The future of ICT in Uganda and among the youth is set to see a much brighter day after the Government has come to give a hand to a number of ICT youth innovators. In a letter obtained by Campus Bee this afternoon signed by the President, the youth shall be greatly funded in all their ICT endeavors owing to the growing trends of digital platforms.
Through the Ministry of ICT, a number of Young ICT graduates and professionals have been mobilized and shall be involved in the innovation of IT and other digital solutions. The youth who have organised themselves into a forum shall be funded by government thanks to their commendable organisation prompting the government to fully support them.
The letter stipulated that the youth shall be funded after they lobbied to get part of the government funds to be used to recognize the budding rise of online and digital;
“They want to be supported with funds for incubating and developing their products just the same way we have supported the other scientists. Fortunately, the investment required for this ICT category is not that heavy since they do not require a lot of hardware materials. It is mainly software, incubator hubs to work from and affordable or free Internet.
The Ministry of ICT in a cost effective approach should work with the UPDF Engineering Brigade to put up these simple buildings at the available pieces of land (In Nakawa and Entebbe) and equip them with internet and computers. The innovators can then be allocated space for their work. I’m also informed that when innovation centers are made functional, It will be easy for the their factory trials and assembling.
This is, therefore, to direct that, without distorting the already set budget priorities, to rationalize from the already existing funds of youth livelihood and the science innovation fund and get out a portion of money of at least 15bn per year to support this other category of Youth involved in ICT innovations and also the development of the ICT parks.”, the letter noted.
The funding will cut across for all youth that shall be part of the forum to utilise the available funds to grow ICT trends.
