Following yesterday’s announcement that YouTube was launching in Colombia, it seems that Uganda is next on the video-streaming website’s hit-list.
In a blog post today, Google’s Elijah Kitaka, Business Development Associate and Ham Namakajjo, Country Manager, Uganda, said:
“The big news today is that we have launched YouTube in Uganda! Today’s launch adapts YouTube to Uganda’s taste and shows you the most relevant videos, even before you search. The launch also means that YouTube will show you the most viewed and most subscribed-to channels in Uganda.”
Of course, YouTube has always been available in Uganda, it just means that it will now be localized specifically for the country. So, for example, if a Ugandan user posts a video of themselves, it could make it to the YouTube homepage in Uganda, and local talent will stand a better chance of going viral and being discovered.
YouTube says it’s partnering with Ugandan broadcasters to add a real local flavour to the service, with news, sports and public television videos being thrown into the mix, including NTV Uganda and Bukedde TV.
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Of course, many African countries – including Uganda – don’t have high-speed broadband on tap yet, so YouTube Feather may help you play videos faster.
Google-owned YouTube has been gradually rolling out localized websites throughout this year. Back in October we reported that YouTube had launched in Kenya, followed shortly after by the Philippines, Singapore and then Belgium. Whilst last month we reported it had increased its language support to 51 vernaculars, by adding IsiZulu and Afrikaans for South Africa.
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