A Collaborative Initiative by UICT, ST Foundation, and ITU
📅 March 2025 | 🖋️ By UICT Communications Team
In a landmark step toward fostering digital inclusion, the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), in partnership with the ST Foundation and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), successfully rolled out a two-week training program titled “Introduction to Computer Basics for the Visually Impaired” (ICBVI).
This transformative initiative empowered 30 participants—including visually impaired, partially sighted, and sighted individuals—with essential digital skills, marking a major stride toward inclusive access to ICT in Uganda.
🎯 About the Training
The ICBVI training focused on six core modules:
- Keyboard Navigation
- Word Processing
- File Management
- Microsoft Excel
- Internet Browsing
- Email Usage
Facilitated by a team of international experts—including Prof. Cristian Bernareggi (University of Turin), Ms. Roobi Roobi, and Mr. Sada Kanne (Senegal)—the course ensured an engaging and accessible learning environment tailored to diverse needs.
🎓 Training Objectives
- Certify 20 trainers with foundational skills to effectively teach ICBVI.
- Equip trainers with inclusive teaching methodologies that promote adaptive learning.
- Establish a sustainable network of trainers capable of cascading the program nationwide.
📊 The Urgent Need: A National Response to Visual Impairment
According to the 2023 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB), approximately 6% of Uganda’s population—about 2.8 million people—live with visual impairments. An additional 30,000 new cases emerge annually, mostly due to cataracts and refractive errors.
“Visual impairment significantly affects individuals’ access to education and employment. This training addresses the pressing national need to integrate the visually impaired into the digital economy,”
– Francis Bwire, Head of UICT’s Business Development Center.
🤝 UICT’s Role in Digital Inclusion
UICT is proud to be one of 14 Digital Transformation Centres (DTCs) globally, selected by ITU and Cisco under the Digital Transformation Centres Initiative (DTCI) launched in 2019. The Institute plays a national role in delivering basic and intermediate-level digital training, especially targeting rural and underserved communities.
Through the ICBVI program, UICT:
- Delivered inclusive digital training
- Implemented a train-the-trainer model for long-term sustainability
- Advanced Uganda’s Digital Transformation Roadmap, aligned with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
“At UICT, inclusion is not a slogan—it is a practice. This program reflects our mission to leave no one behind in the digital revolution,”
– Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo, Principal, UICT.
🔁 Sustainability Through the Train-the-Trainer Model
A standout feature of the ICBVI initiative was its train-the-trainer component. Twenty sighted instructors were trained to teach ICT skills without reliance on a mouse, focusing on keyboard proficiency—a key skill for visually impaired learners.
This methodology ensures scalability and sustainability, allowing a ripple effect across the country’s visually impaired community.
💬 Voices of Impact
“This training has opened doors for me. I can now navigate the digital world with confidence, which I never thought possible.”
– ICBVI Trainee
Such testimonials reflect the empowering, life-changing nature of the program—not just in technical skill acquisition, but in restoring dignity, confidence, and independence among learners.
🚀 Looking Ahead
The success of ICBVI sets the stage for future collaborations between government bodies, international agencies, and local institutions in promoting digital equity for all.
By strengthening digital literacy and expanding access to ICT among marginalized groups, Uganda is taking bold steps to bridge the digital divide and build a truly inclusive digital economy.
📢 Want to get involved or stay informed?
Visit www.uict.ac.ug for updates on upcoming ICBVI training sessions, partnership opportunities, and digital inclusion initiatives.
