The Minister for ICT and National guidance on Thursday launched the regional ICT and Innovations hub at Soroti University with a promise that the government is determined to lower the cost of digital services and devices to stimulate development in the country.
Speaking during the launch, Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi said the government is going to remove all the barriers to bring down the cost of internet and technologies. This is just the beginning, expect more to come promised the Minister during his address to the stakeholders drawn from districts, city and the public.
The PS Ministry of ICT, Minister of ICT and National guidance during the launch of the regional ICT innovations hub at Soroti University.
The permeant secretary ministry of ICT Aminah Zawedde said the ministry in 2020 entered an MoU with universities to establish incubation hub to increase ICT penetration in the country, to foster technology education, strengthening research and bring innovative minds to stimulate breakthrough. Other universities hosting the regional hubs include Kabale University, in western Uganda, Muni University in Westnile and now Soroti University in the East.
She said the hub will go a long way in helping Soroti university students, staff, schools’ youth, and aspiring innovators from the public to use the facilities to harness their skills.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT, Aminah Zawedde being welcomed by the VC Prof. J.R Ikoja.
The VC in his remarks thanked the ministry for providing resources to start up the hub. The initiative to train the youth in the region will stimulate innovation in the region and support development, resource centre for innovators to stimulate and harness their ideas.
The dean School of Engineering and the project manager said the ministry advanced funds. The modest budget of 250.000.000.(Two hundred and fifty million shillings) was used for setting up the centre, procurement of 15 desk top computers for developers, heavy duty colour printer, Internet, 75’ board for training and conference among others.
He said the university is willing to cooperate with the ministry in realising the development of Uganda through ICT-led, fulfilling the SDG-4 Quality education, SDG- 5 Gender equality, SDG-8 decent work and SDG-9 Industry innovation and infrastructure.
He said that the ICT is a tool for everyone in regardless of age, location and gender. The ICT is necessary for development, wellbeing, enlightenment, convenience, business, entertainment and survival of humanity. The ICT Hub will stimulate the digital revolution in this region and encourage the use of modern technologies for social economic development.
The dean informed the Minister that they have a workplan of over one billion shillings to fully operationalize the hub, acquisition of relevant software and licenses for productivity to aid innovators to integrate software with hardware, human resource among others.