In Summary: Prof Muganga’s initiatives include expanding digital and blended learning through VClass, integrating artificial intelligence into teaching, introducing digital examinations and championing practical, skills-based education. He was also appointed to Uganda’s first National Artificial Intelligence Taskforce in 2025.
Kampala, Uganda — Victoria University Vice Chancellor Prof Lawrence Muganga has won the CEO/Digital Transformation Leader of the Year award at the Digital Impact Awards Africa 2026, in recognition of his contribution to advancing technology-driven education and digital transformation in Uganda.
Muganga announced the recognition in a post on X following the awards organised by HiPipo on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Kampala Serena Hotel.
He said the award was an encouragement to continue exploring the opportunities technology presents for Uganda and its people, while appreciating his team at Victoria University for representing him at the ceremony.
“There is so much potential in what technology can make possible for our people and our country, and this recognition only strengthens our resolve to keep pushing boundaries and do more,” Muganga wrote.
The award comes amid a series of digital education initiatives associated with Muganga’s leadership at Victoria University, where he has championed the integration of technology into teaching, learning and university administration.
One of the university’s notable initiatives is VClass, a digital blended-learning platform introduced to support remote and virtual learning. The platform enables students to attend lectures, undertake online examinations and make tuition payments digitally.
The system gained prominence during the COVID-19 lockdown period when universities faced disruptions to physical learning. Under Muganga’s leadership, Victoria University used the platform to sustain learning while other institutions temporarily suspended some academic activities.
The university under Dr Muganga has also embraced digital examinations to reduce paper usage and improve the delivery of assessments. In 2024, public reporting indicated that it had digitised 15 hours of classes per week as part of efforts to make learning more flexible and accommodate students with different schedules.
Championing artificial intelligence in education
Muganga has also emerged as a prominent advocate for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.
In April 2024, he unveiled From Chalk to Chatbots, a book examining the impact of artificial intelligence on education and the opportunities emerging technologies present for teaching and learning.
He has consistently argued that universities must prepare students for a technology-driven world by integrating AI and other emerging technologies into academic programmes while encouraging practical application of knowledge.
In November 2025, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance appointed Muganga to Uganda’s first National Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, which was established to help guide the country’s approach to AI policy and its responsible adoption.
His digital transformation advocacy also features in Victoria University’s five-year strategic plan for 2025–2030, which places technology, innovation, collaboration and real-world learning at the centre of the institution’s development agenda.
The university’s approach promotes experiential learning and digital competency, with an emphasis on preparing students for practical workplace demands rather than relying exclusively on traditional classroom instruction.
Muganga has additionally championed what he describes as authentic learning, an educational approach that connects academic knowledge to real-life challenges and equips learners with practical skills.
Recognition among Africa’s digital leaders
At the 2026 Digital Impact Awards Africa, Muganga was shortlisted in the CEO/Digital Transformation Leader of the Year category alongside other prominent figures from Uganda’s information technology, banking and telecommunications sectors.
The category included Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance; Dr Hatwib Mugasa of the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda; Pearl Bank Managing Director Julius Kakeeto; Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Chief Executive Sanjay Rughani; Airtel Uganda Managing Director Soumendra Sahu; and MTN Uganda Chief Executive Sylvia Mulinge.
The awards, organised by HiPipo under the theme “Maximising the Digital Dividend”, recognise individuals, institutions and innovations using technology to improve services, expand digital inclusion and create economic opportunities.
Muganga thanked the Victoria University team for representing him at the ceremony, particularly Doreen Kayonga, Senior Executive Officer in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, who received the award on his behalf.
He also appreciated HiPipo for the recognition, dedicating the award to individuals and institutions working towards Uganda’s digital transformation.
“I dedicate this award to everyone who shares the dream of seeing Uganda achieve a successful digital transformation. We all have a role to play in building a future where technology opens doors, creates opportunities and makes life better for all of us,” he wrote.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advancing the agenda, saying: “The work continues. The responsibility remains. And the best is still ahead.”
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