The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) has officially expanded internet connectivity across several refugee settlements and host communities throughout the country.
The rollout driven by a push for equal access to digital services comes as part of a larger government strategy to enhance ICT infrastructure, education and public service delivery in underserved areas.
This latest expansion targets some of Uganda’s most vulnerable and often digitally excluded populations like refugees and the rural communities that host them. By installing new internet access points and connecting local institutions such as schools, health centers and community hubs, NITA-U is redefining what it means to empower communities through technology.
With Uganda hosting over 1.5 million refugees making it Africa’s largest refugee-hosting nation, the need for digital inclusion has never been more urgent.
Education, communication, health services and even economic opportunities increasingly depend on reliable internet access.
NITA-U’s intervention seeks to close this access gap and ensure that no one regardless of status or location is left behind.
Initial installations have been confirmed in refugee settlements like Nakivale, Bidi Bidi, and Rwamwanja as well as surrounding host districts that have long struggled with weak ICT infrastructure.
Local leaders and humanitarian actors have welcomed the development calling it “a new era of connection and empowerment.”
From refugee students attending online classes to health workers accessing digital records and small business owners leveraging e-commerce, the expanded internet services are already making an impact.
“We can now attend virtual training sessions without walking miles to the district center.”
According to NITA-U officials, the expansion is being implemented through the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project, supported by both government and international development partners.
The initiative focuses on last-mile connectivity, cybersecurity and capacity building ensuring that communities not only get connected but stay connected securely.
This move by NITA-U is part of Uganda’s broader Digital Transformation Roadmap, which aims to achieve full e-government and inclusive digital growth by 2030. By extending the internet to the grassroots, the authority is not just connecting cables, it’s connecting futures.
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