MTN Foundation Uganda has launched a 12-computer information and communications technology hub in Palabek Refugee Settlement, Lamwo District. The facility, established with Hopelink Action Foundation Uganda, offers free access to computers, internet, and digital learning resources. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in rural and refugee-hosting communities.
The Palabek Refugee Settlement is home to nearly 72,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from South Sudan. The ICT hub is part of MTN Uganda's Ambition 2030 strategy, focusing on digital inclusion and access to connectivity and technology. This project also supports Uganda's Fourth National Development Plan, emphasizing digital transformation and human capital development as economic growth drivers.
Francis Gimara, a trustee of MTN Foundation, emphasized that access to technology and connectivity is essential for learning, accessing information, and participating in the modern economy. The hub provides online education, employment platforms, entrepreneurship resources, and digital services to users. MTN Foundation encourages beneficiaries to utilize programs like MTN ACE and MTN Skills Academy to develop technology-related skills.
The ICT hub in Palabek is MTN Foundation's 94th ICT centre across Uganda since 2007. This expansion extends the company's digital-access program beyond urban areas to schools, community organizations, and underserved populations. By investing in digital infrastructure, MTN Uganda aims to support education, employment, and participation in the country's growing digital economy.
Richard Ochaka Okot, executive director of Hopelink Action Foundation Uganda, assured that the organization will work with the community to maintain the facility's accessibility and usefulness. Wilson Mugabe, deputy commandant representing the Refugee Desk Officer and Commandant in the Office of the Prime Minister, highlighted the potential of digital infrastructure to support refugee and host communities in accessing information, services, and economic opportunities.
The initiative contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on education, decent work, innovation, and inequality. As Uganda seeks to expand participation in its digital economy, projects like the Palabek ICT hub are crucial in promoting digital inclusion and human capital development. The partnership between MTN Foundation and Hopelink Action Foundation Uganda demonstrates a commitment to bridging the digital divide in underserved communities.
The ICT hub in Palabek Refugee Settlement is a significant step towards promoting digital access and skills development in refugee and host communities. With this initiative, MTN Foundation Uganda continues to support the growth of Uganda's digital economy, ensuring that more people have access to the opportunities and resources provided by technology.
Key points
- MTN Foundation Uganda opens 12-computer ICT hub in Palabek Refugee Settlement, expanding digital access for 72,000 refugees and residents.
- The project supports Uganda's Fourth National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on education, decent work, innovation, and inequality.
- The ICT hub is part of MTN Uganda's Ambition 2030 strategy, focusing on digital inclusion and access to connectivity and technology.
