MTN Uganda, through its corporate social responsibility arm, the MTN Foundation, has handed over a regional innovation hub to Kabale University, marking a significant step in efforts to expand digital skills and entrepreneurship among young Ugandans.
The facility, known as the MTN Spark Hub, was established in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and Centenary Technology Services.
It is part of the MTN ACE initiative, a programme that will invest Shs4 billion over three years in four regional hubs and the refurbishment of the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, Kampala.
The Kabale hub is the first of four regional centres under the programme’s expansion phase. Additional hubs are scheduled for Busitema University in eastern Uganda in May 2026, followed by Gulu and Soroti universities.
Once fully operational, the network is expected to serve more than 20,000 students and community members.
The initiative is designed to respond to Uganda’s demographic and economic realities. More than 75 percent of the population is under the age of 30, while youth unemployment stands at 16.1 percent, according to the 2024 National Census.
The government’s Digital Transformation Roadmap (2024–2028) identifies innovation hubs and digital skills development as central to addressing this challenge.
Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said the Kabale Spark Hub represents a practical step in implementing the roadmap beyond policy.
“Uganda’s Digital Transformation Roadmap is clear: we need innovation and digital skills infrastructure that reaches every region of this country, not just Kampala. The Kabale Spark Hub is exactly what the roadmap calls for, a facility that gives young Ugandans the tools, the connectivity, and the environment to become creators and innovators rather than job seekers,” she said.
She noted that the roadmap targets 90 percent broadband coverage and prioritises youth digital skilling as one of its five core pillars, with innovation hubs identified as key delivery platforms.
Prof William Bazeyo, a trustee of the MTN Uganda Foundation Board, described the project as a deliberate effort to decentralise digital opportunities and align private sector investment with national development priorities.
“At MTN Uganda, we believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. Through the MTN ACE Programme, we are expanding access to digital skills and opportunities so young people across Uganda can innovate and shape their future,” Bazeyo said.
He added that the Shs4 billion investment reflects MTN Uganda’s long-term commitment to supporting Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan, which targets job creation and positions the knowledge economy as a key growth driver.
Kabale University Vice Chancellor Joy Kwesiga welcomed the facility as a transformative addition that bridges the gap between academic learning and practical skills.
“The MTN Spark Hub gives our students and the communities around us something we have not had before: a physical space designed for innovation, equipped with the tools to make ideas real, and connected to the global digital economy through high-speed LAN and internet access,” she said.
The hub has been equipped with computers, high-speed LAN connectivity, CCTV systems, and collaborative workspaces designed to encourage creativity and experimentation. Unlike traditional computer labs, the space features open layouts and flexible environments intended to support teamwork and innovation.
Peter Kahiigi, Chief Technology Officer at Centenary Technology Services, said the facility was intentionally designed as a creative ecosystem rather than a conventional classroom.
“We made a deliberate decision not to build another computer lab. The Kabale MTN Spark Hub has been designed as a creative ecosystem, with collaborative zones and flexible spaces that encourage unconventional thinking. When a young person walks into this space, the room itself tells them: think differently, build something,” he said.
The hub is accessible not only to university students but also to the surrounding community, providing a platform for digital training, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Its infrastructure is built around reliable connectivity and collaborative design, addressing long-standing challenges of limited bandwidth and restricted access to digital tools in regional areas.
Since its launch in 2022, the MTN ACE Programme has supported the development of locally driven solutions such as KaCyber, an online public transport ticketing platform, and RideLink, an artificial intelligence-powered logistics system that supports trade and small businesses.
The Kabale hub also aligns with broader national goals under the Digital Transformation Roadmap, which is built on five pillars: digital infrastructure, digital services, cybersecurity, digital skilling, and innovation.
The facility contributes to all five by providing connectivity, training, and a secure environment for experimentation and development.
The roadmap further targets connecting 90 percent of Uganda’s small and medium enterprises and private institutions to the internet by 2027, with a strong emphasis on expanding innovation ecosystems beyond Kampala.
With the rollout of regional hubs, MTN Uganda is extending the model established in Nakawa to university communities across the country.
The aim is to provide young people with access to tools, mentorship, and an enabling environment to turn ideas into viable businesses and employment opportunities.
The Kabale MTN Spark Hub therefore represents more than a new facility. It signals a growing shift toward decentralised innovation, where access to technology and opportunity is no longer confined to the capital but distributed across the country.
