As conversations around artificial intelligence continue to evolve globally, Uganda’s Code Queen graduates are offering a perspective grounded in opportunity and forward movement. While leading voices in the tech industry highlight the rapid transformation AI may bring to professional roles, a growing community of young women in Kampala is actively preparing to shape that future.
Educating The Children, established in 2009, has long focused on expanding access to education and opportunity for young women across East Africa. Through its Code Queen programme, launched in 2019, the organisation has created a pathway that connects formal learning with real-world digital skills. To date, nearly 1,000 women have graduated from the programme, with more than 80% progressing into employment or launching entrepreneurial ventures.
In 2025, Code Queen introduced a dedicated AI course, marking a significant step in its curriculum evolution. The programme integrates training in prompt engineering, automation workflows, AI-assisted design, strategic thinking, and digital entrepreneurship. This approach ensures participants are equipped not only to engage with AI tools but to apply them with purpose and strategy. 
The response has been immediate and measurable. Since AI was embedded into the curriculum, applications have doubled, reflecting a strong and growing interest among young women eager to participate in the digital economy.
“When we introduced AI into our curriculum, applications didn’t just increase — they doubled,” says the ETC team. “The appetite is clear. African women see AI not as displacement, but as acceleration.”
As global discussions continue around automation and the future of work, Code Queen’s model highlights a different narrative, one focused on inclusion, preparation, and opportunity. In Kampala, AI is not being approached with hesitation, but with readiness and ambition.
