St. Mary’s College Madi Opei Opens a Gateway to Digital Learning and Innovation

At St. Mary’s College Madi Opei in Lamwo District, the launch of the ICT Club created a fresh opportunity for learners to connect classroom knowledge with practical digital skills, innovation, and responsible use of technology.

The launch and training took place on Wednesday, 25th February 2026 and was facilitated by Noah Okwalinga on behalf of Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA). The activity was conducted under the ICT Clubs programme supported by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and UCUSAF.

The visit aimed at officially launching the school ICT Club, orienting learners and school leaders on the objectives of the programme, and equipping students with foundational digital knowledge and practical ICT skills. It also encouraged learners to begin seeing technology as a tool for creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and future opportunity.

The school leadership, led by Headteacher Mrs Caroline Akot, together with ICT Teacher Mr Kidega Paul, welcomed the initiative and engaged with the KAWA team on how the ICT Club can be supported and sustained within the school.

Before the training began, learners were invited to share their expectations. Many hoped to gain practical computer skills beyond normal classroom lessons. Others wanted to learn how to maintain and protect ICT equipment, improve their internet use, explore coding, create digital content, and understand innovation. Some learners also expressed interest in mentorship, teamwork, problem-solving, and preparation for future careers in the digital world.

During the session, learners were guided to understand that an ICT Club is more than a school group for computer practice. It is a platform for building responsibility, leadership, confidence, creativity, and practical digital skills. The club is intended to help learners take ownership of school ICT resources and support the proper use, care, and sustainability of the computer laboratory.

KAWA provided educational materials to support the launch and training. These included PowerPoint presentations, practical demonstrations, case studies, and interactive exercises. Learners were also introduced to the ICT Clubs website, www.ictclubs.ug, where they can access tutorials, innovation resources, and learning materials to continue developing their skills after the launch.

The official launch was conducted through a recorded speech message from the Executive Director of UCC, Mr Nyombi Thembo. His message emphasised the importance of digital skills, responsible use of technology, innovation, and the role of learners in sustaining school ICT laboratories. This helped students appreciate that their club is part of a wider national programme promoting digital transformation in schools across Uganda.

KAWA worked with the school administration, ICT teacher, and club patron to establish the ICT Club and support the formation of student leadership structures. Learners were guided on how the club will operate, why leadership is important, and how accountability can help keep club activities active and meaningful. A standard ICT Club constitution template was also shared with the school to guide formal club operations.

The ICT Club Handbook was also shared with the school to support club leadership, learner participation, innovation activities, digital skills development, and responsible technology use. The handbook will guide the patron, teachers, and student leaders as they coordinate ICT Club activities throughout the year.

The digital skills training introduced learners to ICT laboratory management and sustainability, basic computer maintenance, troubleshooting, internet safety, cybersecurity awareness, coding, innovation, and Artificial Intelligence. The session encouraged learners to handle ICT equipment responsibly, practise safe internet use, and begin applying technology to real-life school and community challenges.

Learners were also informed about preparation for ANCC 2026. This encouraged them to take ICT Club activities seriously, strengthen teamwork, and begin developing practical projects and innovations that could represent their school in future technology platforms.

The expected outcomes of the St. Mary’s College Madi Opei ICT Club include improved practical ICT skills, stronger learner ownership of school ICT resources, safe and ethical use of technology, increased interest in coding and innovation, and better preparation for future digital opportunities. The club is also expected to support mentorship, digital creation, teamwork, problem-solving, and participation in national ICT-related competitions.

KAWA further engaged the school leadership on the importance of regular club meetings, teacher guidance, institutional support, and continued mentorship. These discussions helped position the ICT Club as a long-term school programme that can support learner growth beyond the launch day.

Some likely challenges were noted, including unreliable power supply, inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited time for club activities, low digital literacy among some learners, and the need to sustain momentum after the launch. These challenges require continued planning, follow-up, and support from the school and programme partners.

The school is encouraged to allocate regular time for ICT Club activities, strengthen support from the administration and patron, and continue receiving mentorship and follow-up training. Improved ICT infrastructure and reliable power will help the club grow into a sustainable centre for digital learning and innovation.

The launch at St. Mary’s College Madi Opei marked an important step in building learner capacity, promoting responsible technology use, strengthening school ICT sustainability, and preparing students for future opportunities in the digital world.

With continued support from the school, KAWA, UCC, and UCUSAF, the ICT Club has the potential to become a strong gateway for digital learning, learner aspiration, creativity, innovation, and future-ready skills.

KAWA sincerely appreciates UCC and UCUSAF for their continued support towards the establishment and training of ICT Clubs in schools across Uganda.