An hour of software training for a young woman in Uganda

Uganda has long been more than just an agricultural country: it is considered one of the emerging technology hubs in East Africa (GlobaltechEcosystem 2025), with a vibrant start-up culture and young women like Tracy who are taking their future into their own hands. "I used to think that technology was only for rich people. Now I know that with the right education, we too can make a big difference," she says proudly. And the need is great: by 2030, 85 million tech jobs worldwide could remain unfilled (World Economic Forum 2023). This is a challenge, but also a historic opportunity. With the right training, a laptop, and internet access, young talents around the world can contribute to digital progress. In Uganda, however, this potential often remains untapped, especially among young women. Poverty, traditional role models, and a lack of educational opportunities make it difficult to enter the tech world. Even with a university scholarship, there is often not enough money for a laptop, accommodation, or food, and thus no chance of a future in the digital world of work. Yet Uganda has long proven that there is another way: tech entrepreneurs such as Evelyn Namara, founder of the digital payment platform Vouch Digital, show how companies founded by women “Made in Uganda” can transform entire industries. Programs such as Groundbreaker Talents address precisely this issue: they remove barriers and enable young women to receive training in the tech sector – with real job opportunities, both locally and internationally. This is creating a new generation of female tech talent that is not only leaving poverty behind, but also actively shaping Uganda's digital future.