Kampala, Uganda – MTN Uganda, in collaboration with Smart Girls Foundation, has graduated 298 young people through its flagship Girls in Tech and Girls with Tools initiatives—marking a significant step toward reducing youth unemployment and bridging the digital skills divide in Uganda.
The graduating cohort includes 248 young women trained in information and communication technology (ICT), and 50 others—both male and female—who received hands-on training in traditionally male-dominated trades such as electrical installation, plumbing, and tailoring.
This initiative is part of MTN Uganda’s broader commitment to youth empowerment under its Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation through inclusive, future-forward initiatives.
“Today, these graduates prove that change is not only possible—it is already underway,” said Juliet Kakayi Nsubuga, Managing Director of Bayobab Uganda, MTN Group’s digital infrastructure subsidiary. “They are now equipped to lead Uganda’s digital future, and we are proud to support them on this journey.”
Uganda, where over 70% of the population is under the age of 30, faces a youth unemployment rate of 16.3%, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The barriers are even greater for young women, who often lack access to technology, relevant skills training, and financial resources.
Since 2019, MTN Uganda and Smart Girls Foundation have trained more than 1,100 youths—primarily young women—in ICT and digital skills, with an additional 116 trained in vocational trades. The initiative supports national development frameworks including Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on education, innovation, and gender equality.
“This partnership has grown tremendously,” said Jamila Mayanja, founder of Smart Girls Foundation. “We started with just 30 girls in mechanics. Today, we’re empowering hundreds of young women to thrive in high-potential sectors like tech and energy.”
Graduates shared stories of how the training has opened up new opportunities. Nicholas Otim, an ICT graduate, said: “I now have the confidence and skills to start a digital training center for youths in my community.”
Maria Nakibule, who completed the plumbing program, added that the course gave her “a clearer path to income and independence.”
Government leaders praised the initiative’s alignment with national education and economic priorities.
“This is not just about skills—it’s about transformation,” said Maria Lubega, Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Kasangati Town Council. “Public-private partnerships like this can truly shift the narrative for our youth.”
The Girls in Tech and Girls with Tools programs are part of MTN’s wider effort to promote digital inclusion through other initiatives like the MTN Ace program and MTN Skills Academy, which aim to ensure that no young person—especially girls and women—is left behind in Uganda’s growing digital economy.
