- Kenyan and Ugandan lawmakers are exploring closer parliamentary cooperation on regulating artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
- The legislators discussed digital infrastructure, regulatory sandboxes and laws capable of responding to rapidly changing technologies.
- Ugandan MPs are drawing lessons from Kenya’s experience as their country develops its emerging technology regulatory framework.
Kenya and Uganda are exploring closer parliamentary cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies as lawmakers confront the challenge of keeping legislation abreast of rapid technological change.
The discussions were held on Wednesday at Bunge Tower in Nairobi when the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, chaired by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, met a delegation from Uganda’s ICT Committee.
The engagement formed part of Uganda’s parliamentary study visit aimed at drawing lessons from Kenya’s experience in digital infrastructure, technology policy and legislation as Kampala develops its own framework for emerging technologies.
Kiarie said lawmakers should anticipate technological disruptions rather than wait for their effects before developing regulations.
He pointed to AI, cryptocurrency and the Internet of Things as components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution that are already challenging traditional regulatory approaches.
Kenya has built its digital regulatory framework around laws including the Data Protection Act, the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act and the Copyright Act. Parliament is also considering further measures on AI as the country develops its broader regulatory architecture.
The Ugandan delegation, led by ICT Committee chairperson Issa Basajja, said Uganda was seeking to strengthen its digital infrastructure and legal framework while learning from Kenya’s experience.
The MPs said reliable connectivity remained critical to the adoption of AI and other technologies. They also expressed interest in Kenya’s digital hubs and how devolution has supported the spread of digital services and infrastructure across counties.
Another area of discussion was the need to simplify Uganda’s ICT laws. The delegation said Kampala was considering consolidating various telecommunications, technology and communications laws into a single framework through a proposed Telecommunications, Technology and Communication Bill.
The legislators also discussed the possibility of establishing a regulatory sandbox for emerging technologies.
Such a mechanism would allow innovators to test new products and services in a controlled environment as regulators assess potential risks and determine appropriate safeguards covering areas such as consumer protection and taxation.
MPs discuss emerging technology regulation
A key lesson from Kenya’s experience was the evolution of M-Pesa, which initially raised questions about whether mobile money should be treated primarily as a financial or communications service.
Kiarie said the experience demonstrated the difficulty of regulating innovations that cross traditional sectoral boundaries.
The MPs said AI regulation should protect citizens while allowing innovation to flourish. They cautioned against legislation that focuses too narrowly on individual technologies, arguing that rapid technological advancement could render such laws obsolete.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation as East African countries develop their digital economies.
Isiolo MP Mohammed Tubi said continued engagement between the two parliamentary committees would strengthen lawmakers’ understanding of AI and other emerging technologies and help develop regulatory frameworks capable of responding to technological change.
The Kenya-Uganda engagement comes as both countries work to strengthen their digital economies while grappling with the regulatory challenges posed by rapidly evolving technologies.
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National Assembly Communication, Information and Innovation Committee Chair John Kiarie and members of Uganda’s ICT Committee during discussions at Bunge Tower in Nairobi on September 30, 2026. The legislators explored cooperation on AI and other emerging technologies.
By Jeff Kirui
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