• Uganda to host Aeonian AI center at Karuma hydropower site starting in 2026

• Project includes 10 MW USIO supercomputer built with NVIDIA and partners

• Initiative aims to cut Africa’s 98% reliance on foreign data processing

Uganda is set to host the Aeonian project, a large-scale sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) center, starting in 2026. Developed by Synectics Technologies in partnership with Schneider Electric, the facility will be located at the Karuma hydropower plant on the Nile. It will house several AI modules and the USIO supercomputer, with the goal of boosting data processing capacity in East Africa and strengthening digital sovereignty.

“By digitalizing clean energy through best-in-class infrastructure, we are empowering Africa to control its data backbone responsibly, sustainably, and sovereignly,” said Oladele Oyekunle, CEO of Synectics Technologies.

The USIO supercomputer, with 10 MW capacity, is being developed with support from U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA, AI infrastructure firm MDCS.AI, and Belgian company Automation NV. Built on NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPU platform, it is designed to process massive data volumes across diverse applications. The scalable system will support scientific research, healthcare, life sciences, and higher education while preserving African languages and datasets.

Powered by renewable energy from the Karuma dam and cooled by Nile water, the facility will connect to a 2,500 km fiber optic network linking Uganda to submarine cables in Kenya and Tanzania. The rollout will begin in 2026 with the first AI module, expanding gradually to full capacity by 2028 to ensure scalability and autonomy.

The project is part of a regional strategy to reduce Africa’s dependence on foreign data centers. Currently, about 98% of African data is processed outside the continent. The Aeonian project aims to retain critical computing power within Africa, enabling local institutions to build AI models tailored to regional languages and contexts.

Similar initiatives are emerging across the continent. Cassava Technologies recently announced plans to deploy an AI plant in South Africa, with future expansion to its data centers in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. These efforts are expected to provide companies and researchers access to AI computing power to scale, improve productivity, and drive innovation.

If fully implemented, the Aeonian project could position Uganda as a regional tech hub, enhance East Africa’s digital sovereignty, and develop local expertise. It also marks a key step in reducing Africa’s reliance on foreign data processing and advancing sustainable digital infrastructure.