At the 29th Annual Assemblies & Extra-ordinary Congress of EACO held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on the 24th of June 2024, the Director of AFRALTI, Mr. William Baraza expertly moderated a session focused on advancing digital transformation within the East African Community (EAC) region.

He was joined by a distinguished panel comprising influential leaders in the telecommunications and regulatory sectors. The panel included Dr. Margret Labanya Mathya, Director for Corporate Affairs at the National Communication Authority (NCA) of South Sudan; Dr. Bridget Linzie, Executive Secretary of the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA); Mr. Nicholas Merinyo, Deputy PS from the Tanzania ICT Ministry; Ms. Susan Wegoye, Director of Legal Affairs at the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC); and Ms. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA.

Together, these experts engaged in insightful discussions and shared valuable perspectives on the strategies and initiatives necessary to drive digital transformation within the EAC region. Through their collective knowledge and collaborative efforts, they enriched the dialogue on promoting technological innovation and expanding connectivity across East Africa.

The session provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for leveraging technology to enhance socio-economic development within the EAC.

The thought-provoking discussions underscored the critical importance of fostering collaboration, regulatory alignment, and investment in digital infrastructure to accelerate the pace of digital transformation in the region. Contributions made will undoubtedly serve as valuable input for policymakers, industry players, and other key stakeholders working towards harnessing the power of technology to drive inclusive growth and prosperity across East Africa.