Uganda is set to introduce a new policy requiring ICT graduates to undergo a one-year internship and training program before certification, similar to lawyers and medical doctors.
Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, announced the proposal, citing the need for practical, hands-on training in the field.
“We are proposing that ICT graduates should also go through internship, the way doctors do in hospitals, the way lawyers go to the Law Development Center (LDC). Technology is a practical profession and we are preparing a proposal that all ICT graduates from various Universities will undertake an internship through UICT before they are fully allowed to practice,” Dr. Baryomunsi said during the 18th graduation ceremony of the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) in Kampala.
The government plans to transform the UICT in Nakawa, Kampala, into a national internship and training center for ICT graduates. The proposal is expected to be fully developed within the next two years.
“In the next two years, we should have completed this process and formally announce how it will be implemented,” Dr. Baryomunsi said, adding that the move aims to produce a highly skilled ICT workforce capable of driving Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
Dr. Baryomunsi emphasized the importance of technology in shaping modern society, highlighting the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing medical diagnosis. He urged graduates to innovate and create local solutions, challenging them to develop Ugandan versions of platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
“Technology has changed the way things are done. Whatever we do today, whether in medicine, agriculture, education, we must integrate ICT to achieve better outcomes. The future is digital and Africa must embrace technology to accelerate its transformation,” he said.
Mr Dean Munene, Chairperson of the UICT Governing Council, welcomed the idea but urged the government to consider the unique nature of ICT as a fast-changing, globally interconnected field.
“ICT is very dynamic. Before we implement mandatory internship, we must evaluate how it applies globally. Many ICT professionals take international certifications, what is done in China or India should be applicable here and vice versa. We must find the best way to harmonize this policy,” Mr. Munene said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Amina Zawedde, praised the graduates, saying they represent the next generation of digital innovators that Uganda needs. “Today’s employer wants solutions, not excuses. You have access to the internet, knowledge, and networks. Use these tools to design solutions tailored to Uganda’s context instead of depending on imported technologies,” she said.
Ms. Zawedde highlighted the success of several Ugandan-developed digital systems, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) MIS and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau’s business registration system, as examples of what local ICT talent can achieve. She encouraged graduates to collaborate across sectors such as agriculture, finance, tourism, and education, and to build technologies that respond directly to community needs.
“Be adaptive and move beyond simply using foreign software and hardware to actively designing, developing individual solutions tailored towards our Uganda context. Many of you use the internet endlessly for nonproductive activities, I think you should invest more time in using digital platforms to find and identify solutions to the challenges that you are facing in your communities,” she said.
(monitor)