Archbishop Bakyenga Vocational SS ICT Club Launch Rubirizi
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Archbishop Bakyenga Vocational Secondary School in Rubirizi District proudly joined the burgeoning movement of digital empowerment across Ugandan schools by officially launching its ICT Club. This significant initiative, meticulously organized in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA), was thoughtfully designed to introduce students to essential practical ICT skills and to foster a vibrant culture of innovation through engaging, hands-on learning. The training and launch event were skillfully led by Ms. Kyasima Freedom, a certified ICT trainer from KAWA Uganda. The club launch successfully attracted 35 enthusiastic students and 2 committed teachers, all eager to embrace the numerous opportunities that ICT can offer in both academic pursuits and future professional spheres. The school’s dedicated ICT Club Patron, Ms. Ninsiima Marion, played an instrumental role in mobilizing the students and coordinating all activities alongside the school administration, which is capably headed by Mr. Byamukama.
The launch was far more than a mere symbolic event; it was a deeply practical and enriching learning experience for all participants. The core of the training session focused intently on MIT App Inventor, an intuitive block-based programming tool that remarkably empowers learners to design and build sophisticated mobile applications even without any prior coding knowledge. Students actively engaged in guided exercises, successfully created their own basic apps, and eagerly explored the various real-world applications of mobile technology. One particularly excited student enthusiastically shared, “This was my first time creating an app. I feel empowered to build more in the future.” This interactive approach, utilized throughout the session, proved highly effective. It not only helped students to thoroughly understand theoretical ICT concepts but also enabled them to immediately apply these concepts, thereby building their confidence and sparking intense curiosity about what more they could achieve in the digital realm.
Despite the prevailing enthusiasm, a challenge arose during the session when a power outage occurred midway, temporarily disrupting the momentum. However, both the facilitators and the students demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, quickly utilizing the unexpected downtime to engage in productive group discussions and idea-sharing. This incident, though a minor setback, clearly highlighted the urgent need for a more reliable power solution, such such as the installation of solar panels or a standby generator, to effectively support continued ICT integration within the school and to significantly reduce any future disruptions to valuable learning time.
To ensure the long-term sustainability and maximize the impact of the ICT Club at Archbishop Bakyenga Vocational SS, several crucial recommendations were put forth. Firstly, the school is strongly encouraged to invest in alternative power sources, specifically acquiring a solar power system or a reliable backup generator, to prevent any future interruptions during vital digital training sessions. Secondly, continuous mentorship is key; KAWA and UCC should prioritize scheduling regular follow-up mentorship sessions to help students further develop their skills and prepare them comprehensively for upcoming regional ICT exhibitions. Lastly, the ICT Club should establish consistent regular club activities, including weekly training sessions and engaging innovation challenges, to effectively maintain momentum and encourage even more learners across different classes to participate actively.
The launch of the ICT Club at Archbishop Bakyenga Vocational SS represents a truly transformative step for the school and the wider Rubirizi community. With the invaluable support of national partners and a dedicated school leadership team, the club is exceptionally well-poised to become a central hub of digital creativity, innovation, and empowerment. The learners now have a vibrant platform where they can explore technology not merely as an academic subject but as a powerful tool for solving pertinent community problems and actively shaping their own bright futures. Students expressed profound gratitude toward UCC and KAWA for making ICT accessible and exciting, with the hands-on training leaving a lasting impact and many students eagerly requesting more opportunities for app development and digital exploration. As another student insightfully commented, “We now know that we can be creators, not just users, of technology.”
Special acknowledgements are extended to Ms. Ninsiima Marion, the club Patron, for her exceptional dedication and coordination, and to Mr. Byamukama, the Headteacher, for his warm welcome and unwavering support. Gratitude is also heartily extended to UCC for championing ICT in education and to KAWA Uganda for their consistent technical guidance and provision of essential resources. For follow-up inquiries or to offer support, Ms. Ninsiima Marion can be contacted at 0757 017 015, and Mr. Byamukama at 0782 654 891. The facilitator, Kyasima Freedom, can be reached through KAWA Uganda.
