Govt to establish solar powered labs to link refugees to employment

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The government, through the Ministry of ICT, plans to establish solar-powered ICT labs in five districts that currently lack adequate internet connectivity. These new facilities will help connect graduates from the Refugee Skilling Program to global job opportunities.

This will be preceded by the Remote Work Expo set for September 2025. This was revealed by Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo, the principal of the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), during the graduation event of refugees at the National ICT Innovation Hub, Nakawa, on Thursday. The initiative is aimed at encouraging more women to participate in the training so that they can work remotely.

“As we look to the future, we are committed to targeted outreach to encourage more women to participate, investing in solar-powered labs to reach underserved areas, expanding to five new districts by 2026, and linking our graduates to global work opportunities,” Kitoogo said.

According to Kitoogo, Uganda continues to exemplify African solidarity by hosting over 1.5 million refugees, and Uganda’s policies guarantee the right to work and education, but true economic self-reliance remains hindered by the digital divide.

“That is the challenge that the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, through the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), which is responsible for digital skilling under the Digital Transformation Roadmap, set out to address,” he said.

The training program is being implemented alongside the National ICT Innovation Hub, Engage Consults Limited, and ICDL Africa.

He also explained that Phase One, which ran from December 2024 to April 2025, targeted 600 refugees and refugee-led businesses from which 330 participants were enrolled in online training, representing an enrollment rate of 89.4%.

Over eight training modules, ranging from computer essentials to cybersecurity, digital marketing, and e-commerce, participants gained job-ready skills and achieved internationally recognised ICDL certification.

Building on this success, Phase Two reached 1,003 applicants, whereby 721 participants were trained in person and 331 online, achieving an 85.9% certification rate, far exceeding the initial target of 500.

In addition,48 teachers were skilled, 137 refugee entrepreneurs were empowered, and there was an increase in female participation to 32%, nearly doubling the proportion from Phase One.

Officiating as the chief guest, Dr Amina Zawede, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, assured the institute administration of government support through infrastructure development. She said that they are currently working with the Uganda Communications Commission and Internet Service Providers to equip centres with solar-powered labs. She added that of the five targeted districts for expansion of internet connectivity, priority will be given to districts with high refugee density.

Commenting on the September 2025 'Remote Work Expo', Zawede said it will connect certified participants to global job platforms." "As the Ministry of ICT, we pledge sustained budgetary support and policy integration to make digital skills a pillar of refugee empowerment,’ she added.