The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Amina Zawedde, has called on Ugandans to embrace digital skilling as a pathway to better livelihoods and expanded job opportunities.
She made the remarks at the ICT Hub in Nakawa while presiding over the awarding of certificates to 1,000 refugees who completed training in digital skills, smart device use, and technology.
“These refugees have been trained to acquire unique expertise in digital skills so that they can innovate, create different types of work, and use these skills to improve their future lives,” Zawedde said.
She noted that the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance can work with the Uganda Institute of Technology and ICDL to help refugees advance their technological knowledge.
Zawedde also encouraged the public to use online platforms like TikTok productively to enhance their lives, adding that more ICT hubs are being established in different parts of the country to provide digital skills training.
“The government will continue increasing ICT hubs in various regions to give Ugandans, especially the youth, opportunities to explore technology,” she said.
However, she pointed out that financial constraints remain a major challenge to expanding training, as the government has not yet allocated sufficient resources.
This, she said, has prompted the Ministry to partner with different organisations.
“The Ministry of ICT needs substantial funding to train youth in various technological skills. Even though the government is doing its part and remains committed in all situations, we continue to work with partners to fill the gaps,” Zawedde added.
She further highlighted that high internet costs and expensive computers hinder training efforts.
“Although the government has already reduced internet costs, we still need to bring them down further, as well as reduce the prices at which computers are purchased,” she said.
The awardees applauded the government for enabling them to gain much-needed skills that could help them create their own jobs.