The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (MoICT&NG) has launched the National Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Policy and Publicity Campaign at the Mestil Hotel, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s economic development.

The launch, held from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, underscored the Government’s commitment to leveraging the BPO sector to create sustainable employment opportunities for Ugandan youth, who comprise the youngest population in the world with an average age of 14.9 years. Over 70% of qualified youth between 18 and 35 years struggle to access employment, a challenge the BPO policy directly addresses.

The National BPO Policy, approved by the Cabinet of Uganda, provides a strategic framework to regulate and promote the BPO industry, creating employment opportunities, stimulating the acquisition of services from local BPO companies by both the public and private sectors.

Key Objectives of the Launch Event:

1. To showcase Uganda’s competitive advantages in attracting both foreign and domestic investments, emphasising our young and skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, and favourable business environment.
2. To promote the BPO sector as a vital source of employment opportunities for Ugandans, thereby contributing to economic development and poverty alleviation.
3. To highlight the development and implementation of comprehensive programs aimed at equipping the workforce with the digital skills necessary to meet the evolving demands of the BPO industry.

The National BPO Policy specifically aims to:

• Facilitate public and private sector process re-engineering.
• Ensure minimum operational costs for BPO.
• Enhance market access for BPO operators.
• Enhance skilled labor for BPO.
• Provide adequate public and private infrastructure support for the BPO ecosystem.

The the National BPO Policy is expected to deliver:

• Increased Employment Opportunities and Knowledge Transfer: Attracting multinational companies, creating jobs, and fostering knowledge transfer to local entrepreneurs.
• Increased Efficiency and Effectiveness in Service Delivery: Enabling public and private entities to focus on core activities by outsourcing non-core functions.
• Increased Contribution to GDP: Boosting employment, investment, and exports of ICT-enabled services, leading to increased tax revenue.

The National BPO Publicity Campaign

Complementing the policy, the National BPO Publicity Campaign is a dynamic initiative aimed at enhancing the growth and success of Uganda’s BPO sector on a global stage. This campaign will showcase Uganda as an ideal destination for outsourcing services, highlighting its strategic advantages: a young and skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, a favorable business environment, and robust ICT infrastructure.

The campaign’s purpose is to create a compelling narrative that positions Uganda as a competitive player in the global BPO market. By utilizing diverse channels, including documentaries, talk shows, podcasts, social media amplification, and multimedia content creation, the campaign will reach a broad international audience. Furthermore, it will highlight Uganda’s rich cultural heritage and tourism potential, presenting a holistic destination for BPO investment.

Next Steps:

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance will continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the BPO Policy and the success of the Publicity Campaign, solidifying Uganda’s position as a leading BPO destination in Africa.