Uganda is poised to become a leading destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in Africa, leveraging digital transformation to drive economic growth and youth employment.
This ambitious goal was announced at a recent BPO consultative meeting in Jinja, where government officials, private sector leaders, and industry experts gathered to discuss the country’s BPO potential.
Richard Gulume, Jinja’s Resident District Commissioner, emphasized the importance of embracing technology to transform Uganda’s economy.
“We must leverage digital platforms to advertise and outsource our services globally. I urge the business community to embrace technology and work with us to create a positive environment for growth.”
Gideon Nkurunungi, CEO of ICTAU, highlighted the association’s efforts to catalyze change in the BPO revolution.
“ICTAU is taking a proactive approach to ensure that Jinja becomes the next big success story in the BPO revolution. We are providing targeted training and professional development to our members, advocating for world-class ICT infrastructure, and championing policies that make it easier to conduct global business from Jinja.”
Nkurunungi also urged stakeholders to be proactive in driving the BPO revolution.
“We need to be ready for the changing dynamics in the IT sector, and embrace new technologies and innovations that will drive growth and efficiency. Let us choose to lead, let us choose to innovate, and let us choose to work like we have never worked before – because what we build today will determine the prosperity of generations to come.”
“We are not just passive participants in this narrative, we are champions and warriors who want to elevate the conversation and drive change.”
The Ministry of ICT has developed a comprehensive BPO policy and strategy, aimed at creating thousands of jobs for young people and contributing significantly to Uganda’s GDP growth. With a pool of 239,000 skilled young people and 144,000 English-speaking talents, Uganda is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the global IT-enabled services market.
Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe, Senior IT Officer, emphasized the potential of BPO to create employment opportunities and increase efficiency.
“BPO enables our youth to access opportunities online and provide services to companies worldwide. We aim to capture a significant share of the global IT-enabled services market by supporting BPO activities through policy implementation, regulatory frameworks, and incentives.”
The global BPO market was valued at $221.5 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow by 7.4% by 2028.
“We’ve assessed our population and found a significant talent pool waiting to be tapped. Our BPO strategy emphasizes ICT-enabled job creation, infrastructure development, policy primers, incentives, marketing, and partnerships,” Nakyejwe emphasized.
To support BPO growth, the government has put in place incentives like tax exemptions, financial flexibility, and training and research expenditure allowances.
The private sector is encouraged to work together with the government to create a positive environment for growth and development.
Hellen Namutamba, the Tourism Minister for the Busoga Kingdom, asked the Ministry of ICT to set up public WiFi hotspots around tourist destinations in Jinja City and other areas in Busoga to help boost the country’s tourism potential.
“I urge the government to provide free WiFi to the city of Jinja, our kingdom’s tourism hub. By doing so, we can showcase our beautiful scenery, rich culture, and warm hospitality to the world.”
Amos Mpungu, Principal ICT Officer at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, outlined a vision for Uganda’s transformation into a more advanced society.
“The key driver of this change is the strategic combination of research and ICT involvement. By working together to design programs that benefit the people, Uganda can overcome the puzzling question of why poverty persists despite abundant resources.”
Isaac Asiimwe, a private web developer and social media manager, urged the government to reduce the cost of data.
“The cheapest internet you can get is around 110,000 Ugandan shillings per month, which is still quite expensive compared to our neighbors like Kenya, where the rate is around 80,000 shillings per month.”
By embracing digital transformation and BPO, Uganda can access new markets, improve efficiency, and increase productivity, leading to economic growth and development.
As the country continues on its digital transformation journey, it is clear that the business community has a critical role to play.
By working together, Uganda can achieve its goals of economic growth and development, and become a leader in the region.
Uganda is strategically positioned to become a top BOP destination due to its young and educated population .
