Kabale University Selected to Host Uganda’s Artificial Intelligence Node Under the East African Regional AI Network

Kabale University has been competitively selected to host Uganda’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Node under the East African Regional AI Network, positioning the University at the forefront of AI education, research, innovation, and digital transformation in Uganda and the East African Community.

Kabale University has attained a landmark achievement after being competitively selected to host Uganda’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Node under the East African Regional AI Network (AI4EAC), becoming the country’s designated institution for advancing Artificial Intelligence education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity building.

The announcement was officially made on 29 July 2026 during the 17th Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) Annual Conference and General Meeting, held from 29 to 31 July 2026 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Regional AI Network is a flagship initiative established by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) under the EAC AI Alliance. The initiative seeks to establish one specialised Artificial Intelligence Node in every East African Community (EAC) Partner State as the foundation for the future East African Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. The Network serves as a collaborative platform for developing an AI-ready workforce, promoting responsible AI, strengthening research and innovation, advancing AI curricula, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting community engagement across the region.

Kabale University earned this prestigious recognition through a highly competitive Expression of Interest (EOI) process that attracted more than 140 applications from institutions across the region. The successful proposal was submitted through a consortium comprising Kabale University, the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU), and Bishop Stuart University (BSU).

As Uganda’s national AI Node, Kabale University will coordinate and strengthen regional collaboration in Artificial Intelligence for Education, Health, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Climate Action, and Responsible and Ethical AI. The University will also contribute to developing industry-relevant academic programmes, promoting interdisciplinary research, supporting innovation ecosystems, and strengthening partnerships between universities, government, industry, and development partners.

The initiative aligns with the broader vision of the EAC AI Alliance to position East Africa not merely as a consumer of emerging technologies, but as a global contributor to Artificial Intelligence through locally developed solutions that address regional challenges. The Regional AI Network is built around three strategic pillars:

• Advancing transdisciplinary AI research that addresses shared regional development challenges.
• Developing inclusive, practice-oriented AI education and curricula that equip graduates with future-ready digital skills.
• Promoting harmonised, responsible, ethical, and gender-responsive AI policies across the East African Community.

Kabale University now joins a distinguished network of founding AI Node institutions, including the University of Burundi, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (Kenya), the University of Rwanda, SIMAD University (Somalia), and the University of Dodoma (Tanzania), while additional AI Nodes are expected to be established in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together, these institutions will foster cross-border research collaboration, student and staff mobility, joint academic programmes, innovation challenges, and industry partnerships that will strengthen Artificial Intelligence capacity throughout the region.

The initiative at Kabale University is coordinated by Prof. Businge Phelix Mbabazi, Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Library and Information Sciences and Uganda’s AI Node Focal Person. Under his leadership, the University will spearhead national coordination while working closely with RENU, Bishop Stuart University, regional universities, governments, and international partners to develop scalable AI solutions that contribute to inclusive digital transformation and sustainable development.

This remarkable achievement further cements Kabale University’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in research, innovation, digital transformation, and higher education. It also reinforces the University’s commitment to producing graduates equipped with future-ready digital competencies while contributing meaningful Artificial Intelligence solutions to Uganda, the East African Community, and beyond.