NAIROBI: The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has funded a rural ICT program that was aimed at impacting the local community with ICT skills for self- sustainability and economic progress in Arua secondary. Armando Angulibo, Training Coordinator commented on the exercise saying it was projected towards community empowering through the use of ICT. The training took 10 days where a total of 200 people in Arua municipality acquired skills in ICT such as networking, internet, hardware and management of ICT amenities. Ibrahim Abiriga, District Commissioner of Arua assured that he would negotiate with the Ministry of ICT in Uganda so that they can get more aid in computers as this would benefit the residents. Raymond Ombere, Arua municipality inspector of schools added that the beneficiaries should use the skills gained to improve themselves and other communities at large. The use of ICTs in Uganda has progressively risen as people are more engaged in the use of mobile phones, smart-phones, internet connections and so on. In a forum conducted last year in Uganda based on Internet Governance standards, Gloria Katuuku, an official of the ICT Ministry confirmed that the Ugandan Government identified ICT as a major lead in socioeconomic development. Thus drives such as Rural ICT projects are better geared at promoting socioeconomic development in Uganda.
