UCC launches digital skilling for Health Centre IIIs
Nakanwagi said each of the selected health facilities received three computers, while health workers were trained in how to use them. The project is expected to cost approximately sh900m and was initially slated to run for six months.
Officials from Uganda Communications Commission, Uganda Medical Bureau and St Francis Kijjaguzo Health Centre III in a group photo. (Photos by Jovita Mirembe)
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Travelling from Ziiru Health Centre III, located on Lyabaana Island in Lyabaana Sub-county, to Buvuma district headquarters takes about six hours by road.
This means that delivering a report from Ziiru Health Centre III to the district headquarters physically can take an entire day for the journey there and back.
Many Health Centre IIIs face similar challenges due to a lack of internet connectivity and computers at their workplaces, making it difficult to submit reports, maintain patients’ medical records and manage financial records, according to Uganda Muslim Medical Bureau (UMMB) Executive Secretary Muhammed Kivumbi.
To address these challenges, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), through the Uganda Communications Universal Services and Access Fund (UCUSAF), has funded the Faith Medical Bureau-UCC Digital Skilling Project to train health workers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and provide computers to selected faith-based Health Centre IIIs.
Susan Nakanwagi, the Manager of Projects and Partnerships at UCC, said the project is being implemented in two faces and targets 58 faith-based health facilities across Uganda.
A health worker at St Francis Kijaguzo Health Centre III in Nakaseke District in the records office.
She said the facilities were selected because they needed immediate improvement in digital literacy and ICT competencies among health workers to enable effective use of digital tools, improve healthcare service delivery, strengthen data management and increase operational efficiency.
Nakanwagi said each of the selected health facilities received three computers, while health workers were trained in how to use them. The project is expected to cost approximately sh900m and was initially slated to run for six months.
“The health workers will be able to record patients as they come in, move that information to the doctor, then to the laboratory and pharmacy, without having to use hard-copy files,” Nakanwagi said.
She added that the system would also reduce waiting times for patients because their information would be captured electronically and shared with the relevant departments without repeatedly filling out paper forms.
“The information will be captured in the computer and transmitted to the other sections where it is needed. It will also move from the health facility to the Ministry of Health promptly,” she said.
Lawrence Sekimpi, the project manager of the Faith Medical Bureau-UCC Digital Skilling Project, said the Faith Medical Bureau supports more than 700 health facilities, including hospitals.
He said the digital skilling project is led by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) on behalf of the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB), Uganda Muslim Medical Bureau (UMMB) and Uganda Orthodox Medical Bureau (UOMB), in partnership with Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA).
Sekimpi said the project started in May 2025 and is ongoing, with a target of training 1,000 health workers. So far, about 800 health workers have been trained.
“The skills given to the health workers are not abstract lessons but practical tools that improve patient care, streamline records and connect frontline workers to the wider digital health ecosystem,” Sekimpi said.
Tadeo Tumusiime, the in-charge of St Francis Kijjaguzo Health Centre III, asked the Government to subsidise internet costs, saying they are high despite the donated computers requiring internet connectivity to efficiently submit reports to the required destinations.
“We spend at least sh250,000 per month on internet alone, yet we have other expenses that need financial attention. Hence, the bill is very high,” Tumusiime said.
He also called for more training sessions for health workers to support the transition from the manual Health Management Information System to the digital tools being championed by the Ministry of Health.