UTB, UWA and NITA-U unveil strategy to boost connectivity at Uganda’s tourist sites

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The National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have held a top managers' dialogue to discuss partnerships that will enhance connectivity across key tourist destinations in Uganda.

The aim is to unlock the digital potential of Uganda’s tourism sector.

On Thursday, a strategic dialogue led by NITA-U Executive Director, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, and his UTB counterpart Juliana Kaggwa, alongside technical teams from all three institutions, was held in  Kampala to identify priority areas for collaboration in line with Uganda’s broader development agenda, including Vision 2040, NDP IV, and the Digital Uganda Vision.

In his address, Dr. Mugasa reaffirmed NITA-U’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s tourism sector through the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) and shared plans for expanding connectivity into protected areas.

“We know that tourism thrives on content, connectivity, and data. With the right digital infrastructure, we can transform Uganda into a competitive and digitally immersive destination,” said Dr. Mugasa.

A release from NITA-U states that Mugasa revealed that the Smart Tourism project will be piloted with Wi-Fi connectivity at Kikorongo, near the Equator Monument.

"We envision scaling across national parks, cultural landmarks, and heritage sites,” he added.

Emphasising the growing intersection between tourism and technology, Juliana Kaggwa, the Chief Executive Officer UTB, observed that tourism and technology are twin engines of growth for Uganda’s economy.

"Today’s traveller is digital-first; connectivity is no longer a luxury but an expectation. We must work together to increase visitor stay, boost tourism revenue, and automate service delivery. That begins with real-time connectivity at our tourist sites.”

At the meeting, it was revealed that  NITA-U is currently exploring innovative and strategic collaborations with emerging technologies such as satellite internet, underutilised TV White Space (TVWS), and solar-based mesh networks to be integrated with the NBI.

The integration will enable the delivery of highspeed, reliable connectivity to remote tourist destinations, including: national parks, cultural landmarks, and conservation areas where terrestrial infrastructure is not economically feasible.

According to NITA-U management, this initiative will be a game-changer in bridging the digital divide in the tourism sector and unlocking immersive, real-time visitor experiences powered by seamless digital access.

At the stakeholders' meeting, the NITA-U team highlighted key services that support e-Government transformation, including access to the National Data Centre, cybersecurity training, and automation of back-office processes, which are critical enablers for Uganda’s tourism ecosystem.

The meeting concluded with a call to action to establish: a Tourism Digital Enablement Program; a joint initiative between IT and Tourism to drive innovations such as smart park entry gates, public Wi-Fi, CCTV with AI analytics, and tourism content hubs.

The three institutions  expressed commitment  to positioning Uganda as a digitally advanced tourism destination, where relaxation meets real-time sharing, exploration is seamlessly connected, and digital transformation fuels national pride and prosperity.