The world of technology: An opportunity for the future of young Africans.
Young people in Uganda are developing artificial intelligence systems for global tech giants. But experts warn about the low pay for their work by companies like Google and Microsoft.
Sama is one of countless new startups developing software and artificial intelligence (AI) systems for large technology companies. It's like an African version of Silicon Valley, a well-known technology cluster in California, United States of America.
Sana's client list includes companies such as Google, Ford, Walmart, Sony, BMW, eBay, Microsoft, and NASA. Sana also works for Meta, the owner of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Sama was founded by Leila Janah, an American businesswoman who died of illness in 2020 at the age of 37. She was the daughter of Indian immigrants and a student of African studies. The start-up opened its first branches in India in 2008 and later in Kenya.
In 2019, Sama expanded to Kampala. After Kenya, Uganda is now the second most important country in Africa for this company. Sama's first office was set up in containers near the university campus in Gulu, the largest city in northern Uganda.
