• President Yoweri Museveni announced a 5 billion Ugandan shillings ($1.4 million) public fund to support digital content creators.

• Authorities will channel the resources through a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) to finance organized creator groups.

• Uganda counted 11.4 million internet users and 2.4 million social media users at end-2025, according to DataReportal.

Uganda’s digital content market has expanded rapidly across Africa. President Yoweri Museveni announced on Sunday, March 1, the creation of a 5 billion Ugandan shillings fund, equivalent to about $1.4 million, to support content creators. He made the announcement during the second edition of Jazz with Jajja, a dialogue and mentorship event where he engages directly with young citizens.

The initiative aims to structure an industry that remains largely informal but has become strategic for youth employment. Authorities will mobilize the funds through a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) designed to facilitate access to financing for creators organized into professional associations. The government intends to enable influencers, videographers, podcasters and other digital producers to invest in their activities and improve profitability.

From the farm, Maama and I were pleased to have a sit-down with our Bazzukulu for the 2nd edition of Jazz with Jajja.

I was glad to interact with these young creatives who are contributing to the new economy. They are doing something different, combining promotion with… pic.twitter.com/WloExejfdE

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) March 1, 2026

Ugandan authorities no longer view content creation as solely entertainment. They now consider the sector an economic lever capable of promoting local businesses, encouraging domestic consumption and generating new revenue streams within the digital economy. The government views creators as modern marketing and commercial communication intermediaries who can influence markets through social platforms.

As digital transformation accelerates, Africa’s digital content creation market continues to grow. Projections from Coherent Market Insights value the market at $5.1 billion in 2025 and forecast growth to nearly $30 billion by 2032, reflecting an estimated annual growth rate of 28.9%. Kampala aims to encourage professionalization and strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic growth by structuring it around a dedicated financial mechanism.

Beyond financing, the initiative could foster a more organized ecosystem that integrates training, brand partnerships and improved content monetization. However, the program’s impact will depend on broader internet and social media access, which remains limited in the country.

DataReportal figures show that 11.4 million people used the internet in Uganda at the end of 2025, representing a penetration rate of 22.0%. Social media platforms, which underpin digital content creation, counted 2.4 million users, or 4.6% of the population, according to the same source.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum