Overview:
Uganda urges Huawei to advance local IT training toward assembly and manufacturing of smartphones, while weighing tax cuts on mobile devices.
Uganda’s finance minister has praised tech giant Huawei for its role in expanding the country’s digital infrastructure, while welcoming policy proposals to slash smartphone taxes and boost local tech manufacturing.
Henry Musasizi, the minister for finance, planning and economic development, met with a delegation from Huawei Technologies Uganda led by Managing Director Zhang Hao at the ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.
During the discussions, senior executives from the Chinese telecommunications company presented measures aimed at accelerating digital inclusion and bringing down the cost of digital services. Key proposals included tax incentives to lower the cost of mobile devices and push Uganda’s current smartphone penetration rate beyond 46 percent.
Musasizi said the engagement offered fresh insight for the ministry, adding that officials will conduct further research to guide future tax decisions on mobile devices.
“Broad access to affordable smart devices will help accelerate digital transformation, improve service delivery, and contribute to overall economic growth,” Musasizi said.
The meeting comes as Huawei marks 25 years of operations in the East African nation. Beyond expanding digital connectivity and carrying out corporate social responsibility projects, Musasizi urged the firm to take its local training programs a step further. He called for ICT skills transferred to young Ugandans to be advanced toward enabling local manufacturing of computers, smartphones, and other tech equipment, in line with the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy and the development of its science, technology, and innovation sector.
The high-level meeting was also attended by Uganda’s Director of Economic Affairs Moses Kaggwa and Assistant Commissioner Collins Inkesha, alongside senior executives from Huawei.