Local authorities are encouraging smartphone manufacturers to shift a portion of their production to their region, a move aimed at boosting smartphone usage by reducing prices.

Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Orientation, Chris Baryomunsi, has called on smartphone manufacturers to establish production facilities in Uganda, a move aimed at boosting smartphone penetration in the country. The invitation was extended during the launch of a 5G smartphone model by Tecno, in collaboration with a local mobile operator, in Kampala on Friday, January 12.

Baryomunsi highlighted the benefits for smartphone manufacturers investing in Uganda, citing the growing demand in a market of 50 million people. Furthermore, he suggested that Uganda could serve as a gateway to the African continent and its 1.4 billion population.

The minister expressed the government’s support for technological innovation, stating, “We support the innovation and the government has deliberately promoted the policy of legalizing communications and airwaves. So far, we have since moved from traditional means of communication and have created space for innovations and technologies in Uganda so that we move with the rest of the world in this era of digital transformation. Continue making the innovations and technologies and we are ready to embrace all these cutting-edge technologies including these devices.”

The call for multinational smartphone manufacturers to establish assembly plants in Africa is becoming increasingly common. The goal is not only to create local jobs but also to reduce smartphone costs and increase affordability for the population.

In line with this trend, Kenya commissioned a smartphone assembly plant last October. The plant is expected to produce between 1.2 and 1.4 million smartphones annually, with retail cost at 7,500 Kenyan shillings ($46.58). Earlier that year, Angola signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s ZTE to establish a mobile phone factory, set to be operational this year.

It’s worth noting that, according to DataReportal, Uganda is projected to have 30.55 million active mobile subscriptions in 2023, accounting for 63.8% of the total population.

Adoni Conrad Quenum