By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
    News
    Get breaking news, music updates, and celebrity stories from Uganda and East Africa. Stay informed with Lifestyle Uganda—your insider source for real-time industry updates.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    Maro, Maurice Kirya Help German singer Mark Forster Cross Over With “Chip In”
    17th November 2018
    Latest News
    ‘Peace be with you’: Pope Leo XIV greets the world after historic election
    9th May 2025
    Millions to renew expired national IDs as Uganda begins mass exercise
    6th May 2025
    Ugandan Scientist Dr Matthias Magoola Honoured with African Excellence Award
    5th May 2025
    Francis Nyende appointed Marketing Manager at Uganda Tourism Board
    5th May 2025
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Pop Culture
      • Travel/Culture
    Entertainment
    Stay up-to-date with Lifestyle Uganda Entertainment—the latest news, celebrity gossip, films, and TV shows from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    The Short-Story of How Pia Pounds Got Famous Will Make You Love Her Even More
    14th April 2025
    Latest News
    Media Personality Alfa Timez Joins Next Media After Three Years at Galaxy FM
    8th May 2025
    Robin Kisti video sparks questions after apparent arrest in Kampala
    8th May 2025
    Shazam Launches Viral Charts to Track the World’s Fastest-Rising Songs
    7th May 2025
    Dax Vibez expecting third child as concert preparations gather pace
    6th May 2025
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
    FashionShow More
    African designers to feature at top fashion weeks in Paris and Tokyo.
    African Designers to Take Global Stage with Afreximbank-Backed Fashion Showcases in Paris and Tokyo
    7th May 2025
    Dax Vibez lands fashion deal ahead of debut concert
    Joystar Fashion Partners with Dax Vibez in Boost for Kampala Star’s First Headline Show
    23rd April 2025
    Monochrome, but Never Mundane: How Judith Heard Makes Minimalism Feel Majestic
    19th April 2025
    Sheilah Gashumba’s Bold Twist on Schoolgirl Style Is a Lesson in Confidence
    17th April 2025
    Judith Heard Celebrates Birthday After Honoring Twin Daughters’ Milestone
    14th March 2025
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Search
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Microsoft’s Catherine Muraga Calls on Africa to Lead, Not Follow, in AI Revolution
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living
Search
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Lifestyle Uganda > Blog > Technology & Science > Microsoft’s Catherine Muraga Calls on Africa to Lead, Not Follow, in AI Revolution
Technology & Science

Microsoft’s Catherine Muraga Calls on Africa to Lead, Not Follow, in AI Revolution

At the Africa AI Summit, Microsoft’s Catherine Muraga challenged African nations to seize AI’s potential, warning that without the right infrastructure, the continent risks falling behind.

Lifestyle Uganda
Last updated: 9th May 2025 1:27 am
By
Lifestyle Uganda
ByLifestyle Uganda
Senior Editor
Discover breaking entertainment news and exclusive insights from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Nigeria—only at Lifestyle Uganda.
Follow:
- Senior Editor
Share
4 Min Read
Microsoft Africa Chief Urges Continent to Seize ‘AI Moment’.
Catherine Muraga called on governments, institutions and innovators to “seize the AI moment” and build solutions that reflect Africa’s diversity and potential. Photo/X/AfricaAI_Summit
SHARE

Catherine Muraga, Managing Director of Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre, has urged African leaders and innovators to move beyond passive technology consumption and embrace a more proactive role in the global AI landscape.

Speaking at the Africa Artificial Intelligence Summit (AAIS) 2025 on Thursday at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Muraga challenged the continent to seize what she described as a “historic opportunity” to shape the future of artificial intelligence.

“We are the youngest continent,” she said. “By 2050, Africa’s working-age population will reach 1.6 billion. AI isn’t optional—it’s urgent.”

Her keynote struck a balance between optimism and urgency. While highlighting the continent’s demographic potential, Muraga warned that a lack of infrastructure and limited access to computing power could widen inequality within the tech sector.

According to the African Union’s report Africa at the Forefront of the AI Revolution, artificial intelligence could contribute as much as $1.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP. But Muraga made it clear that this won’t happen without decisive action.

- Advertisement -

She called for a shift in mindset—from adopting imported solutions to building homegrown technologies tailored to local realities. “Is it a coincidence that countries like China and India introduce computing studies early in education?” she asked. “Shouldn’t we do the same?”

Muraga also stressed the need to reform Africa’s education systems, advocating for AI literacy from secondary school onwards. “If data is the hardware of AI,” she noted, “then people are the software. We need AI-fluent professionals, practical university curricula and retention plans to avoid brain drain.”

Africa Must Move from AI Consumer to Creator, Says Microsoft’s Muraga.
Photo/X/AfricaAI_Summit

Her speech was peppered with examples of local innovation: real-time flood forecasting in Rwanda, smart agriculture tools from Hello Tractor, and Dukawalla, a voice assistant helping small shopkeepers manage sales in local languages.

“From pest detection for Kenyan farmers, to SMS-based diagnosis in Ghana, to diabetes support in Xhosa and Afrikaans—these are African problems, solved with African intelligence.”

Still, the challenges are steep. Muraga pointed out that only 5% of African AI practitioners have access to adequate computing resources. But she cited Microsoft’s recent $1 billion investment in a geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya and growing partnerships like the AI Factory in Zimbabwe, backed by NVIDIA, as promising signs of momentum.

She praised universities such as Makerere for launching AI centres, but pressed for deeper investment in foundational skills.

- Advertisement -

“Are our students proficient in maths? Are our graduates job-ready?” she asked. “Innovation cannot thrive on intent alone—or good conferences such as this. It takes action. It needs infrastructure: electricity, cloud access, data governance.”

Muraga also spoke forcefully on the importance of inclusive design, urging developers to train AI models in African languages and local dialects, using region-specific imagery and respecting cultural nuance.

She applauded governments like Rwanda’s for early leadership in data policy but called on more African countries to develop robust, rights-respecting governance frameworks.

“To move beyond consumerism, we must build for our own context,” she said. “Let us continue to navigate AI deliberately and inclusively. Africa will not just survive the global AI shake-up—Africa will help shape it.”

OpenAI launches ‘for Countries’ initiative to support global AI infrastructure
Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Nokia Partner to Drive Africa’s Innovation
South Sudan Blocks Facebook, TikTok for 90 Days Over Content
Apple to Reopen Stores in the US, Canada and Italy this Week
The First Orange 5G Lab Has Opened in Jordan

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Reddit Email Copy Link
Share
ByLifestyle Uganda
Senior Editor
Follow:
Discover breaking entertainment news and exclusive insights from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Nigeria—only at Lifestyle Uganda.
Previous Article Wendi mobile wallet hits one million users. Wendi Mobile Wallet Surpasses One Million Users as PostBank Pushes for Greater Financial Inclusion
Next Article American cardinal Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV. ‘Peace be with you’: Pope Leo XIV greets the world after historic election

Stay Connected

45.2kFollowersLike
5.1kFollowersFollow
213FollowersPin
35.6kFollowersFollow
11kSubscribersSubscribe
400FollowersFollow
- Advertisement -

Latest News

American cardinal Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV.
‘Peace be with you’: Pope Leo XIV greets the world after historic election
International News & Politics News
9th May 2025
Wendi mobile wallet hits one million users.
Wendi Mobile Wallet Surpasses One Million Users as PostBank Pushes for Greater Financial Inclusion
Business
8th May 2025
David Wandera appointed as new Managing Director of Absa Bank Uganda.
David Wandera appointed as Absa Bank Uganda’s first Ugandan Managing Director
Business
8th May 2025
Alfa Timez signs with Next Media.
Media Personality Alfa Timez Joins Next Media After Three Years at Galaxy FM
Entertainment
8th May 2025
//

At Lifestyle Uganda, we inform, entertain, and inspire action through the content we create — empowering you to live a celebrity life.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living

Top Categories

  • About Us
  • Send a Tip
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Follow US
© 2025 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

Not a member? Sign Up