Huawei Technologies DigiTruck project in Teso Sub-region has equipped over 1000 youth, women, Jua-kalis, local district officers among others with digital skills.

The project was launched in the region in October 2023 and was completed in January 2024. The skills acquired will enable them to engage in e-commerce and market their produce.

All the 11 districts in the Teso sub-region have been covered with a total of 1,139 beneficiaries equipped with ICT skills ready to use them to improve their own lives. 

In Teso sub-region, Soroti University is one of the Huawei ICT Academies in Uganda more so in the Huawei ICT competitions.

Soroti University students excelled in the national finals and will proceed to regional finals in South Africa. 

The Huawei DigiTruck, Huawei ICT Academy, and Huawei ICT Competitions are all part of the Huawei ICT Talent Development program.

The Uganda Digi Truck project is aligned with the country’s 2040 vision, National Development Plan, and Education Digital Agenda Strategy all aimed at transforming the East African state into a digital village. 

The Chief Guest, Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of Uganda, congratulated the graduands upon completing these courses through the DigiTruck program.

She mentioned that Uganda values the youth very much and reminded them about the National Youth Policy which gets amended at least every 10 years to capture any areas that might have changed. 

This is also an indication that the youth are very important in the development of Uganda as a nation therefore urging them to use the ICT skills acquired to improve the livelihoods of themselves and their communities.

The Vice President requested the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development to provide some ICT equipment for the youth who have been equipped with these skills so that they can practice constantly and to include sensitization programs for them. 

Alupo lauded Huawei Uganda for introducing ICT Talent Development to Teso sub-region. 

She said, “I would like to thank the team from Huawei Uganda for ensuring that the skills from the Huawei ICT Talent Development program like the DigiTruck program reach the over 1100 beneficiaries in the 11 districts in this sub-region”

Rose Lilly Akello, the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity said “I want to thank Huawei for giving support to the people of Uganda through ICT skilling under its ICT Talent Development programs; we appreciate this program of the Huawei DigiTruck.” 

Akello added, “Whatever skill or talent you have got from this program, please use it well, do not use these skills recklessly. Tomorrow, you will be leaders of this nation, let us use the skills to develop ourselves and the society.” 

Hillary Businge, who spoke on behalf of Aggrey David Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary of MGLSD, said the pass out was the genesis of a transformative journey with Huawei Uganda.

He also congratulated the graduates from Teso sub-region for such a milestone as they are the reason everyone present was gathered in one place to celebrate the beneficiaries. 

“This symbolizes our collective determination to ensure that no one is left behind in harnessing prosperity during this digital era,” Businge said.

Huawei Uganda’s Subsidiary Board Director, Yi Junsong (Jason) stated that the DigiTruck project is part of the Huawei TECH4ALL initiative which aims to drive digital inclusion and sustainability across the globe. 

He revealed that the DigiTruck has trained 1,139 Ugandans from Teso sub-region which is almost double the pre-planned numbers of 600 beneficiaries from the sub-region.

“We hope that the beneficiaries from this cohort can use these skills to improve livelihoods and society of the Teso sub-region,” Jason said.

Jason thanked Jessica Alupo for her continuous support of such developmental activities to the people of Teso and Uganda at large. 

He also appreciated the partnership with the gender ministry and the local leadership in the Teso subregion towards supporting this good cause.