By Alpha Aiden
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Busoga Kingdom have formally entered into a five-year partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation, expanding ICT access, and equipping thousands of young people with practical digital skills across the Busoga sub-region.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday morning at the UCC headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala, marking the culmination of engagements that began earlier this year when UCC Executive Director (ED) Hon. Nyombi Thembo visited the Kingdom earlier this year.
The MoU is at strengthening cooperation in ICT development, digital literacy, innovation, digital infrastructure and cultural preservation through technology. It will also support the establishment of ICT hubs, computer laboratories, community resource centres and the digitisation of Busoga’s cultural heritage to preserve indigenous knowledge while promoting tourism.
The Busoga Kingdom delegation was led by the Second Katukiro, Owek. Osman Noor, accompanied by the Kingdom’s Attorney General, Counsel Alex Luganda, and the Minister for ICT.
On behalf of UCC, the MoU was signed by Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo together with Dr. Abudu Sallam Waiswa, the Commission’s Head of Litigation, Prosecution and Legal Advisory.
Speaking before the signing, Hon. Thembo welcomed the agreement, describing it as evidence that UCC’s decision to engage directly with the Busoga Kingdom had borne fruit.
He said the Commission was optimistic that the partnership would become a model for using cultural institutions to expand digital inclusion and ICT development in communities.
The agreement will run for five years, after which it would be eligible for renewal. Both parties agreed to conduct joint reviews every two years to assess implementation, evaluate achievements and make any necessary adjustments to ensure the objectives are fully realised.
For Busoga, Second Katukiro Owek. Osman Noor conveyed greetings from His Royal Highness (HRH) the Kyabazinga, William Gabula Nadiope IV before thanking UCC for honouring the commitments made during Hon. Thembo’s visit to the Kingdom in May 2026.
“I bring greetings from the Kyabazinga. We are here to fulfil the pledges we reached when you visited Busoga Kingdom in May. Your visit has culminated into something that will benefit the people of Busoga. We pledge to give UCC maximum cooperation to ensure that the Kingdom fully leverages this partnership for the benefit of our people,” Noor said.
The partnership is expected to focus heavily on empowering young people, schools and communities with digital knowledge and practical ICT skills required in today’s technology-driven economy.
Besides providing infrastructure such as ICT laboratories and innovation hubs, the programme is expected to promote responsible internet usage and digital citizenship, particularly among young people who increasingly rely on social media.
Officials noted that while digital platforms present enormous opportunities for education, entrepreneurship and employment, many youths continue to misuse them, with some ending up arrested, prosecuted or fined under the Computer Misuse Act due to irresponsible online conduct.
Through digital literacy programmes, the partnership intends to equip young people with the knowledge to use the internet productively, safely and legally while creating opportunities to earn income through digital innovation, online business and content creation.
The agreement traces its roots to Hon. Thembo’s visit to the Busoga Kingdom earlier this year, during which he held a high-level meeting with His Royal Highness the Kyabazinga to discuss how cultural institutions could support Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
During that engagement, Thembo emphasised that access to digital technologies should no longer be viewed as a privilege but as an essential service that must reach every Ugandan, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities.
He argued that traditional and cultural institutions remain influential partners capable of mobilising communities to embrace ICT, digital literacy and innovation, especially among young people whom he described as the country’s future.
The UCC ED also praised HRH. William Gabula Nadiope for embracing modern technology and supporting initiatives aimed at expanding ICT education, innovation and digital skills development within the Kingdom.
He reiterated UCC’s commitment to bridging Uganda’s digital divide through investment in broadband infrastructure, establishment of community ICT centres and programmes that prepare the youths for opportunities within the digital economy.
