Uganda’s digital transformation agenda received continental validation in November 2025 when CIO Africa Magazine named Dr. Aminah Zawedde among the 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation in Africa for 2024–2025.
The recognition places her among a select group of distinguished leaders shaping policy, technology, and innovation across the continent.
The annual list celebrates women whose contributions are redefining Africa’s technological trajectory—from artificial intelligence and digital health to fintech, e-commerce, nuclear energy advocacy, and national innovation systems.
This year’s honourees include Rwanda’s Paula Ingabire, applauded for steering the country toward becoming an AI powerhouse through a landmark $17.5 million investment in Africa’s first AI Scaling Hub; and South Africa’s Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers South Africa, whose influence spans a $4 billion digital portfolio and vast youth skilling programmes.
For Uganda, Dr. Zawedde’s inclusion carries special significance as she is the only Ugandan on the list. A computer scientist and software engineering scholar with a PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology, she has carved out a niche as one of the few African women with deep technical grounding at the core of her leadership.
Since assuming office as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Dr. Zawedde has championed reforms that position digital transformation as a whole-of-government priority.
In 2025, she oversaw the rollout of Uganda’s ICT Intellectual Property Guidelines, offering local innovators long overdue protection and commercialisation pathways.
Her national digital-skilling agenda has trained more than 40,000 Ugandans—including 1,500 refugees who achieved an 86% ICDL pass rate—while her regional vision led to Uganda hosting the first East & Africa Digital Transformation Summit in June 2025.
She has further strengthened public-sector digital capacity through a partnership with MultiChoice Uganda that trained over 200 government communication officers. Her advocacy for BPO growth, broadband expansion, and youth-centred job creation reflects a leadership philosophy that blends technical rigor, inclusivity, and execution.
Other notable women on the 2024–2025 list include Ada Nduka Oyom, Dr. Chinasa Okolo, Ethel Cofie, Charlette N’Guessan, Prof. Anicia Peters, Nicole Harris, Dr. Viviane Oke, Princess Mthombeni, among many others celebrated for advancing Africa’s digital future.