By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Uganda’s Minister of ICT and
National Guidance, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, has visited Buhadyo Smart
Village in Butaleja District to assess progress under the government’s Smart
Village Initiative, which seeks to expand internet connectivity and access to
digital services in underserved communities.
The Minister was accompanied
by the Executive Director of the National Information Technology
Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, and local leaders during the
visit.
Buhadyo is the pilot site
for the initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in
partnership with NITA-U.
Leveraging Uganda’s National
Backbone Infrastructure (NBI), the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide
by connecting schools, health centres and households in underserved communities
to the internet, expanding digital access and improving public service
delivery.
Progress at the pilot site
includes the provision of solar power, computers, smart classrooms and internet
connectivity at Buhadyo Primary School.
Additionally, 25 households
have gained access to solar energy and the internet, extending the benefits of
digital infrastructure beyond educational institutions to the wider community.
The Smart Village Initiative
demonstrates how digital infrastructure can transform rural communities,
improve access to essential services and support inclusive participation in
Uganda’s digital transformation journey.
Through the partnership
between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and NITA-U, the government is
seeking to ensure that underserved communities benefit from improved
connectivity and the opportunities offered by digital technologies.
