Uganda is accelerating its bid to become Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) leader with a $1.2-billion supercomputing facility set to launch operations later this year. Located near the Chinese-constructed Karuma Hydropower Plant on the River Nile, the project aims to leverage renewable energy to power advanced AI infrastructure while addressing Africa’s growing demand for technological sovereignty.
Developed by Synectics Technologies in partnership with Nvidia and Schneider Electric, the facility will support large-scale AI workloads and host an innovation center focused on research, skills development, and homegrown solutions. Professor Lawrence Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Uganda’s Victoria University, emphasized the urgency of Africa shaping its AI future: "With the world’s youngest population, we must lead in embracing transformative technologies and ensure our voice in how data is processed."
While proponents highlight the project’s potential to reduce reliance on foreign data centers, critics stress the need for robust governance frameworks and local participation to secure long-term benefits. The facility’s proximity to Uganda’s largest hydropower plant underscores the critical role of stable energy in advancing AI infrastructure across the continent.
