President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda recently held a meeting with representatives from Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. During this meeting, Huawei expressed its plan to create a digital prototype village in Uganda.
The proposed digital village is set to feature several key components, including a network tower station to improve connectivity, a solar power station equipped with Huawei’s innovative digital power micro-grid solution, and a collection of advanced smart classroom technologies.
This project is designed to complement Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM), which adopts a holistic approach to community development. Huawei’s initiative will provide the PDM with smart classrooms, remote medical diagnosis capabilities, and smart solar power installations, all at no cost to the Ugandan government.
One of the critical elements of the initiative is the Remote Diagnosis System, which will connect local health centers with larger national and regional hospitals, thereby enhancing the quality of healthcare available in rural communities. Additionally, the project will introduce Green Residential Smart PV systems to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply.
President Museveni has given directives to the Huawei team to draft a detailed proposal for the establishment of a digital cloud, which will serve as a basis for further discussions regarding the project’s implementation.
The smart village project by Huawei is intended to demonstrate the transformative potential of digital infrastructure in rural settings. By providing access to smart technologies, transparent information, and user-friendly tools, the initiative aims to tackle the challenges faced by villagers and promote overall development.
Sooma Mukyala Fouziya, the public relations manager for Huawei Technologies in Uganda, stated that the project is poised to make a significant contribution to the PDM. It aims to drive digital transformation and foster sustainable economic growth by integrating ICT solutions throughout the country.
Huawei’s Smart PV technology has played a pivotal role in several high-profile projects, exemplifying its commitment to renewable energy and innovative solutions. Notably, the technology has been utilized in the Abuja Steel PV plant by Paras Energy in Nigeria, which is a solar farm that provides eco-friendly power to the steel manufacturing sector. Another significant implementation of Huawei’s Smart PV is found in the ambitious project located in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, which features an impressive 400 MW PV capacity coupled with a 1300 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), all running on renewable energy sources.
President Museveni has taken a keen interest in Huawei’s “One Network One Cloud” strategy, which seeks to unify and streamline digital infrastructure. He has requested that Huawei’s team prepare an in-depth proposal on this initiative to facilitate further dialogue.
Over the past twenty years, Huawei has established a significant presence in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) regions, becoming a key player in the ICT sector. On June 28, 2024, Huawei announced its intention to invest in the future workforce by training an additional 150,000 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa over the coming three years. This initiative is part of Huawei’s broader strategy to nurture local talent and support the region’s technological advancement.
In addition to its educational efforts, Huawei has recently entered into a strategic cloud partnership with Telecom Egypt. This collaboration is set to bolster Huawei’s standing as a forward-thinking and reliable partner that is well-equipped to address the dynamic market needs of the MEA regions, further cementing its role as a leader in the global ICT landscape.
