The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has rolled out a digital literacy and entrepreneurship training programme in Namayingo District as part of a broader government effort to expand digital inclusion and strengthen local economic development in rural communities.
The training, being conducted at Madowa Community Learning Centre in Buswale Sub-County, is implemented under the Ministry of Local Government's Regional Development Programme, which seeks to enhance economic opportunities through the adoption of ICT and digital entrepreneurship skills at the grassroots level.
The initiative is among a series of trainings being conducted across several districts as government moves to address the widening digital gap between urban and rural areas.
Speaking during the training, Senior ICT Infrastructure Engineer at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Irene Karungi Sekitoleko, said the programme is being implemented in a phased manner across districts including Namayingo, Kaberamaido, Soroti, Jinja and Mbale, among others.
She said the training primarily targets owners of rural enterprises, with special attention given to women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Participants are being equipped with digital literacy skills, including the use of digital tools to support business operations, internet navigation and practical ICT applications relevant to sectors such as agriculture, trade and services.
"The objective is to empower rural enterprises in districts where the uptake of digital technology has remained significantly lower than in urban areas. We are pursuing digital inclusion as a matter of deliberate policy," Sekitoleko said.
She noted that the programme aligns with the ministry's broader mandate of promoting digital transformation and ensuring that communities traditionally left behind in technological advancements are able to participate in Uganda's growing digital economy.
For many participants, the training has opened new possibilities for business growth and access to information.
Olivia Kantono, one of the beneficiaries, said many rural residents had previously been unaware of the opportunities that digital technology could provide for agriculture and enterprise development.
"We have been in the dark about so much. We did not know that we could use our phones to market our products, to find out about crop diseases and pests, or to access market information without travelling long distances. This intervention has come at exactly the right time," she said.
Kantono observed that many challenges facing rural producers stem not from a lack of products but from limited access to information and markets, adding that digital technology provides an effective solution to bridge that gap.
The expansion of the programme reflects growing recognition within government that digital skills have become essential for enterprise growth, innovation and improved livelihoods.
Officials said the Regional Development Programme provides a framework for sustaining and scaling such initiatives by linking ICT capacity building with broader efforts to strengthen local governance and community-driven economic development.
Further training sessions are expected to be conducted in Namayingo and neighbouring districts during subsequent phases of the programme.