Uganda shines at ICT competition in South Africa

After seven months of preparing for the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional ICT competition, Uganda has scooped grand prizes in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The competition, which was held on February 22, was organised by Huawei and attracted over 16,000 students from 500 registered institutions. 

At least 16 countries in the region participated and Uganda was represented by the universities of Makerere, Kyambogo, Gulu, Kabale and Muni.

During the competition, Makerere scooped the grand prize in the computing track and the first prize in Network track, while Kyambogo scooped the second.

Gulu and Kabale were in the third position. The networking track comprised 27 teams of three students each from 16 countries. Muni won the first prize in Cloud track out of 18 teams from 16 countries. 

Out of the six Ugandan teams, four qualified for the global competition. However, despite Gulu and Kabale getting the third prize, they failed to qualify for the global event scheduled to take place in China on May 2023.

‘We made it’

Stephen Okello, a network and cyber security student also a participant from the Makerere University Network track, commended Huawei for the opportunity saying he was exposed to more advanced concepts in the various technologies.

“Well about this year’s ICT competition, it was a bit challenging as compared to the previous ones because we got introduced to more advanced concepts in datacom, security and even in wireless technology. So, we had to really put in much effort in learning and mastering them within the shortest period of time," he said. 

“The competition has prepared us to succeed in this ever-changing global environment of technology,” he added.

Christopher Ivan Katoogo from Makerere said the competition exposed the participants to different technology fields. 

“The event was not only educational but also [a form of] entertainment. Participants were able to compete in a friendly and supportive environment while showcasing their skills and gaining valuable experience,” he added. 

By the end of March, Huawei Uganda public relations officer Allan Kyobe said the winners will be on their way to South Africa to receive their awards, including laptops, phones and certificates. 

“The winners will be given free ICT Internship and job opportunities,” he said. 

Kyobe described the annual Huawei ICT Competition as a key piece of the ICT Academy Campaign noting that it targets university and college students worldwide, aiming to facilitate communication between schools, enterprises, and governments while building a robust talent ecosystem.

“Through this competition, Huawei aims to challenge the students with ICT knowledge as well as the practical and application skills, and ultimately, inspire innovation with the theme of “connection, glory, future," he said. 

After seven years of development, the Huawei ICT competition has become a big event in Africa. The competition covers the latest technologies such as cloud computing, AI, mobile networks and big data that are pertinent to students’ competitiveness in the job market.

Over the years, Huawei has signed cooperation agreements with over 250 universities in 14 sub-Saharan countries on establishing Huawei ICT academies. This co-operation has enabled more than 7,000 university students to obtain Huawei ICT certification, which makes them better candidates for ICT-related jobs. 

In Uganda, over 18 universities have signed MOUs