Uganda launches ABQ Cloud to keep national data at home

2026-03-04 - 11:48

Inside the halls of the Raxio Data Centre in Namanve, Uganda quietly made a statement about its digital future. Servers blinked behind reinforced glass. Cooling systems hummed softly. Engineers guided guests past rows of neatly stacked hardware, the physical backbone of something less visible but increasingly vital: data. On Thursday, Uganda officially launched ABQ Cloud, a sovereign cloud platform designed to keep the country’s data within its borders and reduce reliance on foreign tech giants. The event, held at the Deep Tech Hub, brought together officials from the Science, Technology and Innovation Office of the President (STI-OP), alongside executives from ABQ Cloud, Roke Cloud, AfriQloud, EDiC and members of Uganda’s innovation community. For years, many Ugandan businesses and startups have relied on offshore cloud providers like Amazon Web Services to store their data and run their applications. That dependence has come at a cost, exposure to foreign exchange volatility, higher hosting fees, slower speeds due to distance, and concerns about data sovereignty. ABQ Cloud aims to change that. Positioned as a platform “built by Ugandans for Uganda and Africa,” it offers locally hosted cloud services priced in Ugandan shillings. The promise is simple: faster performance, predictable billing, and tighter control over national data. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, described the initiative as a strategic pillar for economic transformation. “ABQ Cloud represents the future of Uganda’s digital economy,” she said. “By investing in sovereign infrastructure, we are empowering our innovators, protecting our national data, and positioning Uganda as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation.” The ambition is not modest. Governments across Africa are increasingly concerned about where their data lives, and who ultimately controls it. As more public services move online and artificial intelligence tools process sensitive information, the question of digital sovereignty has shifted from abstract policy debate to urgent national priority. Eric Mugerwa, Chief Technology Officer of ABQ Cloud, called the platform “a foundation for Uganda’s digital independence.” “By providing secure, affordable and locally hosted cloud services, we are empowering innovators, businesses and government to build confidently, innovate faster and scale sustainably,” he said. The infrastructure underpinning the ecosystem is already in place. During a guided tour, guests saw the Raxio Data Centre’s globally certified facilities, capable of supporting advanced analytics and artificial intelligence workloads. Caroline Kamaitha, General Manager of Raxio Data Centre, said the collaboration ensures Uganda’s data remains “secure, accessible and supported by infrastructure built to international standards while serving local needs.” Partnerships sit at the heart of the project. James Byaruhanga, Managing Director of Roke Cloud, said the goal is to make cloud technology more accessible to Ugandan businesses and startups. Peter Muhumuza, Chief Technical Officer of Roke Telkom and Roke Cloud, announced the launch of MBQ, an infrastructure platform developed with AfriCloud and the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat. “Most people want to buy cloud space online on Amazon, so we brought it here with the support of the Government,” he said. “It is deployed here at the Uganda Data Centre.” Selected innovators will receive free cloud space to refine their solutions. “We are AI- ready,” Muhumuza added. “Any innovators in Uganda who have AI platforms or want to use AI, the platform is here to help them develop their innovation.” The model lowers entry barriers. Entrepreneurs who want to start cloud businesses no longer need to invest in expensive servers. “We give you a white- labelled solution and you go sell to your customers,” Muhumuza explained.