Featured in The Nile Post and NBS Uganda News
KASESE, UGANDA — In a major step toward digital inclusion, the IDI Uganda, in partnership with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has officially established an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub in Kasese District.
Designed to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment, the facility aims to bridge the long-standing digital divide facing persons with disabilities in western Uganda. For years, persons with disabilities have remained among the most marginalized groups, encountering systemic barriers to education, employment, and digital technologies. The new hub directly addresses these challenges by offering computer literacy training, vocational skills development, and digital empowerment programs.
Unlocking New Opportunities Through Technology
The ICT Hub goes beyond standard computer training; it provides tools for long-term socio-economic independence and active participation in modern society.
“This ICT Hub is intended to provide persons with disabilities with practical digital skills that will improve their access to education, employment, and economic opportunities while strengthening their participation in society,” said Dr. Sinmyung Park, Project Manager at IDI Uganda.
Lilian Namukasa, Program Manager at the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, emphasized that digital literacy is no longer optional. “Digital literacy is now a basic necessity. Through this facility, persons with disabilities will be able to acquire the knowledge and confidence required to compete in today’s digital world,” she quoted, emphasizing the project is rooted in empowerment and social inclusion.
Local leadership also welcomed the milestone. Peter Baluku, Executive Director of KADUPEDI (Kasese District Union of Persons with Disabilities), expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort: “This facility will help us acquire skills that have previously been inaccessible, opening doors to employment, self-reliance, and social inclusion.”
Community Safeguarding and Local Ownership
To ensure long-term sustainability, project members appealed to local government authorities to safeguard the newly installed equipment.
“We request the municipal council to ensure that all this equipment remains here. It should not be removed from the ICT Hub because it is meant to benefit the entire disability community,” urged Namukasa.
In response, Kasese Deputy Town Clerk Zedekiah Kambasu assured stakeholders of the municipality’s commitment to protecting the facility: “The Municipal Council is committed to protecting this investment and ensuring that the ICT Hub serves persons with disabilities and other members of the community in promoting inclusive digital learning.”
To foster shared learning and build stronger bonds with the local community, the ICT Hub will also be accessible to the wider community, serving as an inclusive space for all residents.
Advancing Rights Alongside Digital Inclusion
Prior to the official commissioning of the hub, district leaders, disability rights advocates, and policymakers convened for a stakeholder workshop focused on the implementation and enforcement of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020.
Participants emphasized that modern technology must be paired with legal enforcement to ensure lasting impact.
“Technology alone is not enough,” added Dr. Park. “We must also strengthen policies that guarantee equal rights and opportunities so that persons with disabilities can fully participate in national development.”
With the establishment of the ICT Hub, IDI Uganda, KOICA, NCPD, and local partners remain dedicated to making the Rwenzori region a center for innovation, equal opportunity, and empowerment for all.