President Museveni has held talks with Mehamood Hosein, founder and chairman of US-based technology and investment firm Hive Global Group, on potential investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure in Uganda.
The meeting, held at State House Entebbe, focused on proposals to position Uganda as a leading AI hub in Africa through investments in computing infrastructure, research, education and technology development.
Museveni welcomed Hosein and expressed interest in learning more about opportunities in the rapidly developing AI industry.
“I welcome you to Uganda. AI is a gap. I am happy to learn from you and what you bring to the AI industry,” Museveni said.
Hosein, who also founded the Massachusetts-based Hosein Family Office, highlighted his experience in the technology sector, including his early career at EMC Corporation, where he contributed to the development of data-storage infrastructure.
EMC became a major technology company before joining Dell Technologies in 2016.
Hosein said artificial intelligence was ushering in a new economic era in which computing infrastructure would play a significant role in global growth.
“We helped build the infrastructure that powered the information age. Today, AI infrastructure will power the intelligence age and become a major driver of global economic growth,” he said.
He outlined proposals to establish HIVE Uganda and The Global AI Village, initiatives envisaged to bring together AI computing centres, energy infrastructure, research institutions, education programmes and international private investment.
According to Hosein, the proposed developments would help Uganda move beyond consuming digital technologies to producing and exporting AI-powered services to international markets.
“My vision is to help make Uganda the leading AI nation in Africa by building the critical infrastructure needed to transform the continent into a major global computing hub. We want Uganda to produce and export intelligence services to the world, just as nations export oil, minerals and manufactured goods,” he said.
Hosein said the initiative would extend beyond data-centre construction to developing a wider technology ecosystem intended to attract international technology companies, support research and innovation, and expand digital skills among Uganda’s youthful population.
He also identified electricity supply as a critical factor in developing large-scale AI infrastructure, noting that reliable and competitively priced power would be necessary to support computing facilities.
Hosein said the proposed initiative would seek to mobilise private capital from international investors to establish commercially sustainable infrastructure without increasing Uganda’s sovereign debt burden.
However, the proposals outlined during the meeting would require further development and investment to translate the vision into operational projects.
The proposed initiative comes amid growing global interest in AI computing infrastructure, as countries and technology companies seek to expand their capacity to develop and deploy artificial intelligence systems.
If implemented, the plans could create opportunities for Uganda in technology services, research, digital skills development and investment. Their eventual impact would depend on financing, infrastructure development, implementation arrangements and the country’s ability to attract sustained private-sector participation.
