Uganda pioneers offline AI technology

__________________

Uganda has unveiled a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that works without an internet connection, potentially revolutionising access to digital tools in low-connectivity environments.

The innovation, developed under the newly launched AI Studio at the Deep Tech Centre of Excellence, aims to address the unique challenges faced by many Ugandans, particularly limited internet access and the high cost of smart devices.

Unveiled at last week's National Science Week at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala city, the technology is the brainchild of the Industry 4.0 bureau, working under the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Secretariat under the Office of the President, headed by Minister Dr Monica Musenero. The AI Studio is led by technologist David Gonahasa.

AI without the Internet

The offline technology allows users to access AI models, such as virtual assistants like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, without needing to be connected to the Internet. This is made possible through a locally developed app that enables interaction with AI models even on basic devices.

CEO AI Studio Uganda, Roland Ganafa during the National Science Week on 17th June 2025 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. (Photo by Miriam Najjingo)

“What we are building is AI for Uganda. Technology that works even in low-connectivity areas,” Lamek Kavuma, a lead developer at AI Studio, said. “Our Internet penetration is low, smartphones are expensive, and many people still use feature phones. This technology helps bridge that digital divide.”

Kavuma explained that the app can store and process AI models locally, allowing users to interact with it just as they would with online tools, including asking questions and receiving immediate responses.

“This enables students, small business owners, farmers, and many others to benefit from AI without worrying about data costs,” he said.

Language model

Kavuma revealed that Uganda is also developing its large language model (LLM), a foundational AI model similar to those developed by major tech companies, built entirely from local data and designed to understand the Ugandan context.

“Instead of relying on Western-developed models trained on foreign data, we are collecting Ugandan data and training AI to reflect our language, culture, and challenges,” he said.

The initiative is being supported by several partners, including Africloud, which is providing the computing infrastructure, and Google, which is offering technical guidance to fine-tune the models for local use.

Roland Ganafa, a co-developer on the project, emphasised the significance of locally trained AI.

“When trained on Ugandan data, these models understand our languages, our medicinal practices, our agricultural techniques and our socio-cultural nuances,” he said. “This makes the technology more relevant and useful to everyday Ugandans.”

AI hallucination

One of the major challenges with imported AI models is their tendency to “hallucinate” or provide inaccurate answers, especially when dealing with Africa-specific issues. This is largely due to the lack of African data used during training.

To combat this, Uganda is also developing a commercialisation mark, a tool that will help evaluate the effectiveness of AI tools in African contexts.

“With this benchmark, we’ll be able to measure how well AI models — both foreign and local — understand Ugandan realities. If a model performs at only 30% accuracy for Ugandan queries, we’ll know where and how to improve it,” Kavuma said.

The developers say the potential applications of the offline AI technology go beyond basic assistance.

“For instance, in agriculture, it can guide farmers on value addition, help dairy producers improve productivity, or advise coffee growers on how to access export markets,” Kavuma said. “In healthcare, it could assist in interpreting local herbal knowledge or bridging language barriers in diagnosis and treatment.”

Innovation on display

The AI Studio's innovation is among more than 300 innovations showcased at this year’s National Science Week, which ran from June 15 to 20. The event highlights the country’s progress in turning local ideas into market-ready products, and showcases everything from electric vehicles to advanced agricultural tools.

Minister Musenero said the event is part of a broader government push to foster a science- and innovation-driven economy.

“We are building an economy powered by science and innovation. This is the future of Uganda,” she said.

To boost innovation, the government recently launched the Deep Tech Centre, a state-owned facility focused on fast-tracking high-impact research and commercialisation. Other initiatives include the Deep Tech and Climate Tech Summit, designed to connect innovators, investors and policy makers.

From e-mobility solutions to export-focused agritech and now offline AI, Uganda’s innovation landscape is showing signs of a promising leap forward.

“We are building an economy powered by science and innovation. This is the future of Uganda,” Musenero says.