MTN Uganda, in partnership with several stakeholders, has today donated digital and vocational equipment to the Busoga Kingdom in a bid to bridge the country’s digital divide and empower youth—particularly teenage mothers and young women—through practical skills development.
The donation was made under the telecom giant’s flagship 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, an annual volunteerism initiative designed to positively impact communities across Africa.
The equipment was officially handed over at the Inebantu Lady Alice Mulooki Memorial Library and ICT Centre in Bugembe, Jinja, and was received by Busoga Kingdom’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Alhajj Osman Noor Ahmed, on behalf of the kingdom.
The donation included ten desktop computers with one-year internet subscriptions, ten tailoring machines, ten hairdressing kits, and water-harvesting tanks to support kitchen gardening.
The intervention is aimed at enhancing digital literacy, promoting income-generating opportunities, and improving household food security, with a special focus on teenage mothers and vulnerable young women.
“This support goes beyond equipment—it’s about opening doors for a better future,” said Alhajj Osman.
“We are grateful to MTN for consistently empowering our young people with tools and skills to thrive in today’s digital economy. This partnership strengthens our commitment to youth development through technology and vocational training.”
This donation comes when the Kyabazinga was appointed by the UN as a goodwill Ambassador championing the fight against teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
As part of the campaign's community engagement activities, MTN Uganda’s female staff also participated in a friendly football match with teenage mothers in the region.
The match served as a platform to break stigma, build confidence, and raise awareness around teenage pregnancy prevention, a growing concern in Busoga.
According to the Ministry of Health, over 30% of adolescent girls in Busoga have experienced teenage pregnancy—one of the highest rates in the country.
Coupled with the limited access to digital tools—where only 10% of rural residents own or use a computer, and just 27% regularly access the internet, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics—the donation is a timely boost for an underserved population.
Speaking during the event, Juliet Kakayi Nsubuga, Managing Director of Bayobab Uganda (an MTN affiliate), emphasized the importance of connectivity and digital inclusion in tackling economic vulnerability.
“Connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” Nsubuga said. “We believe that through access to technology, vocational training, and mentorship, young women can gain the independence and resilience they need to shape their own futures.”
She noted that this initiative is part of MTN Uganda’s broader Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to drive inclusive digital and financial growth across the country.
This marks the second major contribution by MTN to Busoga under the Y’ello Care campaign. In 2016, the telecom firm donated 20 computers to the same ICT Centre, a move that has since benefited thousands of learners across the kingdom.
The 2025 edition of the campaign, themed “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools,” extends support to other regions in Uganda with a nationwide investment of shs 500 million.
In Kampala, MTN is partnering with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to address urban youth unemployment through the Kabalagala Youth Centre. In Luwero District, collaboration with the Nnabagereka Development Foundation focuses on youth-led agribusiness.
In northern Uganda, MTN is working with Ker Alur Kingdom to tackle teenage pregnancy through digital reproductive health education.
Meanwhile, in western Uganda, support to the Tooro Kingdom aims to promote digital tourism and HIV/AIDS prevention.
The campaign is being implemented in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, MTN Mobile Money Uganda Ltd, Bayobab, Maendeleo Foundation, AYO Uganda, Roofings Group, Transsion, Xeno Investment, and AYO.
Launched in 2007, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign mobilizes MTN staff across Africa every June to volunteer their time and skills in service of community development.