President Museveni has urged Ugandans to fully embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing it as a powerful tool for solving Africa’s most pressing challenges not a threat to humanity.
Addressing the nation during the International Day of Education (IDE) celebrations at Kololo Independence Grounds, the President demystified AI, calling it a product of human understanding of natural laws that should be harnessed for development rather than feared.
“Artificial Intelligence is not magic. It is about using logic and science to deal with real-life problems,” Museveni said. “From agriculture and health to education and security, AI can be the key to unlocking efficiency, innovation, and growth.”
The President emphasized that Africa was left behind in history due to its failure to adopt technologies like gunpowder when other regions advanced. He warned that repeating the same mistake in the digital age would be disastrous.
“We were colonized because we lacked scientific tools. Europe had gunpowder while we had bows and arrows. Let that never happen again,” he cautioned. “Today, AI is the new gunpowder. We must master it.”
In his remarks, Museveni called on Uganda’s education system to adapt and equip learners with modern skills in science, technology, and AI. He reiterated that science is essential for sustainable economic transformation, adding that social sciences are only meaningful when grounded in scientific knowledge.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to Universal Free Education, Museveni challenged school administrators to remove any barriers including school charges that prevent children from accessing education and the digital skills they need to thrive in a modern world.
Minister of Education and Sports, First Lady Janet Museveni, echoed the President’s message, noting that AI and technical training are no longer luxuries but necessities. She highlighted the Presidential Skilling Hubs as examples of successful AI-friendly training programs that have already empowered many youth.
“AI and Technical Vocational Education (TVET) are transforming how young people innovate and participate in the economy. These are the real engines of social mobility and national progress,” she said.
The First Lady also praised the recent enactment of the TVET Act 2025, which she said provides the necessary legal framework for overhauling vocational education and integrating modern technologies, including AI, into training curricula.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Kedrace Turyagyenda, pointed out that Uganda’s education agenda is now aligned with global digital trends. “STEM and AI are at the center of our development strategy. We must prepare a workforce that’s ready for tomorrow’s jobs, not yesterday’s,” she said.
This year’s IDE celebrations, themed “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” were attended by government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, and development partners all united in the belief that AI is not just a buzzword but a lifeline for developing nations.
