On Friday, we convened a high-level consultative meeting with senior enterprise and technology leaders as part of our ongoing efforts to shape a more coordinated and grounded conversation on Uganda’s digital transformation agenda. The engagement forms part of a broader consultative process ahead of the upcoming CIO Conclave and reflects the Forum’s commitment to listening to key voices across the digital ecosystem.

The consultative meeting marked an important step in strengthening executive-level leadership and coordination for digital transformation across sectors, positioning technology leaders to evolve from technical implementers into enterprise decision-makers, business leaders, and key drivers of national development.

Participants in the meeting, including Collin Babirukamu, Rowena Turinawe, Ibrahim Senyonga, Peter Mukuru, Janey Nakato, George Ouma, Jonathan Kayemba, and Gideon Nkurunungi, collectively noted that digital transformation is no longer an IT function but a leadership agenda encompassing strategy, operations, finance, governance, and innovation.

They also reflected on the growing need for stronger alignment between technology leaders and the broader executive layer, so that digital decision-making is better connected to strategy, operations, finance, innovation, and service delivery.

The consultative session explored key priorities to accelerate digital transformation, including the development of shared digital infrastructure and collaborative platforms, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on responsible and scalable implementation across sectors, and the advancement of national job-skilling initiatives to drive digital talent acceleration.

Participants emphasized the importance of creating shared value platforms for enterprise collaboration, strengthening data-driven leadership supported by enabling digital policy frameworks, and fostering cross-sector coordination to deliver more impactful and sustainable transformation outcomes.

Rowena Turinawe, CEO of RukaPay, said, “The CIO-CXO Digital Leadership Forum is not just about technology leaders. It is about how the broader executive layer comes together to shape enterprise transformation and national digital progress. From RukaPay’s perspective, we are especially keen on its potential to strengthen financial inclusion through last-mile and cross-border rails, support locally built solutions, create greater opportunity for SMEs and youth, and help build a stronger ecosystem for innovators and emerging leaders.”

Gideon Nkurunungi, the Executive Secretary, CIO–CxO Digital Leadership Forum thanked the leaders who made time to participate in the consultative engagement and for their commitment to shaping a stronger digital leadership ecosystem. He noted that the energy and alignment demonstrated reaffirmed that digital transformation is no longer a technology conversation alone, but a leadership responsibility across sectors.

He invited CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, technology leaders, and the broader executive community to attend the CIO Conclave on April 24th, describing it as what is shaping up to be a defining moment for enterprise-driven digital transformation. “This is an opportunity to move from conversations to shared execution, from isolated initiatives to shared value platforms, and from technology adoption to national impact,” he concluded.

The CIO Conclave is expected to highlight:

  • The evolving role of CIOs and technology leaders as enterprise executives.
  • Cross-sector collaboration models for digital transformation.
  • Shared platforms to accelerate adoption and innovation.
  • AI and emerging technology leadership priorities.
  • Digital talent acceleration and job creation initiatives.
  • Enterprise-driven digital transformation frameworks.

The consultative meeting also reinforced the Forum’s ambition to position Uganda as a regional hub for digital leadership and enterprise transformation, leveraging collaboration across public and private sector institutions.

Further announcements and programme details are expected to be released at the CIO Conclave.