Zim plans one-stop digital policy; Uganda to merge 700 ICT systems
Africa AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Africa AI News email digest!
Lots of news to share across Africa this week! Kenya ranks first globally for AI usage, with 97.5% of online adults using AI monthly; Uganda moves to integrate more than 700 government ICT systems to support AI deployment; RENU and Otic Group target 3 million Ugandan learners with AI skills by 2030; Zambia and China deepen cooperation on AI infrastructure and training; and Germany warns that more than 80% of Africa’s $1.25 billion in AI investment is concentrated in just four countries.
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/Carrington
AI Strategy
Zimbabwe plans one-stop digital policy
#Zimbabwe #policy - Zimbabwe is developing a Digital Industrial One-Stop Policy to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen cybersecurity and expand AI adoption across key sectors. ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera said planned measures include integrated digital policy, cross-border digital trade agreements, expanded e-commerce frameworks and commercialisation pathways for young technology innovators. (Herald)
Uganda to merge 700 ICT systems for AI rollout
#Uganda #digitaltransformation - Uganda’s government is consolidating more than 700 fragmented ICT systems serving about 350 distinct processes, eliminating duplication and preparing public agencies for artificial intelligence deployment. The integration will support paperless services and Uganda’s National Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework across 14 priority sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, banking and the judiciary. (Kampala Post)
DRC launches Lingala data and youth digital campaign
#DRC #policy - The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a Lingala-language data project for artificial intelligence alongside a nationwide Digital Code awareness campaign. With UNDP support, 2,000 youth volunteers will help explain digital rights and responsibilities, while the language initiative aims to improve locally relevant AI systems. (XtraAfrica)
Investment
80% of Africa AI investment goes to four markets
#Africa #Investment - Germany’s BMZ says more than 80 per cent of $1.25 billion in African AI investment has flowed to just four countries, while Africa holds under one per cent of global data-centre capacity. Germany and the EAC have launched AI4EAC, targeting 20,000 participants and offering $50,000 in prizes. (Tanzania Times)
Adoption
Kenya tops global artificial intelligence usage
#Kenya #adoption- Kenya has ranked first globally for artificial intelligence adoption, with 97.5 per cent of online adults using at least one AI tool monthly, according to DataReportal. The country placed ahead of the UAE at 94.2 per cent and Indonesia at 93.6 per cent. (ITWeb Africa)
Startups
Mathesis gets backing for its credit engine
#Nigeria #funding - Nigerian credit-decisioning company Mathesis Analytics secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Sewa Capital on 13 August. It will expand its lender network, institutional integrations, product and data infrastructure. Mathesis says its engine has supported more than eight million loans for over two million Nigerian borrowers. (TechBuild Africa)
Tennsa raises ZAR1M in Oakvale’s first deal
#SouthAfrica #funding - Cape Town startup Tennsa raised more than ZAR1 million, about $61,000, from Oakvale Invest for product development and market expansion. The pre-seed investment is Oakvale’s first disclosed portfolio deal. Tennsa OS connects sales, stock, invoices and communications data to help small businesses spot operational problems. (Daba Finance)
Data Centres
Equinix sets Joburg centre on path to 24MW
#SouthAfrica #datacentres - Equinix will expand its Johannesburg 1 data centre from 4MW of live capacity to 24MW through two planned 10MW phases. The facility has power provisioned for artificial-intelligence workloads and liquid cooling. Future construction depends on demand; the company’s wider South African expansion budget is R7.5 billion. (ITWeb)
NITDA signs two Canada technology agreements
#Nigeria #infrastructure - Nigeria’s NITDA signed memoranda with Toronto-based Goose FL and Fireflies AI covering financial inclusion, local AI infrastructure and services, technology transfer and capacity building. NITDA disclosed neither budgets nor timetables. The agreements were signed in Canada and aim to build more domestic technology capacity. (Tech Africa News)
LINGUA backs 26 African-language projects
#Kenya #NLP - LINGUA Africa selected 26 projects covering more than 50 languages, dialects and sign languages used by over 500 million people in 47 countries. Microsoft, the Gates Foundation, Google.org and Masakhane are backing work in health, agriculture, education and public services; total support was not disclosed. (TechMoran)
Justice
UNESCO backs rights-based AI in South Africa
#Africa #justice - UNESCO is promoting rights-based AI across African judiciaries, emphasising human oversight, transparency and gender equality. More than 300 judicial leaders backed the Johannesburg Declaration, while UNESCO said its Global Judges Initiative has trained over 38,000 judicial operators in more than 160 countries on responsible digital justice. (UNESCO)
Jobs
World Bank flags Ethiopia productivity gap
#Ethiopia #jobs - World Bank research suggests AI will cause limited near-term job disruption in Ethiopia because employment is concentrated in agriculture and manufacturing. However, weak electricity, connectivity, skills and local data could restrict productivity gains, underscoring the need to adapt existing technologies to local languages, sectors and public services. (Birr Metrics)
Education
MTN adds job matching across 11 markets
#SouthAfrica #workforce - MTN launched an AI-enabled Job Board inside its Skills Academy across 11 markets. It matches learners with vacancies and free courses based on skills, location and goals, while tracking applications. The academy reports nearly 526,000 enrolments and 192,000 course completions since its 2022 launch. (MTN)
UMAMI launches EGP50 million learning platform in Egypt
#Egypt #education - Egyptian edtech company UMAMI has launched a Learning Operating System in Cairo, backed by phased investment exceeding EGP50 million. Designed for governments, ministries and large institutions across MENA, it connects learning, skills and workforce readiness, while UMAMI has also secured certification under Egypt’s national Startup Charter. (Zawya)
RENU and Otic target 3M learners by 2030
#Uganda #skills - Research and Education Network for Uganda and Otic Group have partnered to equip more than 3 million learners with AI literacy and practical skills by 2030. The programme combines RENU’s network of over 1,200 institutions with Otic’s training expertise, targeting schools, educators, researchers and innovation communities. (RENU)
Google.org funds 30-university training plan
#Nigeria #education - Google.org committed $1.1 million to FATE Foundation’s Africa AI Upskilling Programme, delivered with AIMS. Its train-the-trainer model starts at 10 Nigerian universities, then expands to 30 institutions across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, aiming to reach more than 30,000 STEM students. (BusinessDay)
Competitions
EAC launches $50,000 regional challenge
#Tanzania #education - The East African Community and Germany launched the second AI4EAC challenge, targeting 20,000 people across eight partner states and offering $50,000 in prizes. Equity Group and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology joined the alliance. A new Ebola track seeks models for outbreak detection, preparedness and response. (East African Community)
Gebeya opens CANEX pathway with IREX
#Ethiopia #multimedia - Gebeya and IREX opened a dedicated CANEX Create-Thon 2026 application route for IREX alumni on 11 August. The pan-African challenge asks creators to build AI-powered music, video or game products on Gebeya’s Dala Studio platform. The announcement did not specify prize values for IREX applicants. (IREX)
Heritage
Egypt and UK to launch virtual heritage centre
#Egypt #heritage - Egypt and the UK will launch a joint AI and virtual heritage centre in Egypt on 17 August. The initiative will apply digitisation, 3D modelling and AI to archaeology, Egyptology and cultural preservation, supporting research and new methods for documenting and safeguarding heritage. (Egypt State Information Service)
Bilaterals
Zambia and China deepen technology cooperation
#Zambia #China - Zambia and China are exploring deeper cooperation on digital infrastructure, computing capacity, skills and locally tailored applications. China has pledged 5,000 training opportunities, while both countries are considering 5G expansion, local computing hubs, joint laboratories and stronger coordination on governance and data sovereignty. (Ministry of Technology and Science)
Ethiopia and Benin deepen technology cooperation
#Ethiopia #Benin - Ethiopia and Benin are deepening cooperation on artificial intelligence following a visit by Benin’s Digital Transformation Minister Mahuna Akplogan to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. Talks covered technology transfer, skills development and institutional capacity building, supporting both countries’ digital transformation agendas and efforts to strengthen African technological capabilities. (Tech Review Africa)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]