The ICT training aligns with Uganda’s Digital Vision and the NDP III agenda of enhancing employability, innovation and digital inclusion, particularly in underserved communities.
Kotido, Uganda: More than 100 young people in Kotido District have graduated from a five-day ICT and multimedia training programme organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), marking a major step in rural digital empowerment and the national push to close Uganda’s digital divide.
The skilling initiative, delivered through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), is part of the government’s broader Digital Skilling Programme under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. The training aligns with Uganda’s Digital Vision and the NDP III agenda of enhancing employability, innovation and digital inclusion, particularly in underserved communities.
Across the week-long sessions, participants progressed from basic computer literacy to hands-on multimedia production, mobile video editing, content creation and online entrepreneurship. For many, it was their first time operating a computer.
“This training has opened doors I didn’t even know existed,” said graduate Auma Gloria Anyango, who shared how she once feared using computers but now feels ready to apply for jobs online and support digital projects in her community.
Another graduate, Ilukol Anna Mercy, said the skilling programme brought long-awaited equality for rural youth: “Urban youth had opportunities we couldn’t access. Today, I feel equal. I can create content, manage social media, and even explore online business ideas. This is empowerment.”
Leadership within the cohort also stood out. Juma Salin Chemutai, who served as team lead, helped coordinate group work, while the best-performing group, led by Longoli Eminem Lokinei, earned praise for creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.
Trainers Jemba Hosea and Gideon Kawooya from 256 Films said the results affirmed the potential of rural young people when given the tools and guidance. “These youth mastered skills in five days that many adults struggle with,” Hosea said. Kawooya added: “With the right support, rural youth can produce professional-quality content and start their own digital enterprises.”
At the certificate-awarding ceremony, Kotido Deputy RDC John Magyezi Lukooki congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to apply their skills towards community transformation.
“These skills are a gateway to opportunity,” he said. “Government and partners like UCC are investing in your future. It is your responsibility to make the most of it and uplift your communities.”
UCC’s nationwide skilling programme targets rural youth, women and marginalised groups with hands-on training in digital literacy, mobile journalism, online safety and digital entrepreneurship. Each district cohort trains over 100 participants, contributing to Uganda’s drive toward a digitally inclusive society and supporting global Sustainable Development Goals.
For many of the graduates, the certificates symbolised new possibilities. “This is more than paper,” said Gloria. “It represents opportunity and hope. It is a new beginning.”
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