In a truly transformative stride towards fostering digital literacy across Uganda, Myanzi Senior Secondary School in Mubende District proudly launched its ICT Club on June 5, 2025. This pivotal event, supported collaboratively by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Kisubi Associated Writers’ Agency (KAWA), marks a significant step forward in the school’s journey toward comprehensive ICT integration, robust digital empowerment, and cutting-edge 21st-century skills training. The launch, held at the Myanzi School ICT Lab, garnered enthusiastic attendance from 79 students, predominantly from Senior Three (S.3), with one participant from Senior Five (S.5). This strong turnout powerfully reflected the learners’ eagerness to embrace technology as a vital tool for both education and innovation. The event was compiled by Christine Nambi, a Facilitator from KAWA Uganda, with Mr. Ssekitoleko Francis Ntegge serving as the School ICT Contact and also the Headteacher.

The launch day provided several insightful observations into the students’ engagement and the school’s current digital landscape. Notably, there was strong female participation, with female students constituting the majority of attendees. This is a highly encouraging trend, indicating growing gender inclusion in digital spaces—a positive development that certainly warrants continued support and strengthening. Furthermore, the students demonstrated active commitment by voluntarily signing in, sharing their contact information, and exhibiting a great willingness to learn, all of which are clear indicators of their genuine dedication and accountability. In terms of class representation, while most participants were from S.3, the presence of only one S.5 student highlighted a crucial need to engage upper-level learners more actively in future training sessions. Sample participants who demonstrated this enthusiasm included Nagawa Justine (S.3, Female), Najjuuko Aminah (S.3, Female), and Kibirige Jovan (S.5, Male), showcasing the diverse student body ready for digital learning.

Despite the energetic and positive response from the students, the school faces a major underlying challenge in sustaining its ICT infrastructure, which poses a significant threat to the long-term viability of ICT training. Observations revealed concerning issues related to computer maintenance and loss: some of the valuable computers originally provided by the UCC are either missing (stolen) or have become non-functional. Beyond this, there is visible decay in the existing setup, with network cables dangling unused and only a handful of machines remaining operational. These glaring facility gaps mean that while the ICT lab is structurally in place, it critically lacks the fully functional equipment needed to run practical ICT sessions effectively. These pressing issues demand urgent attention to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of future digital learning initiatives.

To address the identified challenges and ensure the ICT Club can truly thrive and contribute to long-term digital empowerment, several key recommendations have been put forth. Firstly, future club events and training should strategically target senior classes, specifically involving S.4–S.6 students. These learners are crucial, particularly as they approach critical career decisions or prepare for tertiary education, where ICT skills are indispensable. Secondly, a robust mentorship system should be established, where senior students and selected teachers are assigned formal mentorship roles within the ICT Club to facilitate knowledge sharing and ensure skill continuity across student cohorts. Thirdly, training should begin with ICT fundamentals, introducing essential topics such as Microsoft Office proficiency, practices for safe internet use, and beginner-friendly programming concepts using platforms like Scratch. Fourthly, it is vital to introduce KAWA CONNECT by equipping the school with these devices and their rich content to support self-paced learning and foster digital independence among students. Finally, the school should continue to promote gender equity by actively involving and empowering girls through specifically designed ICT-focused projects, competitions, and dedicated mentorship opportunities.

The launch of the ICT Club at Myanzi Senior Secondary School serves as a powerful reminder of Uganda’s vast youthful digital potential—eager minds ready to learn and innovate, even in the face of significant infrastructural setbacks. With sustained support from UCC and KAWA, and a concerted effort to address the school-specific needs like computer maintenance and broadening participation, the ICT Club can undoubtedly become a cornerstone for equitable, innovative, and sustainable digital learning in the region. The facilitators reported, “They were happy and eager to learn new skills,” and added, “Now they are excitedly waiting for the competitions.” This positive feedback underscores the enthusiasm ignited. The journey to digital transformation in Myanzi has clearly begun, and it is now imperative that this vital initiative be nurtured to ensure its full potential is realized.