Uganda is steadily moving into the artificial intelligence era, with universities emerging as important centres for digital skills, innovation and debate over how AI should shape the future of education and work.
As AI tools become increasingly visible in classrooms, research and workplaces, university leaders are urging government, institutions and the private sector to prepare Ugandans for the opportunities and challenges that come with the technology.
The call is increasingly focused on skills, access and clear policy.
University leaders say Uganda needs a coordinated approach to AI in education, including formal guidelines that can help institutions adopt the technology responsibly while protecting academic standards.
Universities push the AI conversation
The Executive Director said the university is already taking steps to integrate technology into learning, but noted that the cost of internet connectivity and digital devices remains a challenge for many learners.
The challenge, she said, is to ensure that Uganda's digital transformation does not leave some students behind.
The university has also encouraged schools and other institutions to strengthen the use of tutor-learner AI-checking tools as educators seek to understand and manage the growing use of AI in academic work.
Rather than shutting the door on AI, university leaders are advocating for responsible adoption, with students and lecturers equipped to understand both the possibilities and limitations of the technology.
From education to the workplace
The Deputy Vice Chancellor urged universities, businesses and working institutions to embrace AI and invest in staff training.
She said institutions that equip their employees with AI and digital skills will be better positioned to respond to a rapidly changing economy.
“AI is the way forward,” she said, urging organisations to prepare their staff for the technological changes already taking place.
For Uganda, the opportunity extends beyond universities.
AI could support innovation and productivity across sectors including agriculture, business, research, media, education and public services. But turning that potential into practical results will require investment in digital infrastructure, affordable connectivity and human skills.
Building an AI-ready generation
The university leadership says the emerging AI conversation is ultimately about preparing young people for a changing world.
Graduates are entering workplaces where employers increasingly value adaptability, digital competence and the ability to work with emerging technologies.
But access remains central to this transition.
The Executive Director noted that expensive internet and digital gadgets can limit students' ability to benefit from AI-enabled learning. Closing that gap will therefore be an important part of Uganda's wider digital transformation.
Scholarship and responsibility
The discussion on technology came alongside a message to graduating students about responsibility and academic commitment.
Oluwanyi said beneficiaries of academic merit scholarships receive full academic funding, but stressed that financial support does not automatically translate into success.
“The scholarship itself does not guarantee success. The students must still put in the work. They must attend classes, they must study, they must seek evaluators, they must meet academic requirements,” Oluwanyi said.
She cited graduating student Joanita Nakawooya as an example of how financial support, academic excellence and leadership can work together.
Nakawooya received a merit-based scholarship, excelled academically and served as an academic peer mentor and class representative.
Oluwanyi said the university expects scholarship beneficiaries to turn their opportunities into service by supporting others and contributing to society.
“We want to produce graduates who are capable, who are confident, who are responsible, and who are willing to contribute to the development of others,” she said.
A new chapter
Oluwanyi urged the graduates to see their degrees as a foundation rather than a destination, particularly as technology continues to reshape professional life.
“A degree is an achievement, but it is also a beginning. What you do with the knowledge and skills that you have acquired is very important.”
For Uganda, that message extends beyond the graduating class.
The country is beginning to build an ecosystem in which universities, government, businesses and young professionals can shape how AI is adopted and applied.
The next phase will be about turning enthusiasm into skills, policy, infrastructure and innovation — ensuring that Uganda does not simply consume AI technologies, but develops the human capacity to use them to solve local problems and compete in the global economy.