KABALE, MONDAY – Staff and students of St. Ignatius University Kabale (IGUKA) were among the key participants at the official commissioning of the Digital Community ICT Hub in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality.
The hub, housed at Kabale Public Library, was established by American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda in partnership with the National Library of Uganda. It is part of ATC Uganda’s Digital Communities program aimed at promoting digital inclusion by providing free computers, free high-speed internet and free digital literacy training to the public.
The state-of-the-art facility was commissioned by the Guest of Honor, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Uganda, Mr. Mikael Cleverley, who represented the American Ambassador to Uganda.
The function was led by the Chief Executive Officer of ATC Uganda, Ms. Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, and attended by the LC3 Chairperson of Southern Division, Hon. Macklean Batware Kamusiime, the Principal Assistant Town Clerk, Mr. Hassan Rwamango, and other municipal and district leaders.
Guest of Honor Roots for ICT in Universities
In his address, Mr. Cleverley said Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is no longer a luxury but the backbone of quality education, research and economic transformation.
He said the U.S. Government is proud to partner with American companies like ATC to invest in Uganda’s digital future, especially for the youth.
Mr. Cleverley particularly lauded institutions of higher learning in Kabale, singling out IGUKA for being in the neighbourhood and for actively participating in community development.
He noted that the hub will complement IGUKA’s existing ICT infrastructure.
“ICT is shaping the future of education. Universities like St. Ignatius University Kabale are central to this transformation. I am delighted to see IGUKA staff and students here today. This facility is meant to supplement what you already have at the university. Use it to access global research materials, to innovate and to prepare yourselves for the digital economy,” Mr. Cleverley said.
He challenged IGUKA students to move from being mere consumers of internet to creators of solutions using the free resources.
ATC, Division Leaders Thank IGUKA, Call for Utilization
In their separate remarks, Ms. Ssemanda, Hon. Batware and Mr. Rwamango thanked IGUKA for its continued cooperation with Southern Division and the entire Kabale community.
They called upon IGUKA to mobilize staff and students to fully utilize the new hub in addition to the university’s ICT facilities for research, learning and innovation.
Ms. Ssemanda said ATC has so far set up over 12 similar hubs across Uganda and Kabale was chosen because of its high concentration of educational institutions.
Boost for IGUKA and Other Institutions
The hub is expected to be a major boost to academic institutions in Kabale Municipality which hosts four universities and several tertiary institutions, with IGUKA as a direct beneficiary due to its proximity.
For IGUKA, the hub will provide free access to e-journals and e-books, free certified training in computer skills and entrepreneurship, a reduction in the cost of internet for research, and a modern space for e-learning and innovation.
IGUKA representatives who attended the launch applauded ATC Uganda and the American people for the initiative and pledged that the University community will fully utilize the facility.
