Uganda’s Classroom CEOs: The Rise of Student Digital Entrepreneurship

By Halima Nakanwagi

Across Uganda, a quiet shift is taking place inside secondary school classrooms. Increasing access to smartphones and affordable digital platforms is enabling a growing number of students to experiment with online content creation, branding, and small-scale digital services while still in school.

Educators in urban districts such as Wakiso report that some students are beginning to explore informal digital work alongside their studies.

These activities range from social media management and video production to basic freelance marketing services conducted after school hours.

Student involvement in digital spaces

Among the students associated with this trend is Nyanzi Martin Luther, a secondary school learner at Kisozi High School in Wakiso District, who is linked to small-scale digital media activity referred to locally as Apex Media Services.

He is also associated with a youth-oriented digital learning effort known as Apex Digital Skills, which focuses on introducing basic concepts of online communication and content production to young people.

While such initiatives remain informal, they reflect a broader shift in how some students are engaging with technology beyond academic use.

Education and early development

Nyanzi began his education at primary level in Kampala before continuing his studies in different schools within central Uganda.

Like many students in his cohort, his education was affected by COVID-19-related school closures, which disrupted learning routines across the country.

After schools reopened, he continued his academic progression and is currently enrolled in secondary education.

Digital exposure among studentsInterest in digital media and online platforms among students in Uganda has increased in recent years, largely driven by wider smartphone access, social media use, and exposure to online content creation tools.

In several schools, students are beginning to experiment with basic digital production skills, often informally and without structured institutional support.

Economic context

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a significant proportion under the age of 30.

Youth unemployment and underemployment remain ongoing challenges, particularly for those transitioning from school into the labour market.

As a result, some young people are exploring early-stage entrepreneurship, including digital-based activities, as a way to develop income-generating skills while still in education.

However, experts note that barriers remain, including limited access to capital, high internet costs, and a lack of formal training structures for digital entrepreneurship at the school level.

Emerging trend in schools

Teachers in parts of central Uganda say that student entrepreneurship is becoming more visible, especially in urban and peri-urban schools where connectivity is stronger.

While schools continue to prioritise academic performance, there is growing awareness of students engaging in side projects that involve technology and online platforms.

Outlook

As digital access continues to expand, student engagement with online tools is expected to grow.

For many learners, these activities are still in early stages and largely informal, but they reflect a broader transformation in how young people in Uganda are interacting with education, work, and technology.