Uganda hails UNDP’s support to Innovation Hub

Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Dr. Chris Baryomunsi on Monday commended the UN agency specifically for the support it has extended toward the renovation and expansion of the National ICT Innovation Hub.

The facility located in Nakawa recently underwent a major face-lift and has since seen an increase in the number of young people trained and churned out with different ICT-related skills.

“We want to thank the UNDP for the partnership and support as we move into the future,” said Minister Baryomunsi.

“We have so many young people who have an interest in ICT and they can come here and write their proposals, make applications and push their innovations. The UNDP has provided us with a lot of support to do much more work here. We therefore call upon the young people to make good use of it.”

Minister Baryomunsi made these remarks while welcoming HE Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UNDP's director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, for a tour of the hub.

According to the ICT Ministry Permanent Secretary, Amina Zawedde, the National ICT Innovation Hub has been refurbished to modern standards to support a bigger number of innovators.

“This is a one-of-a-kind hub, it is fitted with an auditorium lots of thinking spaces and other amenities,” she said

“This transformation of the hub is not merely cosmetic but is intended to foster an environment breaming with creativity and innovation,” she said.

So far, since the refurbishment was completed, the hub has produced 190% more innovators compared to the previous year, according to the PS.

“In two years we have trained 53 women in data science, 676 youths and women in ICT and over 2000 youths and women across 13 districts through our digi-trucks,” she said.

On her part, HE Eziakonwa said the UNDP’s investment in such initiatives as the innovation hub was a step in the right direction.

“I thank our team for having the vision to invest in this place,” she said.

“Talent is the one thing that doesn't discriminate; you will find talent in Karamoja as much as you will in Kampala. The only difference is the opportunity. This centre therefore represents opportunity for that talent to flourish and cross borders.”

“As UNDP, we are trying to make prosperity a shared commodity so that we are not just talking about a world where only a few have the opportunity to live a life of decency; we all desire to live with decency and dignity,” she added.