AI governance report urges legislation in East and Southern Africa
Study highlights gaps in ethical AI policies across seven African nations
#Uganda #legislation - A new artificial intelligence governance and legislation report has been published by digital rights organisation Paradigm Initiative (PIN), supported by four law firms via the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s TrustLaw. The report reveals potentially critical gaps in AI governance across Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. As AI adoption accelerates in sectors like healthcare and agriculture, the Paradigm report calls for urgent legislative review to ensure ethical and human-rights-centred AI frameworks. Of the seven African nations covered in the report, only Mauritius has sector-specific AI laws. The report was launched on Monday at the ALP East Africa Artificial Intelligence Forum 2024 in Kampala, Uganda (25-26 November).
SO WHAT? - Many countries around the world have been slow to develop specific AI laws, instead opting to introduce non-binding government guidelines as stakeholders learn more about what legislating for AI might entail. However, the introduction of the EU AI Act, which came into force in August 2024, AI legislation has come under greater focus. Whilst Africa has many challenges in embracing AI (such as talent, availability of compute, investment required), adoption is nevertheless gaining momentum in certain sectors, such as finance and healthcare. For this reason, we can expect the new report to resonate with African policymakers.
Here are some key details about the report launch:
The “Report on the laws policies, and government strategies relating to artificial intelligence in in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mauritius & Zambia” was launched on Monday at the ALP East Africa Artificial Intelligence Forum 2024 in Kampala.
Researched by Lagos-headquartered Paradigm Initiative, and published by four law firms, including K-Solutions Partners (ALN-Rwanda),, ALP East Africa (Uganda, South Sudan), Bowmans (Mauritius, Tanzania Zambia) and Triple OK Law (Kenya), the report examines legal and policy frameworks governing AI in seven African nations, focusing on governance, ethics, and human rights.
AI is gaining momentum in agriculture, healthcare, and telecommunications across Africa, including Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Of the seven nations, Mauritius stands out with its Financial Services (Robotic and AI Enabled Advisory Services) Rules of 2021, specific to the financial sector.
Rwanda’s National AI Policy (2022) and Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) focus on ethical AI and human rights.
Most African countries rely on general regulations, like data protection laws, rather than dedicated AI legislation.
The law firms also note that there is limited public input in policymaking, with gaps in stakeholder engagement in Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and Zambia.
The report advocates for benchmarking AI laws against UNESCO’s AI ethics guidelines, enhancing public awareness, and embedding human rights in AI governance.
ZOOM OUT - Although most of Africa lags far behind the curve when it comes to artificial intelligence, it is the need for inclusive AI access to drive change that makes AI governance and legislation relevant at this stage. Africa faces significant challenges in harnessing the potential of AI, mainly due to limitations in infrastructure, investment and talent. Therefore whilst governments, corporations, NGOs and the technology sector work to solve such issues, regulators can focus on inclusive policies, stakeholder participation and ethical guidelines that could help ensure that AI being deployed benefits as many as possible, and harms no one.
LINKS
Paradigm Initiative report download (we’ll link to it here as soon as available!)
Mauritius FS (Robotic & AI Enabled Advisory Services) Rules - 2021 (PDF)