The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has trained more than 13,000 women in digital skills, as the regulator shifts focus from expanding telecommunications infrastructure to helping Ugandans use internet services for jobs, business and access to information.
UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said the regulator was prioritising digital skills development to address the gap between the availability of internet connectivity and people’s ability to use it productively.
“While infrastructure remains crucial, Uganda’s primary bottleneck today is the usage gap. We have vast network capacity across the nation, but we must ensure every Ugandan has the skills and confidence to use it productively,” Thembo said.
He made the remarks during a stakeholder dialogue on strengthening Uganda’s digital skills ecosystem, organised by UCC under the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF) in partnership with the British Council, the British High Commission and UK International Development.
Thembo said the fund had also reached more than 11,000 rural community members, including farmers, older persons and persons with disabilities, through grassroots digital skills initiatives.
The programme has further equipped more than 6,000 young people with information and communication technology (ICT) and multimedia skills, while over 5,000 micro, small and medium enterprises in 20 districts have been trained to use digital tools to manage records, reach wider markets and access digital financial services.
Teachers have also received ICT training, while ICT clubs have been established in schools to promote innovation and digital learning.
Thembo said the next phase of the programme would go beyond basic digital literacy, such as navigating applications and search engines, to focus on skills that improve employability and support enterprise development.
“Connective infrastructure fulfils its promise only when teachers can deliver richer lessons, farmers can access market prices, and young people secure job opportunities,” he said.
He called for greater collaboration among government agencies, telecommunications operators, technology companies and civil society organisations to make digital skills training more inclusive and sustainable.
“No single institution can bridge this gap alone. By pooling our strengths across government, telecom operators, tech companies, and civil society, we can make digital literacy more inclusive, practical, and sustainable for all Ugandans,” Thembo said.