KAMPALA:
The Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology (UICT) has appointed its 6th Governing Council to lead the institution for the next three years. The council, which comprises 17 members from various categories, was inaugurated during a function held on Thursday at the National Innovation Hub in Nakawa, Kampala.
According to Section 77(2) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, the members of the council were nominated by different constituencies. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance forwarded the names of nominated persons to the Ministry of Education and Sports for appointment to the UICT Governing Council.
The newly-appointed members of the council include Assoc. Prof. Agnes Rwashana Semwanga, Ms. Barbara Asiimwe, Mr. Patrick Kakeeto, Mr. Amos Mpungu, Mr. Japeth Kawanguzi, Mr. Dean Munene, Mr. John Ochira Pakony, Mr. Ronald Mayambala, Eng. Christine Mugimba, Mr. Moses Mugenyi, Ms. Bako Gloria, Mr. Edson Nkurunungi, Mr. Anthony Muligisa, Ms. Rhoda Christine Nazite, Ms. Jennipher Namugumya, Dr. Irene Nakiyimba, and Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo.
During the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, emphasized the importance of the new council’s role in driving UICT to be the center of excellence for special skills needed in the job market. She noted that universities provide degrees in computer science and IT, but not all the special skills required by companies and government. Hence, UICT will be that institution providing such skills.
Dr. Zawedde added that the Governing Council would work with the institution under the guidance of the Ministry of ICT to ensure that they offer programs for people coming out of various universities and tertiary institutions so that they are job-ready.
UICT principal, Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo, praised the outgoing council for its human capital initiatives. He mentioned that the 5th Governing Council initiated a program for an HR study to identify the human resource needs, remuneration requirements, and training needs of the staff. The program was approved and implemented, and the salaries of the staff were adjusted to ensure their motivation.
The other achievements of the outgoing council include a policy direction that allowed admission of government-sponsored students, the development of a business unit for the institute, and the appointment of a substantive principal, academic registrar, and institute secretary.
However, the outgoing council faced its biggest challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Kitoogo acknowledged that students were unable to access laboratories and exams, but the situation provided an opportunity to spearhead the implementation of open distance and eLearning. The council developed virtual labs and online proctoring to enable students to take exams online.
UICT was established as a public tertiary institution in October 2005 under the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act of 2001. In November 2007, the Education Ministry transferred management of the institution to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). Consequently, the institution is now under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. With the appointment of the new Governing Council, UICT is poised to become a hub for specialized skills in the country’s job market.
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