The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is holding an important engagement in Moyo District, bringing together local leaders, school officials from UCC-partnered schools, ICT teachers, people with disabilities and other key stakeholders.
The engagement is aimed at creating a platform where different groups can openly discuss the development of communication services in the region. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation between UCC and local leadership while identifying areas where joint initiatives can be developed to benefit communities.
For people in Moyo and the wider region, access to effective communication services is about much more than having a mobile phone or an internet connection. Communication plays an important role in people’s daily lives, including access to health services, education, emergency response, business opportunities and financial services.
Reliable communication services can also help communities access information and opportunities that can improve household incomes and livelihoods. For students and teachers, better access to ICT services can support learning, teaching and the development of digital skills needed in today’s economy.
The participation of people with disabilities is also important because communication services should be accessible and useful to all members of society. Engaging people with disabilities allows UCC and other stakeholders to better understand the barriers they face and identify ways of making communication services more inclusive.
The involvement of schools and ICT teachers further provides an opportunity to discuss the role of technology in education. Schools are increasingly relying on digital tools and internet connectivity to support teaching and learning, making access to reliable communication infrastructure an important part of education development.
Through engagements of this nature, UCC is able to listen directly to communities and understand the challenges they experience. Rather than relying only on national-level discussions, such engagements provide an opportunity to hear the views of people and institutions at the local level.
The discussions in Moyo also demonstrate the importance of cooperation between regulators, local governments, schools, communities and other stakeholders. Working together can help identify practical solutions to communication challenges and create initiatives that respond to the specific needs of different communities.
As Uganda continues to expand digital and communication services, engagements such as the one in Moyo remain important in ensuring that development is inclusive. By working closely with communities and local leaders, UCC can continue supporting a communication system that serves the needs of people across the country, including those in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.
