The Kabale Public Library Digital Community, established by ATC Uganda in 2024, was commissioned by Mikael (Mika) Cleverley, the United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Uganda. The facility provides free access to computers, internet connectivity, digital literacy training, and other technology-enabled learning opportunities. Located at the Southern Division headquarters, the library aims to bridge the digital divide by providing underserved communities with access to digital tools, internet connectivity, and skills.
The library is part of a wider initiative by ATC Uganda, which has established 14 Digital Communities in 14 districts. Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, the ATC Uganda Chief Executive Officer, said the facility is strategically positioned to serve learners from nearby schools, including Kikungiri Primary School, Ndorwa Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as students from higher institutions such as Kabale University and St. Ignatius University. The facility is also open to members of the wider community, including people with different levels of literacy and digital experience.
The library offers free digital skills training to pupils, students, and other community members. Stella Sekweyama, the ATC Uganda Head of Human Resources, said the centre partners with Window International to conduct training sessions in the morning and afternoon. Trainees who successfully complete the one-month programme receive certificates, with about 3,000 people having benefited from the training so far. The facility has provided an opportunity for some beneficiaries to acquire skills that have opened up new employment opportunities.
Alfred Mujuni, a resident of Karubanda Ward in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality, said he had worked in various offices despite lacking computer skills and could not afford to pay for ICT training. The establishment of the digital community library allowed him to learn how to use computers. He said the skills he acquired through the programme later helped him to secure selection in his area as a secretary under the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.
Barham Aijuka, an Information Officer at Uganda College of Commerce (UCC) Kabale, described the facility as an important opportunity for learners to acquire ICT skills and improve their access to information. Hassan Rwamango, the Principal Assistant Town Clerk for Southern Division, and Macklean Ninsiima Batware, the Division LC3 Chairperson, commended ATC Uganda for establishing the facility. However, they appealed for additional support to construct a larger structure, saying the existing space is too small to accommodate the growing number of users.
Michael Muramira Kyakashari, the Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner, directed Southern Division authorities to install CCTV cameras at the facility to help identify people who may attempt to vandalise it. Commissioning the facility, Cleverley commended ATC Uganda for its contribution to Uganda’s communications infrastructure through the management of network infrastructure. He said reliable communication infrastructure is critical to the country’s economic development.
The Kabale facility is part of ATC Uganda’s broader digital inclusion initiatives in the region. In September 2024, the company commissioned and officially handed over a multimillion-shilling Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub to San Giovanni Senior Secondary School Makiro in Kanungu District, aimed at promoting digital education in the Kigezi region. Cleverley encouraged students and local authorities to embrace innovation, saying facilities such as the digital library can provide access to knowledge and help innovators identify potential markets for their products.
Key points
- The library provides free access to computers, internet connectivity, and digital literacy training to underserved communities.
- The facility is part of ATC Uganda’s initiative to establish 14 Digital Communities in 14 districts.
- The library has provided new employment opportunities for some beneficiaries who have acquired digital skills.
