IUIU Law Lecturer shares Legal and Policy Perspectives on Uganda’s AI Future During Uganda Law Society High-Level Panel
- 01st October, 2026 7:35pm
IUIU Law lecturer Ms Nagadya Hamidah shared legal and policy perspectives on Uganda's AI Future at the Uganda Law Society Law Tech Festival, held from 17–18 September 2026 at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, under the theme “Digital Democracy: Advancing Access to Justice, Innovation, and Ethical Governance through Technology,”.
The event brought together distinguished stakeholders from the judiciary, government, legal profession, academia, technology, and the private sector to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges arising from technological transformation.
In the High-Level Policy Roundtable on “Towards a Harmonized National & Regional AI Strategy,” Ms Nagadya Hamidah brought a legal, policy and private-sector perspective to the discussion. Her contribution focused on key considerations that Uganda should take into account in developing its policy and regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.
Ms. Hamidah emphasised the importance of developing an AI governance framework that promotes technological innovation while providing appropriate safeguards for individuals, businesses and society. She highlighted several areas requiring careful legal and policy consideration, including personal data protection and privacy, accountability and liability for AI-driven decisions, transparency and explainability, algorithmic bias and discrimination, human oversight of high-risk AI systems, AI safety and risk assessment, consumer protection, and the regulation of deepfakes and synthetic content.
She also highlighted emerging issues related to intellectual property and ownership of AI-generated content, the future of work, inclusion and the digital divide, cybersecurity, malicious use of AI, responsible government adoption of AI, responsible data sharing, environmental considerations, and effective institutional oversight.
These considerations underscore the importance of ensuring that Uganda’s emerging AI governance framework is not only responsive to technological innovation, but is also grounded in human rights, accountability, transparency, safety and public trust.
Beyond the regulatory dimension, Ms. Hamidah highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence within businesses and the private sector. She noted that AI can support businesses in areas including customer service, marketing and sales, financial management, inventory management, supply-chain and logistics operations, human resource management, business decision-making, innovation, cybersecurity, productivity, market access and legal and regulatory compliance.
Particular attention was given to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which constitute an important component of Uganda’s economy. AI has the potential to enable SMEs to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, strengthen decision-making, understand customers more effectively, reach wider markets and compete within an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The high-level dialogue was further enriched by distinguished voices from Uganda’s justice sector. The event was graced by Chief Guest Hon. Justice Frederick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende, Justice Emeritus of the Court of Appeal of Uganda, whose presence underscored the significance of discussions concerning technology and the future of justice.
Hon. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice of the Court of Appeal, reflected on the potential for Smart Justice to develop alongside other smart, data-driven and technology-enabled solutions, highlighting the evolving relationship between technology and the administration of justice.
The Attorney General, Hon. Dr. Sam Mayanja, called for responsible adoption of technology within Uganda’s justice system, emphasising that digital transformation should expand access to justice while safeguarding professional ethics, confidentiality, cybersecurity and the rule of law.
The discussions at the Law Tech Festival demonstrated that Uganda’s AI future requires more than technological advancement alone. It calls for informed policy, sound legal frameworks, ethical leadership, responsible innovation and meaningful collaboration among government, the judiciary, academia, the private sector and wider society.
As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape economies, institutions and everyday life, informed legal and policy dialogue will remain essential to ensuring that technological progress is accompanied by responsibility, inclusion, accountability, innovation and respect for fundamental rights.
