ICT and National Guidance Ministry donates Tablets to Residents of Nyakabungo in Buhara

By Alex Byakatonda.

Communications Officer-Kabale

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, through the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has donated tablets to the residents of Nyakabungo village in Buhara Sub-county. This donation is part of the government’s pilot project aimed at bridging the connectivity and access to information gap in underserved communities.

The tablets, distributed alongside solar panels to facilitate charging, were produced under the Universal Service Access Fund (USAF), formerly known as the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF).

Christopher Yikii, a Senior ICT Officer in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, explained that the government is implementing a pilot project to distribute mobile Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices to selected communities across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to increase ICT adoption in low-income areas.

Yikii emphasized that the primary objective of the distribution is to enhance connectivity and improve access to information, thereby addressing the digital divide between rural and urban communities.

During the handover ceremony, Gordon Manzi, the Principal Assistant Secretary for Kabale District, explained that Nyakabungo village was chosen due to its strategic location and its eligibility according to the project’s guidelines. The village’s proximity to the Rwanda border made it a key area for this initiative.

Manzi commended the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for the initiative, highlighting that the tablets would significantly improve the well-being of the beneficiaries and enhance service delivery. He pointed out that many government programs are now implemented digitally, citing the example of the Parish Development Model, where beneficiaries receive funds through a digital platform.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to use the tablets as intended and to serve as role models for the rest of the country. Manzi also cautioned them against losing or selling the devices, reminding them that the tablets are equipped with serial codes for tracking.

Joseph Baryamujura, the Chairperson of Buhara Sub-county, noted that the tablets would promote development in the area, especially as Nyakabungo village is situated at the heart of Rwene Parish, which is set to be upgraded to town council status.

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