KAMPALA, Uganda – MTN Uganda’s corporate responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, in partnership with Maendeleo Foundation, has trained 81 young people under its Internet Bus digital literacy programme in Kampala, with 58 successfully completing the training and graduating.
The graduation, held at the Kabalagala Youth Centre operated by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), comprised 37 males and 21 females.
The programme focused on practical ICT skills for business and online safety, aimed at improving employability and supporting small enterprise growth among young people.
MTN Uganda Regional Manager for Kampala,Augustine Lule, said the programme is central to MTN’s broader ambition of not only driving inclusive digital transformation but also empowering the population countrywide.
“We believe that access to connectivity must be matched with skills. Our ambition is to ensure that young people, regardless of where they come from, are equipped to participate meaningfully in the digital economy, create opportunities for themselves, and contribute to national development,” Lule said.
This development comes at a time when Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with more than 75 percent under the age of 30, and is also grappling with high youth unemployment levels.
Jonathan Ebuk, officer employment management at Kampala Capitla City Authority (KCCA) said the initiative complements the city authority’s efforts to empower youth with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
“This programme is timely. It is giving young people in Kampala the tools they need to become self-reliant and competitive in today’s digital world,” Ebuki said.
Joselyn Akiiki, one of the participants and a graduate of the programme, said the training had changed their outlook on opportunities.
“I now feel confident using digital tools. I can search for opportunities online and think more seriously about starting my own business,” the participant said.
Four best performing trainees -Ali Basimbe Tyson, Mary Faith Mirembe, Asher Chloe and Eliana Kwaala received laptops and MiFi devices to support their continued learning and connectivity.
MTN Uganda executives said the MTN Internet Bus initiative is part of a wider national rollout that has been implemented in districts including Mukono, Jinja, Nabilatuk, Kiryandongo, Rwampara, Bushenyi, and Amuru.
The mobile training model uses a bus fitted with computers and internet connectivity to deliver digital skills training to communities with limited access to ICT infrastructure.
The technology firm, which has seen the programme reach more than 1,181 participants, with over 1,062 graduating, including 622 young women in this fourth phase alone, that started in late 2025, plans to continue scaling the initiative as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion and youth empowerment countrywide.
Since 2022, the MTN Internet Bus programme has reached more than 6,000 people across 44 communities.
