Kampala — Victoria University Kampala Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga has been named CEO/Digital Transformation Leader of the Year at the 13th Digital Impact Awards Africa held on Thursday at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
The award, organised by HiPipo as part of the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit under the theme Maximising the Digital Dividend, recognises leaders who have driven significant digital innovation and inclusion across the continent. Prof. Muganga was not present at the ceremony. The award was received on his behalf by Doreen Kayonga, Senior Executive Officer in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
In a statement shared shortly after the event, Muganga expressed gratitude for the recognition. He said the honour encourages continued efforts to expand what technology can achieve for Ugandans and the country at large. He thanked his team at Victoria University for representing him well and specifically acknowledged Kayonga for collecting the award. He also thanked HiPipo for organising the awards and dedicated the recognition to all those working toward Uganda’s digital transformation, noting that technology should open doors, create opportunities, and improve lives.
Victoria University congratulated its Vice-Chancellor, describing the win as a proud moment for the entire university community. The institution highlighted his passion for using technology to transform education and create opportunities, saying the team remains committed to his vision of a digitally empowered Uganda.
Since taking over as Vice-Chancellor in 2020, Muganga has led a major expansion of Victoria University, growing student numbers from fewer than 200 to more than 6,000. The university has introduced authentic and experiential learning approaches, integrated artificial intelligence into various programmes, and set up East Africa’s first virtual and augmented reality learning hub. It now offers specialised courses such as a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science aimed at preparing graduates for an AI-driven economy.
Muganga, a Ugandan-Canadian scholar and education reform advocate, is also known for his books that challenge traditional education systems, including ‘You Can’t Make Fish Climb Trees’ and ‘From Chalk to Chatbots’. He previously received the Global Impact Award from Afroglobal Television in 2025 and has served on Uganda’s National Artificial Intelligence Taskforce. His work has focused on making higher education more practical, skills-oriented, and technology-enabled.
The Digital Impact Awards Africa, which began in 2014, has grown into one of the continent’s prominent platforms for recognising achievements in digital inclusion, fintech, education technology, and related fields. This year’s event featured multiple categories, with several Ugandan institutions and leaders also receiving recognition for their contributions to digital and financial inclusion.
Muganga’s latest award adds to a growing list of recognitions for his efforts to reposition higher education in Uganda and across the region in response to rapid technological change.
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