Ministry of ICT Launches Game Jam 2026 to Monetize Youth Digital Skills

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, has launched Game Jam 2026. The competition is a flagship program under the national Digital Economy Roadmap, designed to help Ugandan youth monetize their coding, graphic design, and storytelling skills.

For decades, the global gaming and interactive media industry has generated billions of dollars, yet African creators claim a microscopic share of this market. Game Jam 2026 invites university and tertiary students to build functional mobile and PC video games within a 48-hour hackathon. The games must incorporate African folklore, educational themes, or civic awareness.

Minister Monica Musenero emphasized that the competition is more than just entertainment; it is an economic incubator. “We want our youth to understand that their computers are tools for wealth creation. If you can code a game in Kampala, you can sell it to a gamer in Tokyo or New York,” Musenero said.

Winners of the Game Jam will receive cash prizes, workspace incubation at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, and direct mentorship from international gaming studios. By aligning the education sector with global tech trends, the government is hoping to establish Uganda as a regional hub for software engineering and creative digital media.