highlighted the need for more corporate websites and online presence among Uganda’s top taxpayers. This absence hindered cost reduction, improved service delivery, and customer loyalty. The landscape has changed meaningfully since then, thanks to the ongoing HiPipo’s advocacy with partners.
Today, approximately three million online interactions occur every day among the 1,000 organisations, and each interaction saves an average of 30 minutes, leading to a daily time savings of around 1.5 million hours and a financial impact of approximately $1,995,000. The weekly online interaction count reaches at least twenty-one million, saving approximately 10.5 million hours and generating a financial impact of about $14M. The monthly online interaction count reaches approximately 90 million, saving around 45 million hours and leading to an economic impact of approximately $60M. These figures highlight the efficiency gains and financial benefits of digital transformation to Uganda’s business and financial sectors.
Over a year, these organisations facilitate at least 1 billion online interactions, saving approximately 547.5 million hours and resulting in an economic impact of around $728M. Over a decade, since 2014, these organisations have handled an estimated 11 billion online interactions, saving around 5.475 billion hours, with a financial impact of approximately $7.28 billion.
This usage has far-reaching impacts on enterprises and governments. For instance, digital adoption aligns with national economic growth goals by reducing business costs and increasing customer convenience and profitability. This trend benefits small, micro, nano, SMEs, and individuals running businesses. Effective, flexible policies become more urgent as governments should support digital innovation through favourable policies, recognising its impact on national competitiveness.
The findings of this paper suggest that even more attention should be paid to this effect. We plan to run subsequent surveys covering digital tools and financial services, exploring their combined time-saving and economic growth impact. HiPipo’s advocacy has driven digital innovation in East Africa and beyond for nearly two decades. Thanks to this advocacy, similar outcomes have occurred across different East African economies, just like the current Ugandan outcomes. Through initiatives like the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA), HiPipo has highlighted the transformative potential of technology-based solutions, contributing to enhanced efficiency and economic growth among Uganda’s top taxpayers, SMEs, micro, nano, SHFs, and millions of merchants.
This paper further outlines the telecommunications landscape in Uganda as of March 2023. During this period, the average data consumption for Ugandan telecom subscribers was 1.7GB per month. Over the past two years, data expenditure has decreased by 6%. Internet subscriptions have grown by 1.2 million, reaching 27 million, due to the increasing access to the internet through mobile devices. These mobile devices comprise 39.1 million of the devices accessing Uganda’s telecom network, 21% of which are smart devices.
This paper notes that women, especially in urban areas, are leveraging digital tools to save time and money. However, using digital tools needs to extend to off-grid locations where access to power and energy remains challenging. Women are more likely to be employed in lower-paying jobs and sectors, particularly in developing economies like Uganda, where a weighty portion of the population earning less than 115 USD is female. Therefore, access to digital services should be equal for both genders to ensure inclusive economic development. Access should also be accelerated among youth, women and men to help them find more avenues to improve their income. Digital technologies can impact job opportunities for underrepresented women in the tech industry. Understanding customer demographics can help organisations tailor their services to meet gender needs better. Digital innovation can contribute to broader economic empowerment, which may benefit women in specific sectors or communities where they have been disadvantaged.
The report recommends that leaders prioritise digital presence and recognise its importance in enhancing efficiency, profitability, and economic growth. This includes investing in high-value corporate websites, content and digital channels to improve customer engagement and reduce operational costs. Leaders must focus on mobile platforms as mobile is increasingly the primary channel for digital access in Africa. Enterprises should prioritise responsive, mobile-friendly websites and apps to meet customer needs.
Mobile connectivity is vital in developing individuals and economies, accelerating financial inclusion and creating an inclusive economy that benefits all. This, in turn, leads to the advancement of nations, particularly in terms of economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation. The widespread availability of mobile connectivity has enabled individuals, even those in remote areas, to access financial services and participate in the global economy. Moreover, mobile technology has enabled individuals to engage in financial transactions without the need for traditional financial institutions, thereby promoting financial inclusion and reducing the cost of financial services. The result is a more equitable and inclusive economy that benefits everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.
The report highlights the need for enhanced cybersecurity to build customer confidence and trust and ensure safe digital interactions. Digital transformation comes with security challenges, and solutions must be secure, competitive, and universal, essential for sustainable and inclusive growth. Continuous improvement, such as updating the National Information Security Frameworks, is necessary. Partnering with experts like Cyberplc to support all security architecture and technical security assurance domains, such as risk identification, network security, data protection, identity management, posture and vulnerability management, logging, and threat detection, is vital. Regularly evaluating and improving digital strategies is necessary to stay aligned with evolving technological trends and consumer expectations.
