UN Women, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and with support from GIZ, has inaugurated the Eastern Region African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) ICT Hub at Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School in Jinja District.
The launch marks a major milestone in advancing digital inclusion and empowering young women to thrive in Uganda’s technology-driven economy.
The ICT Hub, equipped with 60 modern computers, will provide girls with hands-on training in coding, digital literacy, multimedia, and innovation. It will also serve as a mentorship and networking space, linking AGCCI alumnae with current learners, while fostering problem-solving, creativity, and leadership development.
“When girls are given access to technology and opportunity, they don’t just participate—they lead,” said Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, UN Women Country Deputy Representative. “This Hub symbolizes our shared commitment to bridging the gender digital divide and ensuring girls are part of shaping Uganda’s digital future.”
In Uganda, only 26% of women are online compared to 45% of men, a disparity that limits access to education, innovation, and economic opportunities. The AGCCI programme equips girls aged 17–25 with digital and coding skills that prepare them for careers in ICT and STEM, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 5 (Gender Equality), and supporting Uganda’s Vision 2040, National Development Plan IV, and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Since 2018, AGCCI has reached over 2,000 girls across Africa, including 240 young women in Uganda under Phase III. Many alumnae have gone on to establish ICT businesses, introduce technology courses in schools, and mentor peers in their communities.
Evaluations show transformative outcomes, with girls who had never used a computer now designing websites and developing solutions to local challenges. In regions like Karamoja, female enrolment in vocational ICT programmes rose from 18% to 64%, and schools in Lira have introduced new ICT courses following community advocacy.
UN Women recognized Ms. Deborah Basekanakyo, Head Teacher of Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School and President of the Association of African Secondary School Heads, for her leadership.
Just days prior to the launch, Ms. Basekanakyo led a delegation of students, including AGCCI alumnae, to the UN Women Uganda Country Office, where one of the girls symbolically assumed the Country Representative’s role in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child.
The inauguration was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Education and Sports; ICT and National Guidance; local leaders from Busoga Kingdom; educators; parents; and development partners.
Looking ahead, UN Women reaffirmed its commitment to expanding AGCCI across Uganda by strengthening mentorship and alumni networks, enhancing university partnerships, documenting and amplifying stories of transformation, and mobilizing resources to establish additional regional hubs, including one in Western Uganda at Kyebambe Girls’ Secondary School.
“The AGCCI ICT Hubs are not just learning centers—they are launchpads for innovation, leadership, and equality,” Ms. Ndieli added.