By Guest Writer
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on Thursday conducted a validation exercise to assess the findings of a study evaluating the effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of the National Conference on Communications (NCC).
The NCC is a UCC flagship initiative aimed at promoting research, innovation, and knowledge exchange within Uganda’s ICT ecosystem. Over the years, it has distinguished itself as an important platform, particularly for advancing youth innovation and digital inclusion, while bringing together academia, industry, government, and students to showcase homegrown ICT solutions.
After nine editions of the conference, the Commission deemed it timely to critically assess whether the NCC is still meeting its original objectives and delivering lasting value.
The validation workshop involved stakeholders from academia, past host institutions, innovators, researchers, schools, government ministries and agencies, and industry players.
Representing the Director for IT and Research, the Head of IT, Mr. Michael Bamwesigye, said the validation exercise was intended to determine whether the NCC remains fit for purpose and whether it is delivering the outcomes it was designed to achieve. He added that the ultimate goal is to ensure the conference evolves in line with the priorities of the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), so that it remains both sustainable and transformative.
The evaluation was conducted by a team of consultants from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), led by Prof. Geoffrey Mayoka Kituyi. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study involved document reviews, stakeholder interviews, participant surveys, and benchmarking exercises. The consultants examined the NCC’s alignment with national ICT goals, its contribution to research and innovation, and its effectiveness in fostering meaningful collaboration among stakeholders.
Preliminary findings revealed a notable gap between conference activity and sustained impact. Only 13.3% of solutions generated through the NCC were implemented after the conference, with high costs, policy constraints, and skills gaps cited as key barriers. While networking at the event was found to be strong, its translation into long-term partnerships remained limited, with just 22.2% of respondents reporting the formation of industry–academia collaborations.
To address these gaps, the consultants have proposed a phased strategic roadmap to enhance the NCC’s relevance and impact. Key recommendations include strengthening post-conference engagement through a digital NCC Connect Platform and establishing a dedicated Collaboration Fund to support sustained partnerships.
The consultants also recommended the creation of an NCC Journal of ICT Innovation and an Innovation Pipeline Programme to support research publication, commercialization, and the translation of ideas into viable solutions.
With deliberate improvements to its structure, funding, and post-event support mechanisms, the NCC is well positioned to significantly increase its contribution to Uganda’s digital transformation.
By implementing the study’s evidence-based recommendations, the conference can evolve from a largely annual academic event into a dynamic, multi-stakeholder ecosystem that turns research into practice, strengthens collaboration, and actively shapes Uganda’s ICT policy and innovation landscape-story picked from UCC news blog. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
