By: Eden Mic
Agago
At least 155 youth in Agago district have been trained by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on the basics of using Information and Communication Technologies.
In June 2023, UCC launched phase III of the project that seeks to support ICT solutions that address societal challenges in unserved and underserved areas of Uganda.
UCC, through the Uganda Communications Universal Services Access Fund (UCUSAF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Billbrain Technologies Ltd and partners to create a collaboration in the implementation of activities under a general thematic area of skilling youths in multimedia production to enhance innovation and creativity in local content creation to enable them to create jobs in the creative industries.
The UCC/UCUSAF III and Billbrain Technologies Ltd and partners such as Makerere University Business School (MUBS) set aside resources to implement the third phase of the program.
For more than one week, the youth in Agago were trained in areas such as digital content creation, mobile photography, graphics design and editing, audio production, and video production for commercial use.
Other thematic areas covered are; branding, marketing, and selling online, basics of digital analytics and social media influencing, basics of online safety, legal, social, and ethical considerations in ICT and multimedia use and the basics of entrepreneurship and business management.
Trainees worried of internet
Felix Oola Ogen, a beneficiary from Oporot Village in Patongo Town Council, said the training will help him start a business along the line of ICT because he already has ideas on how to market products, make fliers and which business is suitable for which environment.
“This skill does not require me to be in Kampala or Dubai. Just be at home, be smart, and do your thing with your phone or laptop,” Ogen advised fellow youth.
Ogen is optimistic that from the training, he will further his skills at the Diploma of Degree level when he gets the opportunity.
“You know in northern Uganda most youth are being driven by alcohol, but with time, if this kind of training continues, they will be uplifted,” Ogen said.
Denis Kilama, a beneficiary from Lira-Palwo Sub-County commended UCC for the training but expressed worry that the unreliable internet in the district will affect its implementation.
“Accessing all those websites needs the internet. So, even though we got the training, many will sit on the skills,” Kilama said.
Janet Akello, a youth from Wiimunupecek Parish in Lira-Palwo Sub-County appealed to UCC to train more girls to empower them because very few have skills in ICT.
According to the 2014 National Population and Housing Census, only 1,338 females in Agago district between the ages of 18 to 30 years (5.7 percent) have access to ICT devices, compared to 3,624 males (19.4 percent) in the same age bracket.
Akello explained that even though several girls who are out of school have opted for farming, they are being disappointed by the prolonged drought necessitated by climate change. This, she said, is forcing many of them into early pregnancy or marriage because of unemployment.
“The weather is erratic and our crops are dying. So the skills we have got here could be our lifeline, but that can only happen if we are given seed capital to start a business along that line, or are connected to such jobs,” Akello said.
Trainees to be monitored
Samuel Nyeko, Agago District Principal Assistant Secretary, appreciated UCC for the initiative, saying it will empower the youth to improve their businesses and become self-reliant.
Nyeko said the training will help reduce the rate of unemployment in the district.
“Without ICT you can’t go far these days. Even applying for a job you have to go online. For any transaction even banking you go E-Cash. So, the few who have gotten the information and the knowledge are ambassadors to the others who have got the training,” Nyeko said.
Nyeko pledged that the ICT department in the district will be monitoring the participants to see how they are putting the knowledge into practice.
Wakale Fazali, the training coordinator and multi-media content production officer at UCC, said Smartphones and computers can be used to generate income, but many youths lack the knowledge to use them creatively to earn a living.
“One of the reasons for this training is to refocus our youth to look into multimedia and ICT to strive towards achieving the objectives of getting what to do,” Wakali said.
Jackline Waligo, a trainer, advised the youth to ensure that this training impacts both their lives and that of their communities, saying the skill is a life-changing skill that should be optimally utilized.
“It is important that you push yourself to learn more because if you don’t, you will forget what you learned here,” Waligo said, adding, “You’re going to be learning and unlearning a lot of stuff along the way. You can also teach your friends because when you teach someone, who will master the skill.”
Youth warned on computer misuse
Akot Susan Moro, Agago Deputy Resident District Commissioner while handing over the certificate of participation to 155 after the training, cautioned youths on inappropriate use of gadgets like Smartphones and computers in misinterpretation of texts, inciting people against one another, cyberbullying and pornography.
“Use the smartphones for constructive and productive activities like designing business plans that can change their life,” Akot said. Phase I of the UCUSAF training started run in 2003-2009, phase II ran from 2010-2016 and phase III started in 2017 and will end in 2023. The broader mission of UCUSAF is to achieve digital inclusivity beyond rural and urban demographics.
Other districts benefitting from this cycle of UCUSAF; are Lira, Gulu, Apac, Omoro, and Pader.
The program is aimed at enhancing innovation and creativity in local content production and the creation of jobs in the creative industries in response to the widespread youth unemployment.
