The tech giants Huawei Technologies DigiTruck project in Teso Sub-region has equipped over
1000 youth, women, Jua-kalis, local district officers etc. with digital
skills to enable them engage in e-commerce and market their produce
since October 2023 when this project was launched in the region and
successfully completed in January 2024. 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 the 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 H.E Jessica Alupo started with congratulating the
graduands upon completing these courses through the DigiTruck
program. She mentioned that the Government of Uganda values the
youth very much and reminds 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 on the livelihoods of
themselves and their communities.
The Vice President of Uganda 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.
H.E Jessica Alupo lauded Huawei Uganda for introducing ICT Talent
Development to Teso sub-region. She concluded, “I would like to thank
the team from Huawei Uganda for ensuring that the skills from the
Huawei ICT Talent Development program like DigiTruck program
reach the over 1100 beneficiaries in the 11 districts in this sub-region”
Hon. Rose Lilly Akello, the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity “I
want to thank Huawei for giving support to the people of Uganda
through ICT skilling under its ICT Talent Development programs, we
really appreciate this program of the Huawei DigiTruck.”
Hon. Rose proceeded with a message for the youth in these words,
“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.”
Mr. Hillary Businge who spoke on behalf of Mr. Kibenge the Permanent
Secretary of Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development in his
remarks stated, “Today, we witness the genesis of a transformative
journey with Huawei Uganda as we award the DigiTruck beneficiaries
of Teso sub-region.” 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.
He continues in the remarks that, “…this symbolizes our collective
determination to ensure that no one is left behind in harnessing
prosperity during this digital era.”
In his speech, he concluded by extending gratitude to Huawei
Technologies Uganda for their invaluable support and dedication toward
this endeavor. Adding to his conclusion, he added that Huawei’s
expertise and resources have been very instrumental in making this
project a reality.
Huawei Uganda’s Subsidiary Board Director, Mr. Yi Junsong (Jason)
stated that the DigiTruck project is part of Huawei TECH4ALL
initiative which aims to drive digital inclusion and sustainability across
the globe.
“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, all thanks to H.E Jessica Alupo and the local
leadership of the Teso sub-region who worked together with us closely
to ensure 11 districts in Teso are completed by this month.”
Mr. Jason says, “we hope that the beneficiaries from this cohort can use
these skills to improve livelihoods and that society of the Teso sub-
region.”
Mr. Jason concluded by thanking the Guest of Honor who is the Vice
President of Uganda H.E Jessica Alupo for her continuous support
towards such developmental activities to the people of Teso and Uganda
at large. He also appreciated the partnership with the Ministry of
Gender, Labor and Social Development and the local leadership in Teso
subregion towards supporting this good cause.