Diacente Group, a Ugandan developer of green industrial zones, has announced a $5.5 billion partnership with US-based Global Settlement Network (GSN) to build Uganda’s national digital infrastructure connecting the country’s farms, mines, factories, and power projects.
According to Diacente Group, the project will help make trade faster, cheaper, and more transparent, particularly in a country where over 80% of the workforce operates in the informal economy.
“This partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it’s about unlocking long-term value for our people and our region,” said Odongo Solomon, CEO of Diacente Group. “By integrating tokenization and CBDCs into Uganda’s development roadmap, we’re creating transparent, tech-driven ecosystems that attract new capital, empower local industries, and scale sustainable growth from the ground up.”
The plan aims to create a programmable economy where real production is digitally linked, tracked, and financed in real time. At its core is Uganda’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital shilling, which will be backed by treasury bonds and integrated directly with everyday economic activities.
Building Uganda’s First Digital Shilling
According to the group, the rollout will include a pilot of Uganda’s digital shilling CBDC, which will enable millions of citizens to send, receive, and save money securely through their mobile phones.
Designed to work even on basic handsets using USSD technology; the same system behind MTN MoMo and Airtel Money, the digital shilling promises inclusivity at scale.
Unlike some previous African digital currency experiments, Uganda’s model ties the currency directly to productive sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and mining.
“Previous systems failed because they were not linked to real use,” said Ryan Kirkley, co-founder and CEO of GSN. “We are starting with industries, with jobs and production, so people have a reason to use it.”
What This Means
Kirkley emphasised that the GSN system will allow Uganda to retain control over its digital and financial infrastructure.
“We are building infrastructure that goes beyond theory, a programmable economy grounded in real assets, regulatory collaboration and mass accessibility,” Kirkley said.
The system uses advanced privacy tools to secure every transaction, even for users with basic phones. Importantly, all operations will be licensed and managed locally, ensuring that Uganda and its institutions remain the custodians of their data and financial networks.
The digital infrastructure will run on GSN’s blockchain network, which links local economies to global and regional markets without losing sovereignty or data control.
What You Should Know
The project will be rolled out first in the Karamoja Green Industrial and Special Economic Zone (GISEZ), a government-backed hub designed to accelerate Uganda’s Vision 2040 plan.
The plan aims to industrialise the country, grow the economy tenfold to $500 billion, and strengthen East African trade through better infrastructure and digital integration.
The Karamoja zone will serve as the testbed for the digital shilling and its connected financial ecosystem. It is projected to create over one million jobs across agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, while linking production, logistics, and trade under one connected digital framework.
Beyond Uganda, GSN estimates that the project could eventually bring formal financial access to more than 60 million people across East Africa.
By linking its farms, factories, and financial systems under one digital framework, experts say Uganda could become a model for how African nations use technology to industrialise inclusively, not just efficiently.
Talking Points
It is remarkable that Diacente Group and Global Settlement Network (GSN) are taking a bold, structured approach to building Uganda’s digital and industrial future through a $5.5 billion investment that connects farms, factories, and finance.
The inclusion of a central bank digital currency; the digital shilling backed by treasury bonds demonstrates a forward-thinking model that ties financial systems directly to real production, not speculation.
At Techparley, we see this as one of Africa’s most practical digital transformation projects, a blueprint for how blockchain and tokenisation can drive tangible economic growth rather than remain theoretical.
However, ensuring long-term adoption will require deep collaboration between the government, regulators, and local institutions to maintain trust, safeguard data, and ensure stability.
If successfully executed, this partnership could position Uganda as a continental leader in digital sovereignty, linking production, finance, and governance through one secure, transparent infrastructure.
