Harnessing AI for Resilience and Inclusion: Kigali to Host 4th EAC STI Conference

By Bruno Aero Family Media Staff Writer

 KIGALI, Rwanda – Ministers, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and development partners from across East Africa and beyond will gather in Kigali for the 4th East African Community (EAC) Regional Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Conference, taking place from 30 March to 1 April 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Organised by the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) in partnership with the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), this biennial conference has become the region’s premier platform for science-driven dialogue, strategic collaboration, and policy advancement.

This year’s edition is historic as the first to place Artificial Intelligence (AI) at its core, under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient, Inclusive, and Innovative East Africa.”

Opening the conference will be Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire, alongside the Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers, the EAC Secretary General, and heads of participating institutions.

“This conference is not merely a gathering of experts — it is a call to collective action. East Africa stands at a defining crossroads, and how we choose to harness Artificial Intelligence in the coming years will determine the prosperity and resilience of our region for generations to come,” said Dr. Sylvance Okoth, Executive Secretary of EASTECO.

The conference will convene high-level delegations including Heads of State representatives, ICT Ministers, distinguished researchers, private sector leaders, development partners, and civil society actors from all eight EAC Partner States.

Across three days, delegates will engage in plenary sessions, ministerial dialogues, paper presentations, youth and women’s entrepreneurship showcases, partner side events, and an innovation exhibition. More than 680 participants are expected in person, with additional hybrid participation.

“The university and research community across East Africa has a defining role to play in shaping an AI-driven future that is equitable, evidence-based, and grounded in the realities of our region,” said Prof. Idris Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA.

By placing AI at the heart of its agenda, the 4th STI Conference underscores the EAC’s commitment to leveraging technology as a catalyst for sustainable development, aligned with the ambitions of the 7th EAC Development Strategy.