Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa

Imagine a young software developer in Kampala. He’s just finished building a smart-contract application that could help farmers track produce payments without relying on brokers. He’s hopeful, energized, but frustrated. Because while his app runs on cryptocurrency protocols, Uganda doesn’t recognize any of that as legal tender. His innovation, though technically sound and globally viable, floats in a legal grey zone. That’s not just his dilemma—it’s Uganda’s. Back in October 2019, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija declared before the country that government does not recognize any cryptocurrency as legal tender. It was a firm stance, probably grounded in caution, but one…