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A quiet digital revolution is transforming Uganda’s traditional marketplaces as hundreds of market vendors embrace technology to enhance their businesses.

Through a groundbreaking Digital Skilling Program, traders who once relied solely on conventional business methods are now integrating digital tools, improving efficiency, increasing profits, and expanding their customer base.

This morning, 851 market vendors graduated from the initiative, which equips small business owners with practical digital skills tailored to their daily trade. The program, spearheaded by Uganda’s Ministry of ICT & National Guidance in collaboration with the National ICT Innovation Hub, MTN Uganda Foundation, and Huawei Uganda, is bridging the gap between traditional commerce and digital opportunity.

Of the 851 graduates, 493 (58%) were male, while 358 (42%) were female. Training sessions were held in Kamwokya Community Centre, Kamwokya Market, Kamwokya Mosque, Kitintale Market, Port Bell Market, and Usafi Market, ensuring accessibility for vendors operating in different parts of Kampala.

From Manual Records to Digital Efficiency

For Jane Nakitto, a 57-year-old fabric vendor at Port Bell Market, the training has revolutionized how she manages her business. She now records her sales using an inventory app and accepts mobile money payments instead of handling cash.

“Before, I would lose track of what sold best, but now my phone tells me,” Nakitto shares proudly, holding up her smartphone. “My children were surprised when I showed them I could do this.”

Similarly, Robert Okello, a 42-year-old produce seller at Kamwokya Market, says technology has streamlined his supplier interactions.

“I was afraid of these things,” he admits. “At my age, you think technology is for the young. But now I send price requests to five suppliers at once instead of calling each one. I save time and find better prices.”

For vendors like Jane and Robert, learning to track inventory, manage expenses, and communicate with customers digitally has significantly improved their business operations. Trainers report that 78% of graduates implement at least one digital tool in their business within two weeks of training.

Mobile Classrooms Bringing Technology to Vendors

A key innovation of the program is its mobile digital buses—high-tech classrooms on wheels equipped with computers, internet access, and interactive learning screens. Rather than expecting vendors to attend workshops far from their businesses, the buses bring training directly to their workplaces, ensuring high participation rates.

“The first time the yellow bus arrived at Usafi Market, people were skeptical,” recalls Mable Kayima, a technical facilitator for the program. “By the second week, we had vendors lining up before we even opened the doors.”

Inside these mobile hubs, vendors learn essential digital skills, such as using mobile money platforms, managing suppliers via WhatsApp, advertising through social media, and tracking sales with simple spreadsheet applications.

For Esther Namuganza, a 26-year-old single mother who sells handcrafted baskets, digital skills have opened up new opportunities.

“Now, I take photos of my best designs and share them in WhatsApp groups with tourists and expatriates,” she explains, displaying her digital catalog on her phone. “Last month, I received an order for 50 baskets from a hotel in Entebbe.”

Closing the Digital Gender Gap

With 42% female participation, the initiative is also breaking traditional gender barriers in digital entrepreneurship. Many women, who previously relied on family members to handle technology are now independently using digital tools to grow their businesses.

Fatima Nakabuye, a spice vendor at Kitintale Market, says she used to depend on her teenage son for anything technology-related. Now, she confidently manages her digital transactions.

“Men always had more connections for business. Now my phone is my connection,” Nakabuye says. “I joined a group of women vendors across different markets. We share supplier information and support each other.”

The program’s human-centered approach ensures that training is accessible, with facilitators speaking local languages, using culturally relevant examples, and providing follow-up sessions to help vendors troubleshoot challenges.

A National Vision for Digital Inclusion

Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, emphasizes that this initiative is a crucial step in implementing Uganda’s Digital Transformation Roadmap.

“This digital skilling initiative represents the practical implementation of our digital vision. When we see market vendors using technology to increase their incomes, we’re witnessing a digital transformation that matters to ordinary Ugandans. This initiative aligns directly with the government’s commitment to ICT as a driver of national development.”

The program also aligns with MTN Uganda Foundation’s MTN ACE program, which focuses on making digital skills accessible to all.

Bryan Mbasa, Senior Manager of MTN Uganda Foundation, highlights the human-centered philosophy behind their investment.

“The MTN ACE program has always been about meeting people where they are in their digital journey. Our digital buses are bridges connecting traditional commerce to digital opportunity. A vendor learns digital finance in the morning and is using it with customers by the afternoon.”

Expanding the Digital Skilling Program Nationwide

Following the success in Kampala, program partners are now preparing to expand the initiative to other regions, including Eastern, Western, Northern, and Central Uganda.

Data shows that mobile money transactions among participants have increased by 23%, further proving the tangible benefits of the training.

Steven Kirenga, General Manager of Product Development at Centenary Technology Services, explains why this program is making such an impact.

“What we’re witnessing is technology democratization in its purest form. We designed this initiative not just to transfer skills but to transform mindsets. When a market vendor realizes they can use the same technology as a corporate executive to solve their specific business challenges, that’s when digital inclusion becomes meaningful.”

Government officials also recognize the program as a major step toward Uganda’s Digital Uganda Vision 2040.

“This isn’t about abstract concepts of digital transformation,” a Ministry of ICT & National Guidance representative says. “It’s about making technology relevant and accessible to ordinary Ugandans in ways that improve their daily lives.”

The Ripple Effect of Digital Learning

Beyond individual success stories, the program is fostering digital literacy within entire communities.

James Muwonge, a fresh produce vendor, now mentors fellow traders, helping them adopt digital tools.

“My neighbors see how I use my phone for business and want to learn,” he says. “Last Sunday, I taught eight people, including a 52-year-old woman who wants to talk to her grandchildren overseas.”

As MTN digital buses prepare to expand beyond Kampala, the program is proving that digital transformation is not just for large corporations—it is for ordinary Ugandans working in markets, selling produce, textiles, crafts, and more.

Back at Port Bell Market, Jane Nakitto finishes serving a customer who found her fabric stall through a digital market directory created by program graduates.

“Technology was always something that happened elsewhere, in big companies or with young people,” she reflects. “Now it happens here, among us, in the market. And we are the ones making it happen.”

As Uganda continues its journey towards digital inclusion, initiatives like this are proving that technology can empower everyone—no matter their background, age, or occupation—to build better businesses and brighter futures.