UN Women, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the government of Uganda, has inaugurated a new African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) ICT Hub at Kyebambe Girls’ Secondary School in Fort Portal. The launch marks a major step in advancing digital inclusion for young women in Uganda’s Rwenzori sub-region.
The state-of-the-art hub, equipped with 60 computers, will serve as a training, innovation, and mentorship centre where girls and young women can acquire digital literacy, coding, and ICT skills, preparing them for future careers in science, technology, and innovation.
This follows the establishment of the first regional AGCCI ICT Hub at Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School in Eastern Uganda.
Speaking at the inauguration, UN Women Uganda Deputy Country Representative, Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, emphasized the importance of empowering girls with digital skills as a critical step toward achieving gender equality and sustainable development.
“When girls are given access to technology and opportunity, they do not just participate—they lead. The AGCCI hubs are ensuring that no girl is left behind in Uganda’s digital transformation,” she said.
Since 2018, the AGCCI programme—jointly implemented by UN Women, AUC, and ITU with support from GIZ—has trained over 2,000 girls across Africa, including 240 in Uganda under Phase III. The initiative directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 5 (Gender Equality), while supporting Uganda’s Vision 2040 and National Development Plan IV.
Recent evaluations highlight the programme’s transformative impact. Girls who had never used a computer are now coding and designing websites, communities are increasingly embracing girls in ICT, and vocational institutions report rising female enrolment.
AGCCI alumnae are gaining employment or launching tech-based enterprises, positively contributing to their families and communities.
UN Women will continue to strengthen mentorship networks, foster university and private sector partnerships, and advocate for the institutionalization of AGCCI within national education systems.
The organization also acknowledged Mountains of the Moon University for hosting the AGCCI Coding Camp earlier this year and supporting girls’ digital learning.
“The future of Uganda’s innovation ecosystem depends on investing in girls’ digital skills,” added Ndieli. “Today’s inauguration is more than an event—it is a commitment to building a more inclusive, tech-driven future for all.”
