UN Women, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the government of Uganda have inaugurated a new technology hub to advance digital inclusion for young women in the Rwenzori sub-region.
The African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) ICT Hub, located at Kyebambe Girls’ Secondary School in Fort Portal, is now equipped with 60 computers to serve as a training, innovation and mentorship center, providing young women with digital literacy, coding and other information and communications technology skills.
This is the second regional AGCCI ICT Hub in the country, following the first hub established at Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School in Jinja City in Eastern Uganda.
Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, the UN Women Uganda Deputy Country Representative, noted that empowering girls with digital skills is critical to achieving gender equality and sustainable development.
“When girls are given access to technology and opportunity, they do not just participate—they lead,” Ndieli said. “The AGCCI hubs are ensuring that no girl is left behind in Uganda’s digital transformation.”
Since 2018, the AGCCI program, implemented with support from GIZ, has trained more than 2,000 girls across Africa, including 240 in Uganda under Phase III. The initiative contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals for quality education and gender equality.
Recent evaluations of the program showed that girls who had never used a computer are now coding and designing websites. Furthermore, vocational institutions report rising female enrollment in ICT courses, and alumnae are securing tech-based employment or launching enterprises.
Ndieli stressed the importance of continued investment in mentorship networks and university and private sector partnerships.
“The future of Uganda’s innovation ecosystem depends on investing in girls’ digital skills,” Ndieli added. “Today’s inauguration is more than an event—it is a commitment to building a more inclusive, tech-driven future for all.”