The History
Evolution from UPTC Training School
The UPTC Training School, located at Plot 9-21 Port Bell Road, Nakawa, was initially established in 1965 by the East African Posts and Telecommunications as a regional training center. Over the years, it played a crucial role in training telecommunications personnel. When the Uganda Communications Commission took over the assets of the UPTC Training School in 2000, it laid the groundwork for what would become UICT. This transition was aimed at modernizing and expanding the scope of training to include emerging ICT fields.
Establishment as a Public Tertiary Institution
The enactment of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act in 2001 brought significant changes to the governance of higher education institutions in Uganda. In line with this act, the National Council for Higher Education recommended the transformation of UICT into a public tertiary institution. Responding to this recommendation, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) issued Statutory Instrument No. 79 in October 2005, officially establishing UICT as a public tertiary institution. This formal recognition underscored the Institute’s importance in the national education landscape and its role in fostering ICT skills development.
Transition to the Ministry of ICT
A pivotal moment in UICT’s history occurred on November 29, 2007, when the management of the Institute was transferred from the Ministry of Education and Sports to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. This strategic move, following a Cabinet decision and a directive from the Prime Minister, was aimed at aligning the Institute more closely with national ICT policies and strategies. It also facilitated better policy guidance and resource allocation, essential for the Institute’s growth and development.
The Uganda Communications Act of 2013
The Uganda Communications Act of 2013 further solidified UICT’s position within the national ICT framework by mandating the Uganda Communications Commission to operate and manage the Institute. This legislative backing ensured that UICT could access the necessary funding and policy support to evolve into a Center of Excellence, on par with internationally renowned ICT institutions. The Act emphasized the role of UICT in providing high-quality, skills-based training that meets the needs of the rapidly changing ICT sector.
Current Status
Today, UICT stands as the only government institution in Uganda dedicated to skills-based middle-level ICT training. It offers practical, hands-on education at both certificate and diploma levels, providing an alternative to the theoretical approaches of traditional universities. The Institute’s programs cover a broad range of ICT-related fields, including telecommunications services, computer engineering, information technology, and business management.
UICT continues to uphold its mission of delivering market-driven ICT training, research, and consultancy services. By fostering innovation and excellence, UICT aims to contribute significantly to the development of a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, capable of driving Uganda’s ICT sector forward.
Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) was founded in 2000 by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). This was in compliance with the Commission’s mandate; to establish, manage and operate a communication services training center, as spelt out in section 5 (z) of the Uganda Communications Act, 1997.
In line with this Mandate, the assets of the former Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (UPTC) Training School, (at Plot 9 –21 Port Bell Road, Nakawa) were invested in UCC, and that is where the Institute is located. UICT is a successor Institute to the UPTC Training School established in 1965 by the then East African Posts and Telecommunications as a regional training center.
Following the enactment of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, the Institute was expected to operate within the provisions of this Act. Accordingly, the National Council for Higher Education advised the Minister of Education and Sports (MoES) to establish UICT as a public tertiary institution. Consequently, MoES issued Statutory Instrument No. 79 in October 2005 establishing UICT as a public tertiary institution.
The management of Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), a public tertiary Institution, was transferred from the Ministry of Education and Sports to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology on November 29, 2007. This followed a Cabinet decision and the subsequent directive from the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Education and Sports to make the transfer….
The Uganda Communications Act 2013 mandates Uganda Communications Commission to operate and manage the Institute. This has been done to enable the Institute to get policy guidance and funding to upgrade the Institute into a Centre of Excellence to the level of internationally renowned ICT Institutions.
The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) is the only Government institution specializing in skills-based middle-level ICT training. It offers practical-oriented ICT training at certificate and diploma levels as an alternative to the theoretically-grounded degrees offered by Universities and other Tertiary Institutions in this same professional area. The institute provides education and training in all fields related to the communications sector including telecommunications services, computer engineering, and information technology and business management.
Vision
“To be a world-class centre of excellence in ICT skills-based training, research and innovation”
The Mission
To provide high quality market-driven ICT skills-based training, research, innovation and consultancy services that supports development of a knowledge society.
Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) was founded in 2000 by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). This was in compliance with the Commission’s mandate; to establish, manage and operate a communication services training center, as spelt out in section 5 (z) of the Uganda Communications Act, 1997.
Strategic Goals
- To promote institution excellence through efficient and effective governance, collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and leveraging technology.
- To have a more impactful long-term focus on talent attraction and retention, process, people and organisational development.
- To establish a robust sustainable financing framework for the institute programs.
- To transform UICT into an applied research-intensive institution that focuses on practical national, regional and international problem solving.
- To promote innovative and applied ICT teaching, learning and graduate excellence.
- To be be an outstanding institution in creation of business value through development and delivery of ICT knowledge products, services, consulting and solutions to clients.
- To be an outstanding institution in creation of business value through development and delivery of ICT knowledge products, services, consulting and solutions to clients.