𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧.@RebeccaKadagaUG calls for digital integration to make cross-border trade easier for businesses. @meaca_ug @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

Kenya is making progress in digital trade compared to other countries in East Africa, but the region needs to strengthen its digital capabilities, 𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧.@RebeccaKadagaUG says. @meaca_ug @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

The East African Community must use technology to advance trade, strengthen integration and create opportunities for its people:-𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧.@RebeccaKadagaUG , 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 @meaca_ug @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

“You do not measure integration by kilometres, but by action and the progress we make in different areas.” 𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧.@RebeccaKadagaUG says regional integration is a continuous process that requires sustained growth and improvement. @meaca_ug @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

Fragmented regulations, incompatible payment systems, inadequate logistics, cybersecurity risks, and limited digital skills continue to constrain cross-border digital trade. Addressing these challenges requires regional cooperation, predictable rules, and trusted digital systems. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗸, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮. I am particularly pleased that this year’s symposium welcomes participants from all eight East African Community partner states, as well as Ghana and South Africa. This reflects our shared understanding that the digital economy does not stop at national borders, and neither should the opportunities it offers. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

Day Two of #KTASymposium2026 is underway at Kampala Marriott Hotel, bringing together experts, policymakers and business leaders to discuss Africa’s digital future, trade and regional integration. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

The Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of East African Community Affairs, has arrived at the #KTASymposium2026 at Kampala Marriott Hotel. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

I have consistently emphasised value addition. When we process our agricultural commodities, manufacture industrial products and commercialise Ugandan knowledge, we create employment and retain more value in our economy. Digital technology should help us achieve these results by connecting producers to buyers, improving productivity and reducing the cost of doing business. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚, representing President Yoweri Museveni at #KTASymposium2026, emphasises the role of digital trade in boosting production, expanding markets and creating jobs. He highlights the importance of value addition, regional integration and digital technology in helping Ugandan businesses reach customers across Africa. He also calls for affordable cross-border payments, simpler trade procedures and stronger consumer protection to build trust in digital commerce. He further stresses the need to protect intellectual property, support local innovators, and develop a regional trust seal to help consumers identify verified online sellers and give businesses confidence to trade across borders. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

𝐆𝐞𝐧. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐮 𝐌𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐢, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 We need to strengthen public-private dialogue so that stakeholders can learn from one another and develop practical solutions for cross-border payments, including through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and the East African Payment System. We must also support MSMEs and other businesses participating in digital markets and develop recommendations that can inform national, East African Community and AfCFTA implementation processes. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

We must prepare people for the jobs that the Digital Single Market creates, not just the jobs it takes away. A fragmented market of 55 African countries can make it difficult for start-ups to grow. We must therefore harmonise trade rules under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

𝐆𝐞𝐧. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐮 𝐌𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐢, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 We need to move from frameworks to functioning digital markets. Africa has already established important continental frameworks, including the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy. The central challenge now is how to implement and operationalise the Digital Single Market. From the Ministry’s perspective, this will require harmonised digital regulations, clear frameworks for cross-border data flows and data governance, cybersecurity and consumer protection, digital payments and interoperability, customs and taxation, digital identity and electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) systems, logistics and last-mile delivery, as well as the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐨, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐂𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Through these frameworks, we seek to harness technology to drive socio-economic transformation, improve public service delivery and expand economic opportunities for our citizens. We are seated here today to talk about e-commerce, but I would like to inform you that Uganda has made significant progress. The Government has invested a lot in digital connectivity. Our national fibre network has grown from about 20,000 kilometres in 2021 to approximately 60,000 kilometres today. We are aiming to reach the 100,000-kilometre mark by 2030, as our current medium-term planning period comes to an end. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

When properly managed, digital commerce can be a boon for customers as well. Electronic trade brings innovation from afar right to your doorstep. It also drives competition, which lowers prices and delivers more value to the customer. Of course, both consumers and businesses want to be sure that the products and services they buy and sell are legitimate. Nobody wants to rock out in knock-off Nikes or, God forbid, wear a counterfeit Arsenal jersey when they step out on the town in Kampala. They want the genuine article. @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

Our ATMS priorities give this effort a clear focus: agro-industrialisation; tourism development; mineral-based industrial development; and science, technology and innovation. Digital trade and intellectual property can help us advance each of these priorities:-President @KagutaMuseveni @USEmbassyUganda @xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026

As someone who works with a number of business associations, and we have a number of them represented here, including the fintech service providers association, the Carbon Markets Association of Uganda, PACA, which is an association of traders, and the Internet Service Provider Association of Uganda, representing all ISPs in Uganda, we are seeing that, without this collective effort and discussion, it will be difficult to get us where we want to be.:-@xcenneth @ug_lawsociety @kta_law @mtic_uganda @nssfug @UCC_Official @KTASymposium #KTASymposium2026