Embracing free technology courses will ease work, Ugandan teachers told
Opio says the government, through the innovation hub, offers free digital skilling courses, but the uptake is low, majorly because many people, including teachers, have a negative attitude towards technology.
Flavia Opio, team lead at the national ICT Innovation hub (centre) called upon teachers and other Ugandans to embrace ICT skills. (Photos by Ritah Mukasa)
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Their work goes beyond teaching. Teachers spend a lot of time preparing schemes of work and lesson plans. They also set, mark and analyse tests and exams. Then, in hindsight, they serve as teachers on duty, all while engaging parents on the progress of their children.
Their plates are always full, especially during the school term.
For this, Flavia Opio, team lead at the national ICT Innovation hub, which is under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, has urged teachers at all levels to embrace information and communications technology (ICT), saying it will ease their work greatly.
Opio says the government, through the innovation hub, offers free digital skilling courses, but the uptake is low, majorly because many people, including teachers, have a negative attitude towards technology.
“Some think it’s complicated, and therefore, it works for the young people,” she says.
Opio made the remarks while officiating over the kindergarten graduation at Shiperoy Primary school in Makindye, Kampala, on November 23, 2025.
Teacher Ilukol Zena in class at Namekwii community Primary school in Napak district. Teachers do more than teaching.
Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe, the Senior IT officer at the Ministry of ICT and national guidance, added: “We should all embrace technology because it is here to stay.”
She gives an example of how typewriters have evolved into desk computers and laptops. Landlines evolved into smartphones. Most importantly, technology eases work.
She also implored teachers to enrol for the courses, saying they are self-paced programmes.
“You can learn the different ways to utilise a computer,” she said.
Tasks such as report making, setting exams, and giving feedback to the parents are eased. There are applications that link the parent with the teacher. With this, they can pay school fees and get day-to-day reports. For example, when a child reaches school, the parent gets a notification and keeps monitoring their child’s progress.
Use ICT to scale your business
This way, they can improve their careers, start and grow businesses. She said: The hub was constructed following reports that, despite being among the most enterprising countries in the world, many Ugandan businesses collapse within the first year. This is partly due to inadequate funds and digital illiteracy.
At the Innovation Hub, everything is free. There is free office space, internet, computers and courses, some of which are internationally certified. The hub also mentors the trainees.
Today, Opio pointed out that technology is an enabler on all fronts. You cannot run away from it. No matter what you are and where you work, in the marketplace, school, private or public office.
“You have to empower yourself,” she said.
“We also have Digitruck that goes around the country targeting the formal and informal sector,” she adds.
The truck stations in the district and beneficiaries are trained in their local languages for three to four weeks. Thereafter, it continues to the next district. So far, 8,000 people in 30 districts have been trained in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Huawei, which donated the truck.
“We begin with the basics. These are the parts of a computer, and this is how you use them. We then move to Microsoft Word and Excel programs,” she says.
Visually impaired people are also catered for. So far, over 60 have been trained by the 30 visually impaired trainers at the different regional innovation hubs.