Kampala, Uganda: Uganda is set to make continental history with the launch of Africa’s first-ever artificial intelligence data centre, a move expected to redefine data sovereignty, digital independence and Africa’s participation in the global AI economy.
The landmark facility, scheduled to go live this year, positions Uganda at the centre of Africa’s growing push to locally process, store and control data generated on the continent, ending decades of reliance on offshore infrastructure.
Speaking during a recent interview with CGTN Africa, Victoria University Vice Chancellor Lawrence Muganga described the development as “long overdue” and critical for Africa’s digital future.
“For a very long time, data generated on the African continent has been processed elsewhere,” Muganga said. “Instead of being primary processors and users of our own data, we became secondary users. This data centre marks the beginning of real digital and compute sovereignty.”
The AI data centre will enable high-level computing power required for artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced data analytics to be hosted within Africa for the first time, reducing dependence on foreign cloud infrastructure and improving data security.
Muganga said the facility comes at a critical time for Africa, which has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population.
“When you combine local AI infrastructure with a young population, AI stops being something people have to learn,” he said. “It becomes a language they speak daily—something they use to solve problems, innovate and build solutions for their own communities.”
The development is expected to unlock new opportunities in education, healthcare, finance, agriculture and public service delivery, while empowering African researchers, innovators and startups with affordable access to high-performance computing.
However, Muganga cautioned that the rise of AI must be accompanied by thoughtful regulation and public education to prevent misuse.
“If AI is not well regulated—not overregulated, but well regulated—it can be abused in ways that undermine democracy, human rights and development,” he warned, citing the growing use of AI-generated misinformation, particularly during election periods.
He emphasized that governments must prioritise AI literacy and ethical use alongside infrastructure investment. “People need to understand both the power and the danger of AI,” Muganga said. “Sensitisation, awareness and intentional government policy are key to ensuring AI is used to develop societies, not divide them.”
The Uganda-based AI data centre is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for Africa’s broader digital transformation, offering a foundation for home-grown innovation and reducing the continent’s vulnerability to external technological control.
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