WOUGNET trains community internet partners on digital literacy

9 June 2024, 4:30 pm

By Mike Okwang Ogule

Women of Uganda Network through Makerere University has trained over 30 community internet partners within Apac district on digital literacy.

According to Lillian Mercy Apio, the WOUGNET project officer, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) in partnership with Makerere University is implementing a community internet project in Apac titled “Strengthening Women’s Access to Enhanced Rural Broadband Connectivity for a Prosperous and Knowledge–Based Digital Economy.

Apio said, the project is being implemented in Apac district with technical support from Makerere University in order to increase internet consumption in the rural areas.

“This project is being funded through the Association for Progressive Communication with the overall objective of providing an inclusive internet accessibility for underserved and unserved communities”, she said.

Among the key activities of the project, according to Lillian Apio are organising digital literacy trainings involving men and women to improve their knowledge and skills in gender with topics such as content creation, entrepreneurial and financial management all to ensure sustainability of the network sites within the communities.

Daphine Amongi a primary seven pupil at Atopi Primary School and one of the trainees, acknowledged WOUGNET for boosting her digital skills, she promised to be a transformation agent within the community so that her fellow girls can likewise take up digital spaces without any anxiety.

Another trainee Jimmy Okello from Awiri Farmers Group, swore to use the skills acquired during the training to boost their sales on agricultural products.

Ms. Tali Jane from Apac district local government, while closing the two days training (6th – 7th June 2024) recognised that digital literacy has become an essential tool for social and economic development in today’s world hinting that the ability to use digital technologies to access, process, and communicate information has since become a basic requirement for individuals and businesses to succeed in the global economy.

She implored the community internet partners to embrace the current technological trend for a better Uganda.

There are currently 12 partners housing community internet equipment within Apac district, and they are Radio Apac (where the server is installed), Bed-Igen Women’s Group in Awiri, Apac Secondary School, Atopi Primary School, Maruzi Seed Secondary School, Apac Technical School, St Albert Technical Institute, Apac District Headquarters, Apac Main Hospital, WOUGNET/KIC office in Apac, Atopi Trading Centre and Nicho Photo Studio. All these equipment offer internet access to the local people within the district.

Initiated in May 2000 by several women’s establishments in Uganda, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a non-governmental organisation with core values of developing the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively.