ITC to hand over the NTF program to ATIS end of June

In a ceremony held on Friday last week at Hotel Africana in Kampala, the International Trade Center (ITC) officially handed over the reins of the transformative Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF) program to the Alliance for Trade Information Systems and Services (ATIS). Over the years, NTF has played a pivotal role in strengthening Uganda’s IT sector, signaling confidence in the local ecosystem’s ability to sustain and build upon remarkable growth in IT exports and empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tech startups to compete in international markets.

The baton’s passing to ATIS signals both continuity and a renewed focus on advancing Uganda’s reputation as a hub for IT-enabled services.

“We are here to witness NTF five ending this June, and then the program will be handed over to ATIS,” stated Patrick Kagenda, Chairman of ATIS, the program’s new custodian.

John Ndabarasa, Startup Growth Lead at ITC, said the handover wasn’t abrupt but a planned evolution. He emphasized the deliberate strategy of institutional strengthening: “We worked with institutional partners like ICTAU and ATIS. It means that when our four-year project ends, we leave behind an ecosystem that is well strengthened, well empowered to carry on the work.”

Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by ITC in partnership with the government of Uganda, the program working closely with the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, the Ministry of Trade, NITA Uganda, the Uganda Export Promotion Board, and industry associations such as the ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU) and ATIS, focused squarely on propelling Ugandan IT companies onto the global stage.

“We’ve been working to ensure companies in Uganda dealing in information technology are equipped to export their services,” stated Kagenda. “For the last four years, we have helped prepare Ugandan IT companies for the export market,” Ndabarasa adds to Kagenda’s remarks.

Kagenda expressed gratitude for the foundation laid by ITC. ATIS has worked with NTF V to ensure that Ugandan IT companies are equipped to export their IT services to the international market. Kagenda described ATIS’s ongoing role as identifying local IT firms, equipping them with international-standard certifications (such as ISO), and guiding them through market-entry strategies tailored to each target country’s policies and trade barriers.

Kagenda reaffirmed ATIS’s commitment to build on NTF V’s successes by continuing to open doors for Ugandan exporters and to maintain the momentum of regulatory and institutional reforms.

Overseeing the handover was H.E. Frederieke Quispel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda. She celebrated the culmination of the program, which has had an enormous impact on Uganda’s tech ecosystem. She went on to envision a future where the beneficiaries of the NTF program actively support the next wave of entrepreneurs: “You should be ready now to help a lot of young people with their businesses, who knows, in time, you’ll be an angel investor.”

The NTF V program’s impact is quantifiable and far-reaching:

Fifteen (15) companies have obtained ISO certification, which enables them to trade seamlessly with foreign markets like the European Union. Some companies, such as Data Care, are exporting IT services to regions like Zimbabwe. Key export destinations now include Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, the Middle East, Europe (especially the Netherlands), the United States, and increasingly, Asia (China and Japan). A highlight and a testimonial to this was SUMIC’s landmark deal to export IT services to Japan, Ndabarasa stating, “Seeing businesses as young as SUMIC exporting their IT services to Asia is proof that Uganda is exporting IT services to the world.”

NTF V also addressed a critical gap in access to capital for tech startups. Supported by ITC and NTF, over US$15 million (approx. UGX54.58 billion) was invested in tech startups, Ndabarasa attributing this success to facilitated participation in pitch events in Dubai, Barcelona, and regional hubs like Nairobi and Kigali. He noted that these funding rounds have driven startups to develop robust business models, focusing on products that solve real market problems rather than relying solely on grants.

Vice Chair of ATIS, Grace Labong Achire, reflected on her long-standing involvement with NTF programs (spanning NTF III, IV, and now V). A major highlight, she noted, was the development of “Tech Pearl”—a national branding initiative supported by ITC that positions Uganda as a premier destination for IT-enabled services in Africa. “We aim to be among the top five African countries leading in IT services and exports,” Labong said.

“Tech Pearl spotlights young, tech-savvy Ugandans who can work remotely for global companies. It’s about creating meaningful jobs at home by linking local talent to international demand,” Labong explained. She cited a stark opportunity: a recent meeting with GIZ revealed “over 140,000 tech jobs” currently available in Germany alone, underscoring the global demand Uganda aims to meet through organized remote work channels.

“These are the kinds of market linkages we are pursuing—organizing Ugandan talent to serve international clients,” Labong noted. She stressed that beyond branding, ATIS will continue supporting companies to meet international standards and coordinate efforts to respond to global demand.

Over the past four years, NTF V’s interventions extended beyond individual firms to fortify institutional partners themselves. Ndabarasa pointed out that ICTAU grew its membership from roughly 100 to over 500 during this period, while ATIS revised its business model, restructured governance, appointed its first CEO, and solidified its board. “These institutional gains are critical,” he noted. “When ITC’s project ends, it leaves behind an ecosystem that is stronger, more resilient, and poised for sustained growth.”

Kagenda echoed this sentiment, highlighting that ATIS’s new governance structures and service offerings position it well to continue supporting exporters. “Our board is now functional, we have a clear governance framework, and a defined value proposition for members,” he said. “Our work will be to maintain and deepen the connections with markets in the East African region and to explore emerging opportunities in Zambia, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.”

Challenges and Opportunities

All three speakers agreed that challenges remain. Ndabarasa cautioned that many startups still struggle to align product development with genuine market needs: “Too often, startups build technology first and then look for a market. Our message has been: identify the customer’s problem, tailor your solution accordingly, and the funding will follow.”

Kagenda added that navigating trade barriers in specific countries will require ongoing research and adaptation: “We must continually monitor regulations, standards, and policy shifts so our firms remain compliant and competitive.” Labong underscored the broader vision of national branding: “Tech Pearl must become synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation—so that ‘Made in Uganda’ is a seal of excellence in the global IT arena.”

As the NTF V program formally concludes this June, stakeholders convened to chart the next phase. Representatives from NITA Uganda, the Uganda Export Promotion Board, beneficiary companies, and various partners gathered to discuss strategies for sustaining growth. Their collective intent is clear: to ensure Ugandan IT firms not only survive but thrive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

With ATIS at the helm, armed with enhanced institutional capacity and a proven methodology, Uganda’s IT export ecosystem looks set to embark on a new chapter defined by ambitious targets, deeper market linkages, and the ambition to see Uganda ranked among Africa’s top five destinations for IT-enabled services.