On Friday, in a landmark meeting chaired by Julian Rweju, Director of E-Government Services at NITA-Uganda, at NITA Uganda head offices in Kampala, we met with a delegation from Gulu University led by the University Secretary, David Obol Otori, to forge concrete plans for extending the National Tech Skills Talent Programme into Northern Uganda. The engagement marks the Forum's deliberate move northward, with Gulu University agreed upon as the anchor institution for a regional network of technology talent development hubs.
With Julian Rweju chairing the meeting, her presence underscored the government's full backing for the initiative.
The Forum was represented by its Governing Board Chair, Jonathan Kayemba, and Executive Secretary Nkurunungi Gideon. Gulu University was led by University Secretary David Obol Otori, accompanied by the University Bursar, Academic Registrar, Chief and Deputy Chief of ICT Services, and Associate Professor Benedict Oyo, a delegation authorised at the highest level by Vice Chancellor Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah.
"We cannot achieve meaningful digital transformation without academia at the center," said Julian Rweju. "Universities produce the skilled workforce and emerging talent that power the digital economy. By strengthening partnerships between government and academia, we can better align education with national digital priorities and prepare young people for the opportunities of the future."
At the heart of the agenda is a straightforward national challenge: Uganda produces an estimated 700,000 graduates every year, yet critical technology roles across the country remain unfilled, and the gap between what academia teaches and what industry needs continues to widen. The Forum's answer is a structured programme already in motion. By connecting practising CIOs directly with students, equipping young people with globally recognized digital skills, and linking certified talent to employers through the National IT Talent Registry, the initiative is building a stronger pipeline for Uganda's digital workforce.
"Northern Uganda is not behind; it is rich with untapped talent," said Nkurunungi Gideon. "Every year, Gulu University produces graduates who deserve the same access to industry leaders, globally recognized certifications, and employment opportunities as their peers elsewhere in the country. By expanding our programmes into the region, we lay the foundation for a thriving regional digital economy."
Nkurunungi further added, "With Gulu serving as the anchor and additional hubs planned across Northern Uganda, we are creating a pathway to significantly grow Uganda's pool of skilled ICT professionals and strengthen the country's digital future."
A key outcome of the engagement was the adoption of a sub-hub model, with Gulu University designated as the anchor institution to coordinate the programme's expansion across higher education institutions in Lira, Kitgum, Arua, and other parts of Northern Uganda. The model is intended to broaden access to digital skills training, industry mentorship, and career opportunities for students across the region.
Rather than requiring every institution to independently negotiate access to the programme, the sub-hub architecture allows a single regional coordination point to onboard multiple universities and TVET institutions simultaneously, multiplying the programme's impact without duplicating effort. Plans were also discussed for sessions to be live-streamed directly from Gulu University's computer laboratories, enabling faculty to engage with content in real time and set coursework-aligned assignments for students.
The collaboration is built around three pillars designed to generate sustained economic impact for the region:
- Skilling youth and creating jobs: Monthly virtual programme sessions certify students in cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, service management, and operational efficiency skills that open direct pathways into technology employment, BPO roles, and digital entrepreneurship in Northern Uganda and beyond.
- Community digital literacy and inclusion: A Community Digital Literacy Access Centre to be established through the University will extend skills and awareness beyond the campus into surrounding Acholi sub-region communities, targeting youth, women, and rural populations.
- Regional sub-hubs for scale: Gulu University will coordinate sub-hub engagement with nearby institutions, establishing a network of participating universities and TVET institutions across the North that feed into the National IT Talent Registry and the Forum's industry employer partnerships.
"The Forum was established to turn dialogue into action," said Jonathan Kayemba. "By bringing together CIOs, government, and academia, we create practical solutions to the challenges facing the digital economy. Building a strong ICT talent pipeline is not only a national priority but a regional one, and it requires collaborative action. Northern Uganda is not on the margins of the country's digital future; it is an integral part of the foundation on which that future will be built."
Gulu University University Secretary David Obol Otori warmly welcomed the engagement, noting its significance in the context of the University's 25th anniversary, which is being celebrated across a full year of activities from July 2026 through June 2027. The university leadership expressed strong enthusiasm for the Forum's approach, which focuses on what students can do, not just what they have studied.
"We are delighted to partner with the CIO-CxO Digital Leadership Forum and NITA-Uganda at a significant milestone in Gulu University's journey as we celebrate our 25th anniversary," said David Obol Otori. "This collaboration aligns with our vision of preparing graduates for the digital economy by giving them access to industry leaders, professional networks, and career opportunities. It ensures our students can compete on equal footing with their peers across the country while contributing to Uganda's growing digital workforce."
Launched three months ago by NITA-Uganda during the inaugural CIO Conclave, the National Tech Talent Programme is a flagship ten-year initiative designed to accelerate Uganda's digital workforce development. Aligned with Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), and the Digital Transformation Roadmap, the programme aims to train and certify 50,000 ICT professionals by 2031, with a long-term target of 200,000 skilled professionals by 2035.
The initiative seeks to position Uganda as Africa's leading destination for digital talent and outsourcing, while NITA-Uganda, serving as the programme's patron, is working closely with the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders to integrate the initiative into national education and workforce development frameworks.
In the months ahead, the Forum and NITA-Uganda are planning an end-of-year hackathon for participating students across all enrolled universities. Engagement with TVET institutions across Northern Uganda is also scheduled for the coming weeks, extending the reach of the programme to vocational and technical training institutions in the region. The Forum will continue to share updates on enrollment, session schedules, and partner opportunities through its communications channels.
The National Tech Talent Programme has already begun delivering results, with its inaugural training on cybersecurity fundamentals equipping more than 80 students from 15 universities across Uganda. A second training, focusing on artificial intelligence and data analytics, is scheduled for later this month.
Delivered live online via Zoom at no cost to participants, the sessions are led by practising CIOs and senior ICT professionals drawn from the CIO-CxO Digital Leadership Forum membership.
The programme is designed to prepare graduates for business process outsourcing (BPO) and other digital employment opportunities by equipping them with globally relevant, industry-driven skills that enable them to compete for remote and international roles from anywhere in Uganda.
