THE COMMUNICATIONS BLOG

KAMPALA: 26-06-2023 – Uganda Communications Commission launched a project that seeks to support ICT solutions that address societal challenges in unserved and underserved areas of Uganda. The project is being undertaken in partnership with Makerere University Business School (MUBS).

Implemented through Uganda Communications Universal Services and Access Fund (UCUSAF), the project was launched during a brief ceremony at UCC Head office in Bugolobi on Monday, after which a call was officially made to eligible Ugandan businesses that have developed ICT solutions to enter the competition. Successful companies will be mentored, boot-camped and their ideas refined and supported to make them commercially scalable.

Also known as the e-booster programme, the initiative’s main goal is to increase ICT access and promote inclusive development, benefiting unserved and underserved communities and sectors in line with UCC’s mission of inclusive access to communication services and infrastructure.

Makerere University Business School was selected as the Implementing Partner based on its record as an institution whose mission extends beyond traditional education to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growth of the private sector, the Director UCUSAF, Nyombi Thembo explained.

Through UCUSAF, UCC undertakes interventions to bridge the digital divide and improve access to ICT services in unserved and underserved communities. UCUSAF also supports the provision of universal access to ICT services and infrastructure in Uganda and has successfully implemented various ICT projects and initiatives that have brought communication services to previously unserved areas.

In her remarks, the UCC Ag. Executive Director, Eng. Irene Kaggwa, explained that the competition would facilitate otherwise bright ICT solutions that face funding challenges. “Through this programme, we seek to support innovations with good ideas but limited capital to help bridge the digital divide,” she said. “We want to ensure that disadvantaged people in all corners of our country are facilitated to enjoy ICTs.”

On his part, the Acting Principal of MUBS, Prof. Moses Muhwezi, said his institution has always valued and prioritized engagement between academia and the private sector because of its potential to benefit the economy. “Only 2 percent of knowledge in the world is African,” he told his audience of mostly journalists, UCC and MUBS staff. “We need to challenge this narrative by engaging in collaborative activities with organisations such as UCC.”

With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounting for a significant portion of the country’s economy, the e-booster competition aims to empower local businesses and communities by harnessing the power of ICT to bridge the gap and offer solutions to unserved and underserved communities.

Although it is widely acknowledged that ICT solutions have the potential to spark the socio-economic transformation of unserved and underserved areas in Uganda, bottlenecks such as limited funding, technical expertise, and access to reliable internet and electricity often militate against meaningful exploitation of ICTs.

Through this project, participating businesses have an opportunity to create competitive and sustainable solutions that address these challenges and bridge the digital divide. “This competition provides a platform to showcase your talent and make a real impact on the unserved and underserved communities. By participating, you stand a chance to receive grants, expert support, and mentorship to implement your ICT solutions,” the Ag. Executive Director said. “Join us in shaping the future of Uganda by leveraging the power of technology.”

To enter your connectivity solution in the competition, go to: https://ebooster.co.ug/