Uganda’s digital divide remains pronounced, with mobile phone ownership standing at 37 per cent in rural areas compared with 53.7 per cent in urban communities, raising concerns about unequal access to digital services, employment opportunities and online markets.
The 2024 National Population and Housing Census shows that only 43.3 per cent of Ugandans aged 10 and above own mobile phones, according to Minister of State for Information Communication Technology and National Guidance.
Ssebugwawo said expanding access to affordable devices and internet connectivity must be accompanied by digital literacy training to enable more Ugandans to use technology safely and productively.
“Digital literacy is not simply operating a phone or computer; it is using technology safely, confidently and productively,” she said.
The minister was speaking at the launch of a national strategic partnership initiative aimed at strengthening digital skills development through collaboration among government institutions and other stakeholders.
She warned that limited access to devices and digital skills could leave farmers unable to obtain market information, young people struggling to access job opportunities and small businesses missing out on online customers.
Ssebugwawo called for more affordable devices and internet services, alongside targeted digital training for job seekers, farmers, older people and small business owners.
She also urged financial institutions, telecommunications companies and device suppliers to develop responsible financing arrangements that would enable low-income households to acquire digital devices without exposing them to unfair lending practices.
The minister further challenged digital training providers to measure their success by the practical benefits learners obtain rather than simply counting the number of people trained.
The concerns come as the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) seeks to expand its digital skills programmes beyond basic phone and computer use to equip Ugandans with skills relevant to employment and enterprise development.
UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said access to internet connectivity and digital content would have limited benefits if people lacked the skills to use them effectively.
“Digital skilling is very, very critical because you can have connectivity, the content could be there, a device could be there, but if you don’t know how to navigate these and what you are looking for, you will not be able to use broadband effectively,” Thembo said.
He said UCC had largely focused on basic digital literacy but intended to extend its programmes to skills that enable people to apply technology in workplaces and improve their employment prospects.
The commission is also seeking partnerships with civil society organisations and institutions such as the British Council to strengthen digital skills development. Thembo said UCC had benchmarked initiatives in Kenya to explore opportunities for further cooperation.
He identified connectivity, digital content, access to devices and digital skills as four areas requiring coordinated investment to improve broadband uptake.
Ssebugwawo also called for better coordination and financing among institutions implementing digital literacy programmes to reduce duplication and identify underserved communities.
She proposed regional cooperation between Uganda and Kenya to share training materials, expertise and approaches to monitoring digital skills programmes.