ICT Club Launched at Kagwara Seed Secondary School to Strengthen Digital Skills in Serere District

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Serere District, Teso Sub-Region — February 26, 2026

Students at Kagwara Seed Secondary School in Serere District have taken a major step toward digital empowerment following the successful launch and training of the school’s ICT Club. The activity was facilitated by Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA) under the national ICT Clubs programme supported by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF).

The programme seeks to promote digital literacy, innovation, and responsible technology use among secondary school learners, enabling them to develop practical ICT skills and participate actively in Uganda’s growing digital economy.

A Growing Secondary School in Serere District

Kagwara Seed Secondary School is located in Kagwara Trading Centre in Serere District, within the Teso Sub-Region of Eastern Uganda. The school lies approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, and about 20 kilometres from Serere Town, the district’s main administrative centre.

The school serves learners from surrounding communities across Serere District and neighbouring areas of the Teso region. As a seed secondary school established to expand access to education in rural communities, Kagwara Seed SS plays an important role in improving educational opportunities for young people.

The introduction of the ICT Club now provides students with an opportunity to explore technology, coding, digital innovation, and problem-solving skills beyond the classroom.

The ICT Club launch and training session were facilitated by Kyasima Freedom, working closely with the school administration led by Mr. Ogaram Robert, the headteacher. The ICT Club activities are coordinated by Mr. Eliacu Solomon, the ICT teacher and club patron.

A total of 71 students participated in the orientation and training session, demonstrating strong enthusiasm for digital learning.

Learners Express Excitement About ICT Skills

Before the training activities began, learners were invited to share their expectations from the ICT Club.

Many students expressed interest in gaining hands-on computer skills beyond classroom lessons, while others hoped to learn how to maintain and protect ICT equipment within the school computer laboratory.

Learners also showed strong curiosity about coding, digital innovation, and technology-based creativity, while some students indicated that the ICT Club would help them develop teamwork, leadership skills, mentorship opportunities, and preparation for careers in the digital world.

Encouraging Responsible and Innovative Technology Use

During the orientation session, facilitators emphasized that ICT Clubs are designed to nurture responsible digital citizens who can use technology ethically, safely, and creatively.

Students were encouraged to think of ICT as a tool for innovation and problem-solving, capable of addressing real-life challenges within their communities.

Through the ICT Club, learners will also play an active role in supporting the management and sustainability of the school’s ICT laboratory, promoting a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for school technology resources.

Practical Training in Digital Skills

The training sessions included demonstrations and interactive discussions on key digital skills such as:

  • ICT laboratory management and sustainability
  • Basic computer maintenance and troubleshooting
  • Internet safety and cybersecurity awareness
  • Introduction to coding and digital innovation
  • Responsible and ethical use of digital technologies

These sessions were designed to ensure that learners gain practical skills that can be applied to real-world challenges and future career opportunities.

Students were also introduced to the ICT Clubs national learning platform — www.ictclubs.ug, which provides tutorials, digital learning materials, and innovation resources to support continuous learning.

Official Launch of the ICT Club

The official launch included a recorded message from Mr. Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission.

In his message, he emphasized the importance of digital literacy, innovation, and responsible use of technology among young people, encouraging students to develop ideas that can positively impact their communities.

He also highlighted that ICT Clubs are part of a national programme designed to nurture the next generation of technology innovators in Uganda.

Establishing ICT Club Leadership

During the visit, KAWA worked with the school administration and ICT teachers to formally establish the ICT Club and guide learners in forming a student leadership structure responsible for coordinating club activities.

Student leaders were selected to mobilize members, organize meetings, and ensure the effective implementation of club programmes.

The school also received the ICT Club Handbook and a standard ICT Club constitution template, which will guide governance, leadership, and innovation activities.

Preparing Learners for NCC 2026

Students were informed that ICT Club members across Uganda are being prepared for participation in the National Conference on Communications (NCC) 2026, where schools will showcase innovative digital projects developed by students.

This announcement encouraged learners to begin thinking creatively about technology-based projects that can help solve community challenges.

Participation in NCC will also expose students to national mentorship opportunities, innovation competitions, and collaboration with ICT clubs across the country.

Engagement with School Leadership

The KAWA team also held discussions with the headteacher, ICT Club patron, and school administration to strengthen institutional support for the ICT Club programme.

The discussions emphasized the need for regular ICT Club meetings, strong teacher mentorship, and active administrative support to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.

Key Challenges Identified

Despite the successful launch, several challenges affecting ICT learning at the school were noted.

These included unreliable power supply, limited ICT infrastructure, limited time allocated for ICT club activities, and varying levels of digital literacy among learners.

Additional challenges included restricted access to the school network from staff areas, the ICT teacher not being on the official payroll, and malfunctioning keyboards on some laptops previously supplied by NITA-U.

The school administration also requested relocation of the solar battery system and internet access point to the ICT laboratory, as they were installed outside the lab environment

Recommendations for Strengthening ICT Learning

To strengthen the ICT Club programme, the school was encouraged to allocate regular time for ICT Club meetings and innovation activities.

Improving ICT infrastructure and ensuring proper maintenance of existing equipment will help create a sustainable digital learning environment.

Continued mentorship and follow-up training from KAWA in partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission will further support students in developing meaningful digital innovation projects.

Expanding Digital Opportunities in the Teso Region

The launch of the ICT Club at Kagwara Seed Secondary School marks an important milestone in expanding digital learning opportunities in Serere District and the wider Teso Sub-Region.

With enthusiastic learners, supportive teachers, and continued collaboration between KAWA and the Uganda Communications Commission, the ICT Club is expected to grow into a vibrant hub for innovation, creativity, and technology-driven problem solving.

The initiative strengthens the vision of empowering young Ugandans with the digital skills required to succeed in the modern world and contribute to national development.

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