By Mulengera Reporters
Uganda may be expanding its internet capacity, but millions of people still lack the skills to turn digital access into meaningful opportunities, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director (ED) Nyombi Thembo has warned, describing the usage gap as a more pressing challenge than connectivity.
The ED said the country must move beyond investing in telecommunications infrastructure and basic digital literacy to equipping citizens with practical skills that can improve their education, employment prospects and businesses.
“Today, much as we continue to talk about the connectivity gap in Uganda, the most critical gap now is the usage gap, not the connectivity gap, because there is a lot of capacity all around the country. But when you look at usage, it is still very low,” he said.
He was speaking at a stakeholder dialogue on strengthening Uganda’s digital skills ecosystem held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, where government officials, technology-sector players, development partners, civil society organizations, academics and representatives of communications regulators discussed ways of making digital inclusion more meaningful.
The engagement was convened by UCC through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), in partnership with the British Council, with support from the British High Commission and UK International Development.
Hon. Thembo said the availability of internet connections, computers and smartphones did not automatically translate into productive technology use, arguing that citizens must be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to apply digital tools to their everyday needs.
“We can connect a community to the internet, but that does not necessarily mean that people know how to use it. We can equip a school with computers, but the benefits will depend on whether teachers have the skills to use them effectively,” he said.
The ED gave the example of small-business owners who possess smartphones but may not know how to use them to maintain business records, reach customers or access digital financial services.
The UCC boss said the commission was consequently seeking to expand its digital skilling interventions beyond basic competencies such as navigating the internet, downloading applications and using search engines.
He said the emerging partnership would also focus on digital skills for employability, at a time when unemployment remains a major challenge for Uganda and other countries.
“Digital skilling for employability, all of us share how unemployment is a problem everywhere. So this is really commendable, and we hope this collaboration pushes us towards that goal,” Thembo said.
The shift, he explained, is intended to ensure that investments in communication infrastructure and digital services translate into tangible benefits in learning, work, enterprise development and access to essential services.
The dialogue also provided an opportunity for Uganda to learn from digital inclusion experiences in the United Kingdom and explore collaboration with international and regional institutions, including representatives of the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Thembo said the commission welcomed the opportunity to understand what had worked in other countries, the challenges encountered and the arrangements that had helped sustain digital skills programmes.
He challenged stakeholders to coordinate their interventions instead of operating in isolation, noting that training institutions, technology companies, employers and community organizations possessed different resources and expertise that could complement one another.
A training institution, for instance, could have qualified trainers and facilities, while another organization had established links with communities in need of digital skills. Technology companies could contribute tools and technical expertise, while employers could help identify the competencies required in the labour market.
“However, we recognize that Uganda’s digital skills needs are far greater than what UCC or UCUSAF or any other institution can address independently,” he said.
The dialogue comes as Uganda pursues its broader digital transformation agenda, with the government and industry increasingly expected to ensure that access to technology translates into wider economic participation.
UCC says its digital inclusion programmes have already reached women, young people, farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs, older persons and persons with disabilities. Nyombi Thembo said the next phase must place greater emphasis on the practical application of those skills.
He urged stakeholders to use the engagement to identify areas of cooperation that would reach underserved communities and improve the quality of digital training.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for ICT in charge of Communications, Joyce Ssebugwawo, alongside representatives of government agencies, licensed telecommunications operators, academia, development organizations and other sector players.
