From 30 September to 2 October 2025, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U), the European Union, Estonian Development Cooperation (ESTDEV) and GIZ – on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), hosted the Third Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Leaders Forum in Entebbe, Uganda.
The forum convened senior government officials from all eight Partner States, including representatives from e-Government Authorities, Payment Directorates of National Central Banks, National Digital ID Agencies, Ministries of ICT/Digital Economy, and Ministries of EAC Affairs, with the shared goal of advancing inclusive, interoperable, and sustainable DPI as the backbone of the region’s digital transformation.
Building on the achievements of the first and second DPI Leaders Forums, the three-day event validated the EAC Regional DPI Assessment Report and enriched participants’ knowledge and capacity to enhance DPI systems in their daily work. The forum first consolidated the participants' understanding of the core building blocks of DPI, highlighting GovStack and interoperability as essential foundations for delivering seamless, citizen-centric digital services.
From this foundation, discussions naturally progressed to digital public goods, which allow Partner States to scale proven solutions without reinventing the wheel - saving time, reducing costs, and promoting inclusivity through shared knowledge and technology. With this technical grounding, attention turned to the financing challenge, equipping experts to design bankable projects capable of attracting investment.
To support these efforts, the new EAC DPI Project Portal was launched, providing a platform for publishing Expressions of Interest for regional DPI initiatives. In addition, the EU-EAC DEEP (Digital Economy, E-Commerce, E-payments, and Public E-Services) Programme, officially launched on 1 July 2025, was presented to Partner States, including its E-Government component and cross-border DPI use cases, which were tabled for review. These coordinated steps underscore the region’s commitment to moving in unison toward a connected and digitally empowered East Africa.
The EAC’s advancement in digital transformation is increasingly recognised on the global stage. In September 2025, the Community was invited to present at the United Nations General Assembly, and under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the EAC’s submission on the Regional Instant Payments Switch was highlighted as a global best practice. These milestones underscore the region’s growing influence and credibility in shaping the digital future, within Africa and globally.
The EAC Secretariat calls on Partner States, stakeholders, and development partners to harness this momentum, turn insights into concrete action, and champion DPI initiatives that are inclusive, interoperable, and transformative. The DPI Leaders Forum goes beyond validating reports or sharing best practices, it is about charting the roadmap for East Africa’s digital future and ensuring that every citizen can benefit from a connected, secure, and prosperous digital economy.