MTN Uganda expands digital access with ICT hub in refugee settlement

What the report says

MTN Foundation Uganda has launched a 12-computer ICT hub in Palabek Refugee Settlement in Lamwo District, northern Uganda, in partnership with Hopelink Action Foundation Uganda. According to The Independent Uganda, the centre will offer free computer use, internet access and digital learning materials to refugees and nearby residents, with a focus on expanding basic digital skills in an area where connectivity and infrastructure remain limited.

The publication said the settlement hosts nearly 72,000 refugees and asylum seekers, many from South Sudan. The new hub is intended to support online learning, job searches, entrepreneurship and access to digital services. MTN Foundation trustee Francis Gimara said the project reflects the view that technology and connectivity are now essential for education, information and participation in the modern economy.

The initiative is part of MTN Uganda’s wider Ambition 2030 strategy and aligns with Uganda’s national development priorities around digital transformation and human capital. The Independent also reported that the Palabek site brings the number of ICT centres supported by MTN Foundation across Uganda to 94 since 2007, extending its digital-access work beyond major towns into underserved communities.

Hopelink Action Foundation Uganda said it would help keep the facility usable for the community, while a representative of the Office of the Prime Minister noted that digital infrastructure can aid both refugee and host populations. The project also fits broader development goals around education, decent work, innovation and reduced inequality.