A new community ICT center in Hoima, Uganda, aims to improve digital literacy and provide underserved communities with opportunities to develop digital ICT skills. The center, a joint initiative between ATC Uganda and Airtel Uganda, was inaugurated at the Hoima City Public Library.
The launch of the center was met with enthusiasm from local leaders and youths in the Bunyoro region. Hoima City Mayor Brian Kaboyo noted that the city had been facing challenges related to data transfer, particularly for the government’s PDM program, due to a lack of computers and stable internet access. He expressed his gratitude for the new ICT facility, which is fully equipped with computers and internet access.
The newly appointed Hoima District chairperson, Uthuman Mubaraka Mugisa, emphasized the importance of the center in addressing the digital skills gap in the region. He believes that the availability of this free ICT center will encourage young people and adults to acquire digital skills.
The center’s primary objective is to enhance access to education by offering digital ICT skills development opportunities to underserved communities. It also provides an option for individuals like John Bikiize, a Hoima City resident, who previously couldn’t afford private institutions offering computer skills training.
Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, the Executive Director of ATC Uganda, revealed that a lecturer has been appointed to teach one-month courses at the center. The training is free, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. The center is equipped with 20 computers connected to the internet.
ATC Uganda’s long-term plan includes establishing additional digital ICT community centers across the country, aiming to become hubs for digital literacy and skills development.
