E-Booster Uganda: towards an inclusive digital economy in Uganda through provision of ICT services to the underserved and unserved communities

Abstract

e-Booster Uganda 2023 was a project of Uganda Communications Commission implemented by Makerere University Business School between April 2023 and November 2023.We conducted interviews as well as a survey on Information and Communications Technology solutions from various sectors. A review of reports and academic publications related to access to communication services in Uganda was made with a focus on the nature of challenges and solutions that have been made by different actors.Findings reveal that Uganda has a wide digital divide based on geographical location, particularly between the rural and urban where there is a 70% difference in favour of the urban communities and businesses with only 9% of Ugandans living in rural areas having access to the Internet. It was also found that 60% of the urban people are poor and live in slums hance causing more need for inclusion in the programme.It is concluded that increased access to and the usage of ICT services is critical for the attainment of National Development Plans including but not limited to the Parish Development Model where the underserved and unserved can be easily reached through ICTs by and in supporting the monitoring of government programmes through promotion and information sharing to those communities and sectors. Further, Owens (2013) andAlrabei et al. (2022 argue that digital technology services promote nancial inclusion by offering digital banking and mobile payment options, thereby extending nancial services to previously underserved populations -especially those in rural areas where there is poor infrastructure. These technologies enable poor people to save, invest, and access credit, thereby contributing to their economic empowerment. According to Holtgrewe (2014), digital communications enable remote work and outsourcing, thereby unlocking cost e ciencies for businesses and providing employment opportunities for individuals in countries where there is high unemployment. Kim (2014) adds that digital infrastructure enhances the effectiveness of government services, which helps to reduce corruption and improve public service delivery, especially in developing countries. Saykili (2019) argues that digital communication technologies provide educational landscape bene ts from online learning opportunities, which contributes to skill development and enhancing the workforce's capacity for economic development. Gabriele et al. (2001) argues that these technologies promote innovation and entrepreneurship as digital communication services lower barriers to entry for new businesses and facilitate access to global markets. In terms of urbanization, Tanwar et al. (2018) argues that digital communication services underpin smart cities and infrastructure development, including smart grids, tra c management systems, and healthcare solutions, which offer cost savings and improved quality of life. Deichmann et al. (2016) adds that digital communication technologies in agriculture and rural areas bene t farmers by providing real-time information on weather and ma...