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For Immediate Release:
MTN Foundation enhances Digital Access at St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga
- MTN Uganda, through its corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, is excited to announce its latest initiative to boost digital access and education at St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga.
- As part of its commitment to empowering youth and bridging the digital divide, MTN Uganda is providing 10 computers, a year of free internet access, and backup power systems, valued at UGX 65 million.
- The donation aligns with MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 Strategy, which focuses on driving digital transformation across the country.
- MTN Uganda has also established 57 ICT labs in educational institutions nationwide, benefiting thousands of learners.
Buikwe District, Uganda – 24 October 2024. MTN Uganda, through its corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, is excited to announce its latest initiative to boost digital access and education at St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga. As part of its commitment to empowering youth and bridging the digital divide, MTN Uganda is providing 10 computers, a year of free internet access, and backup power systems, valued at UGX 65 million.
This initiative aims to support the 392 students aged 13 to 20 at St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga, equipping them with the essential tools needed to thrive in today’s digital landscape. With over three-quarters of Uganda’s population under the age of 30, the youth represent immense potential for the future. However, many young people face barriers to accessing quality education and digital skills, limiting their participation in the modern economy.
“Today is not just about handing over equipment; it’s about opening doors to knowledge and opportunities for our youth,” said Bryan Mbasa, Senior Manager MTN Foundation
“We believe that everyone, regardless of their background, deserves the chance to benefit from a modern connected life. This donation is a vital step in empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem solvers.”
The donation aligns with MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 Strategy, which focuses on driving digital transformation across the country. This initiative also supports Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting digital literacy and capability nationwide.
As part of its Digital Access Program, MTN Uganda is investing over UGX 390 million this year to establish computer labs in various schools and communities across Uganda, including St. Catherine Girls Secondary School and Tunaweza Foundation. St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga proudly joins this list as the third beneficiary, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to quality education since its founding in 1924. Other schools set to benefit from this initiative include Revival Girls in Mbarara District, and St. John’s Secondary School in Sheema District as well as Code Campus a digital literacy community organization operation in the slums of Kampala
Fr. Eugene Safari, the Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga, expressed gratitude for MTN Uganda’s generous support. “MTN’s commitment to providing us with a fully equipped computer lab truly highlights its dedication to empowering our future leaders with the skills they need to thrive in today’s digital world,” he said.
“We are excited that this lab will give our students access to modern technology and digital resources, helping to cultivate a skilled and tech-savvy workforce for a brighter tomorrow.”
Fr. Dr. Musinya Richard Kayondo, the vicar general of Lugazi Diocese, who doubles as the Chairperson Board of Directors, St Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga, expressed gratitude to MTN for the contribution. He urged seminarians to use the computer lab responsibly.
Mbasa emphasized that access to technology is only the beginning, stating, “The real impact comes from how students utilize these resources. We encourage both students and teachers to embrace this opportunity to explore, learn, and prepare for their futures.”
MTN Uganda has long been at the forefront of supporting ICT in education, having established over 57 ICT labs in educational institutions nationwide. This includes six technical institutes, such as Amelo Technical Institute in Adjumani District, St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre in Hoima District, Millenium Vocational Training Centre in Hoima, Uganda Technical Institute in Masindi, Kasese Polytechnic and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic in Moroto District.
The students are also free to sign up and learn digital skills for digital jobs on the MTN Skills Academy website MTN Skills Academy | Home.
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About MTN Uganda Foundation
The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Its purpose is to bring about meaningful, measurable, and sustainable change that helps disadvantaged and rural communities to become self-sufficient. With a focus on innovative technology, we aim to uplift communities towards independence in this bold new digital world. The Foundation invests resources for social redress, thus economic empowerment, education, health, and humanitarian response. The Foundation implements projects that are highly enabled by ICT solutions.
About MTN Uganda
MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 170,000 MoMo agents, 292,000 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the full year period ended December 31, 2023, MTN Uganda had 19.5 million subscribers, 12.1 million MoMo users, and 8.2 million active data users. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN.” We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy, focusing on growth in data, fintech, and digital businesses.
For more information, please contact:
MTN Uganda Press Office: mediadesk.ug@mtn.com
Rhona Arinaitwe: rhona.arinaitwe@mtn.com or 0772 123 067
Prisca Baike: prisca.baike@tbwa-uganda.com or 0782 654 083