By Mulengera Reporters
The postal sector remains relevant and is increasingly becoming central to Africa’s digital economy, government and industry leaders have said.
This was the main issue discussed at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Administrative Council of the Pan African Postal Union, currently underway at Serna Hotel in Kigo.
The meeting which opened on March 23rd has brought together senior government officials, regulators, and postal operators from across the Africa to review progress and agree on how to modernise the sector.
Opening the session, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Aminah Zawedde, said the sector has moved beyond traditional mail delivery and is now playing a wider role in the economy.
She explained that modern postal networks support e-commerce, logistics, financial services, and access to government programmes, especially in rural areas where other infrastructure is limited.
Zawedde said the Administrative Council plays a central role in guiding the work of PAPU between major conferences, ensuring that agreed programmes are implemented and that the sector keeps pace with global changes.
The Uganda, Kampala meeting is part of a series of engagements leading to the 11th Ordinary Session of the PAPU Plenipotentiary Conference, where broader policy decisions on Africa’s postal sector are expected to be taken.
Officials at the meeting said the shift towards digital systems has created new opportunities for the sector, particularly in handling online trade, improving delivery systems, and expanding access to services.
Speaking at the same event, Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director (ED) of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), said the postal sector remains a key pillar of global trade, noting that it is valued at over 400 billion dollars.
He said the focus now is on integrating technology into postal operations to improve efficiency and reliability, includ8ng systems for tracking parcels, digital addressing, and better data management.
According to officials, such technologies are expected to strengthen last-mile delivery, which remains a major challenge in many parts of Africa.
Uganda’s decision to host the meeting reflects its active role in regional and global postal affairs. The country currently serves on the Council of Administration of the Universal Postal Union and also holds the position of Assistant Secretary General of PAPU through Jessica Hope Ssengooba.
Other officials attended the opening sesion include PAPU Secretary General Sifundo Chief Moyo and UPU Deputy Director General Osvald Marjan.
Deliberations at the meeting are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation among member states, improving service delivery, and ensuring that the postal sector remains competitive in a rapidly changing digital environment.
Officials say the outcome of the discussions will guide reforms aimed at making postal services more efficient, inclusive, and better aligned with Africa’s growing digital economy. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
