The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially launched Uganda’s first ICT Skillset Standards Document.
The milestone was announced during the UJ CONNECT Project’s Joint Coordination Committee meeting, which reviewed ongoing progress and set new goals under the five-year initiative.
The newly unveiled document outlines the essential competencies required for both budding and experienced ICT professionals in software engineering and tech entrepreneurship.
It aims to align Uganda’s digital workforce with international benchmarks and help local innovators become more globally competitive.
“We have set various goals and made commendable progress. The ICT Skillset Standards Document will significantly improve the knowledge base of our tech entrepreneurs and help close the skills gap we identified,” said Ambrose Ruyooka, commissioner for Research and Development at the Ministry.
The UJ CONNECT Project, launched jointly by JICA and the Ministry in 2021, is focused on policy development, skills training, business collaboration, and entrepreneurship support.
The project has already achieved key milestones:
- Development of the ICT Skillset Standards Document
- Creation of a national recommendation document for policy
- Execution of six pilot offshoring projects linking Ugandan and Japanese firms
- Training of 60 tech entrepreneurs in two cohorts
- Launch of a mentorship program for startups
- Hosting of business matching events
- Rollout of Uganda’s ICT Intellectual Property Guidelines
- IP awareness workshops in Kampala and Kabale
According to Amos Mpungu, principal IT officer at the ministry, the workshops in Kampala and Kabale were selected due to their active innovation ecosystems.
“Our next workshop will be in a different regional hub in September,” he said, noting that findings from stakeholder discussions had revealed ongoing challenges in government-private sector collaboration.
Looking ahead, the Ministry plans a study tour to Japan and Vietnam in August 2025 and will expand training to regional innovation hubs.
While gaps in public-private linkages remain, officials believe the new standards and international exposure will help build stronger bridges and catalyze innovation at grassroots level.
The UJ CONNECT Project is expected to close in 2026. Stakeholders are optimistic that its achievements—particularly the launch of the skillset standards—will have a lasting impact on Uganda’s digital transformation.
