Africa-Press – Uganda. The government is placing intellectual property (IP) protection at the centre of sustainability plans for the Uganda–Japan ICT capacity building initiative, known as UJ Connect, as the project enters its final year of implementation.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Aminah Zawedde, said the initiative has strengthened Uganda’s ICT innovation ecosystem and must now safeguard creators and innovators to ensure long-term industry growth.
“This is the third year of implementation and the project has been fruitful. We are reviewing progress while strategising for sustainability so that innovators continue to benefit,” Zawedde said.
UJ Connect, launched in 2023 as a partnership between Uganda and Japan, aims to strengthen Uganda’s ICT sector through policy development, skills training, innovation support and industry linkages.
A key milestone under the project has been the dissemination of ICT intellectual property guidelines to protect innovators and digital creators.
Zawedde said the guidelines have been rolled out in regions including Kampala, Kabale and Muni, helping developers, startups and innovators understand how to safeguard their software, digital products and innovations.
She emphasised that intellectual property compliance is essential for attracting investment, enabling global partnerships and ensuring innovators benefit financially from their work.
Participants joining the ministry’s digital platforms must meet compliance requirements, including company registration and adherence to intellectual property standards.
“These protections ensure that innovation is recognised, protected and commercially viable,” she said.
Beyond IP protection, the project has supported the development of an enabling policy environment to boost competitiveness in Uganda’s ICT industry.
Zawedde noted that internationally benchmarked ICT skills standards have been authorised to align Uganda’s workforce with global market requirements.
She said these measures form the regulatory and institutional foundation necessary for Uganda to compete regionally and globally.
Expediting global partnerships and market access
UJ Connect has strengthened international linkages between Ugandan innovators and global industry players.
Ugandan delegations have visited Japan, while Japanese firms have explored partnerships in Uganda. Four Japanese companies recently visited the country to identify collaboration opportunities with local firms and young innovators.
At least one partnership has already commenced, with more expected as engagements progress.
Uganda has also conducted ICT business matching engagements in Vietnam to expand market access and cooperation.
“These exchanges demonstrate tangible progress and growing global confidence in Uganda’s ICT sector,” Zawedde said.
The ministry has operationalised the Business and Human Resource Matching Platform, known as BizLink, to connect ICT professionals with companies locally and internationally.
The platform registers ICT talent and firms seeking partnerships or skilled workers.
To date, eight pilot offshoring projects have been implemented, while 282 engineers and 109 ICT companies have registered.
Zawedde encouraged startups and professionals to join the platform but emphasised compliance with registration and intellectual property requirements.
As UJ Connect approaches completion, the government is prioritising strategies to preserve its gains.
Zawedde said the project has strengthened institutional capacity, enhanced policy frameworks and built international partnerships that will support Uganda’s digital economy.
“We are planning the next steps to ensure sustainability. These benefits may not be easily quantified, but they are transforming our ICT ecosystem,” she said.
The ministry now plans to sustain training programmes, support startups and deepen international partnerships to ensure long-term impact.
Officials say the initiative has positioned Uganda to compete in the regional and global digital economy through innovation, skills development and strengthened intellectual property protection.
