KAMPALA, Uganda — The government has reaffirmed its support for national robotics and skills competitions, calling them essential to preparing young Ugandans for a science-driven, digital economy.
Officials from the Uganda Communications Commission, or UCC, and the Ministry of Education and Sports stressed that nurturing innovators and engineers is vital to achieving the country’s long-term digital transformation and Vision 2040 goals.
Speaking at the third National STEM and Robotics Skills Competitions in Kampala, Christine Mugimba, UCC director for ICT and Research, said Uganda must avoid falling behind in global technological advancements.
“We are not going to fall behind. Robotics and artificial intelligence are already here,” Mugimba said. “Our role is to expose young people early and empower them to use technology to solve Uganda’s problems.”
She reaffirmed UCC’s dedication to supporting ICT initiatives, including efforts focused on girls in ICT and continuous teacher retooling to ensure inclusive participation in the digital economy.
The competitions, organized by Next Gen Restyling Limited under World Skills Federation Uganda, featured more than 380 learners across 48 teams from 30 private, government and international schools. Participants ages 4 to 25 showcased innovations in robotics, engineering design and electronics.
Mellon Kenyangi, founder of Next Gen Restyling Limited, described the initiative as a critical, long-term investment in the nation’s future workforce.
“We are building innovators, not job seekers,” Kenyangi said. “This platform gives young people the confidence to solve real problems.”
During the event, young innovators designed and programmed autonomous robots to complete various missions, demonstrating applied engineering and teamwork skills. Eight teams were recognized for excellence, and top performers earned the opportunity to represent Uganda at international STEM competitions, including events in the United States.
Kenyangi called for increased investment in science and technology as a sustainable solution to youth unemployment.
“We keep talking about unemployment and a science-led economy, but innovation needs deliberate investment,” she said.
Ronald Ddungu, a principal education officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, noted that the competitions perfectly align with the new lower-secondary curriculum, which shifts learning from theory to project-based and applied practice.
