Government has launched a new digital transformation partnership aimed at tackling critical challenges undermining Uganda’s transition to a technology-driven economy, including youth unemployment linked to skills gaps, widespread credential fraud, and limited access to digital services in rural communities.

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Spotlight on Africa and Algorithmic Partners to expand ICT skills training, strengthen innovation ecosystems and deploy trusted digital verification systems.

At the centre of the initiative is an ICT Innovation Hub to be established in Mbale, targeting youth with practical digital skills while supporting entrepreneurship and access to technology-driven opportunities.

Permanent Secretary Aminah Zawedde said the collaboration is designed to strengthen regional growth and expand ICT capacity, particularly for women and young people.


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The hub will offer training from basic digital literacy to advanced competencies such as coding, artificial intelligence and blockchain — skills increasingly required in the modern labour market but still scarce in many parts of the country.

A major component of the partnership is the deployment of a blockchain-based digital certification system to combat document forgery and enable secure verification of academic and professional credentials.

Tomos Rees, Director at Algorithmic Partners, warned that lack of trusted certification undermines employment prospects.

“Trusted certification is essential if skills training is to translate into real jobs. This platform improves transparency, reduces fraud, and strengthens trust between graduates, training institutions, and employers,” he said.

Credential fraud and unverifiable qualifications have been a growing concern among employers and training institutions, weakening confidence in Uganda’s skills ecosystem.

Spotlight on Africa, which has operated in Uganda for more than two decades in education, health and economic empowerment, has trained over 800 ICT graduates — most of them women — with more than 60 percent securing employment. The organisation plans to establish five ICT centres over the next five years, with Mbale serving as a central hub.

The partnership also aims to extend digital public services to rural and underserved communities, addressing persistent connectivity and access gaps that continue to limit service delivery and economic participation.