In a dynamic push for a digitally literate Uganda, ICT experts converged at the Jinja DevFest, organized by Google Developers Groups (GDG), to showcase their supreme skills and urge citizens to embrace digital knowledge. The event, held at Innovation Village in Jinja city, aimed to foster a culture of technological proficiency, especially targeting schools, tertiary institutions, universities, and workplaces.
DevFest, an annual decentralized tech conference initiated by GDG in 2016, serves as a global platform for developers to network, learn, and build on Google’s tools. This year’s event saw developers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and other countries exhibit a diverse range of ICT skills, educating participants on the practical aspects of digital capabilities.
Francis Akol, a software engineer and event organizer, emphasized the initiative’s relevance in empowering Ugandans with the necessary technological expertise for efficient work execution in the digital age. ICT has become a core facet in various organizations and educational institutions worldwide.
Akol shared his personal experience, citing how developers’ communities played a crucial role in enhancing the ICT campaign at Busoga University in 2017. He noted that, despite pursuing a professional course, DevFest offered a hands-on approach to studying ICT.
“We are committed, and we have reached institutions like Makerere Business School, Makerere University, and Kampala University in Jinja for this initiative. These institutions have Google Developers Students Club to mobilize colleagues into this cause,” Akol explained.
Baker Ntende, founder of ICT for Education, an organization dedicated to extending computer skills to learners in schools, highlighted the importance of digital literacy in day-to-day life. Ntende’s organization operates a Mobile Computer Laboratory, which takes computers to rural schools lacking access to electronic gadgets, facilitating digital literacy.
Ntende mentioned that his organization has positively impacted several schools in Busoga, including Buwenda, Hill Side, and New Hope secondary schools in the Bukedi sub-region. The goal is to ensure that young people are well-versed in digital knowledge, thereby transforming lives and opening new opportunities for individuals across the region.
