As global technology companies rethink how and where they scale, one factor is becoming increasingly clear: the future of offshoring, outsourcing, and digital services lies in smart, cost-efficient, and talent-rich destinations. Uganda is emerging as one of those destinations—and at the center of this shift is Yako AI Hub, the country’s first dedicated ICT Free Zone, now open and available for tenants.

Located within Namanve Industrial Park, Uganda’s largest industrial and logistics corridor, Yako AI Hub is a licensed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) purpose-built for the export of IT and technology-enabled services. It offers global companies a rare combination of tax incentives, modern infrastructure, and access to a young, English-speaking, tech-savvy workforce.

What Is Yako AI Hub?

Yako AI Hub is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) exclusively dedicated to ICT, IT-enabled services (ITES), and technology exports.

The hub operates under Uganda Free Zones licenses FZ/D/0038-1 and FZAOP/0038-1, making it fully compliant with the Free Zones Act of 2014.

Developed by Yako Uganda Ltd, the hub’s mission is clear:

To accelerate investment and the establishment of offshore offices and outsourcing facilities by providing augmented infrastructure and simplified delivery mechanisms for global tech businesses.

Its long-term vision is equally ambitious:

To become a world-class Special Economic Zone for technology and digital services.

A Strategic Location Built for Scale

Yako AI Hub is located at Plot 102 and Block 113, Namanve Industrial Park, in Mukono District—just outside Kampala.

This location offers tenants:

• Proximity to Kampala’s talent pool and universities
• Access to reliable power and fiber infrastructure
• Easy connectivity to Entebbe International Airport
• Positioning within Uganda’s most developed industrial ecosystem

For companies serving global markets, Uganda’s unique time zone—midway between Asia, Europe, and the Americas—enables near 24-hour operational coverage with distributed teams.

Why Uganda? Why Now?

Uganda is one of Africa’s fastest-growing service economies and is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative offshoring destination.

Key advantages include:

• Over 60% of the population below 35 years, creating a deep and renewable talent pipeline
• More than one million graduates entering the workforce annually
• High proficiency in clear, accent-neutral English
• A liberal business environment supportive of foreign investment
• Competitive labor and operational costs compared to traditional outsourcing hubs

Yako AI Hub leverages these national advantages while addressing a historical gap: the lack of world-class, purpose-built facilities strictly dedicated to ICT service exports.

A True ICT Free Zone: Built for Export-Oriented Tech Firms

Yako AI Hub is strictly dedicated to IT and IT-enabled services for export from Uganda. This focus allows the hub to offer a regulatory and operational environment tailored specifically to technology companies.

Key Free Zone Incentives Include:

• Exemption from all taxes, levies, and rates on exports
• Tax- and duty-free importation of inputs and equipment
• Unrestricted remittance of profits after tax
• VAT, withholding tax, and import tax exemptions for export services outside the EAC

These incentives significantly lower the cost of operating offshore teams while ensuring compliance and predictability for international firms.

Purpose-Built Infrastructure for Technology Operations

Yako AI Hub is not a generic office complex. It is designed from the ground up for digital, data-driven, and service-intensive operations.

Core infrastructure includes:

• Dedicated high-speed internet connectivity
• Secure, scalable office layouts for tech teams
• Facilities suitable for software development, AI work, data services, and contact centers
• Capacity to support over 5,000 skilled jobs, creating a large, vibrant tech ecosystem within the hub
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Ideal Tenants: Who Is Yako AI Hub Built For?

Yako AI Hub is best suited for companies that rely on human capital, digital infrastructure, and export-driven service models, including:

1. Offshoring Companies

• Software development and engineering teams
• AI and machine learning development units
• Data annotation, data processing, and analytics teams

2. Outsourcing & BPO Firms

• Back-office operations
• Customer support and contact centers
• Finance, HR, and shared services centers

3. Global Tech Firms Expanding into Africa

• Spill-over offices for companies from India, the UAE, Eastern Europe, and Asia
• Regional backstopping offices for East and Central Africa
• Staff augmentation hubs supporting global delivery teams

4. Emerging Tech & Digital Service Providers

• Blockchain and crypto-related technology services
• Fintech and digital platform operations
• Cloud, SaaS, and enterprise support teams

Onsite Support That Reduces Complexity

Beyond physical space, Yako AI Hub provides hands-on operational support, helping tenants set up and scale faster.

Available onsite services include:

• Free Zone licensing and compliance management
• Secondary licensing support
• Export facilitation and regulatory guidance
• Talent management and workforce coordination
• Front desk and administrative support
• Onsite contact center enablement

This ecosystem allows tenants to focus on core business delivery, while the hub handles regulatory and operational friction.

More Than a Building: A Platform for Growth

Yako AI Hub represents a shift in how global companies can engage with Africa—not as a peripheral market, but as a core delivery location for technology and digital services.

By combining:

• SEZ incentives
• A young, skilled workforce
• Purpose-built ICT infrastructure
• Strategic geographic positioning

Yako AI Hub enables smart offshoring, sustainable job creation, and globally competitive service delivery from Uganda.

Now Open for Tenants

Yako AI Hub is currently welcoming local and international technology companies seeking:

• Cost-efficient offshore operations
• A compliant ICT Free Zone environment
• Long-term scalability in Africa

For organizations looking to future-proof their operations while tapping into one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing talent pools,

Yako AI Hub offers a compelling base of operations.

Choose Yako. Choose Uganda.