MTN Uganda, in partnership with several key organizations, has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging Uganda’s digital divide and empowering youth through a significant donation of digital equipment and vocational tools to the Busoga Kingdom.
The donation, which took place on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025, at the Inhebantu Lady Alice Mulooki Memorial Library and ICT Centre in Jinja, is part of MTN’s annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care volunteerism campaign.
The support was gratefully received by the Busoga Kingdom’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Owek. Osman Noor Ahmed, on behalf of the Kingdom, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in the region.
Owek. Ahmed was accompanied by other prominent Kingdom figures, including Kyabazinga Affairs Minister Owek. Babirye Yudaya and Busoga Kingdom’s Minister of Gender and Children Affairs Florence Kafuko.
The comprehensive donation included ten computers with one-year internet subscriptions, ten tailoring machines, ten hair-dressing kits, and water-harvesting tanks designed to support kitchen gardening initiatives.
This comprehensive approach aims to enhance digital literacy and create income-generating opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly teenage mothers and young women. Furthermore, the water-harvesting tanks will contribute to improved household food security, addressing a critical need within the region.
In addition to the material donations, MTN Uganda’s female staff engaged in a friendly football match with teenage mothers, fostering a sense of community and breaking down stigma. This initiative served to empower the young women and raise awareness about the prevention of teenage pregnancy, a pressing concern in the Kingdom.
“We greatly thank MTN for its continued support in empowering our young people with the tools and skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said Owek. Ahmed during the event.
He emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “This partnership strengthens Busoga’s commitment to youth development and resilience through technology and training.” He also conveyed greetings from His Majesty Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV and his wife Her Royal Highness Jovia Mutesi, the Inhebantu of Busoga.
This initiative comes at a crucial time for Busoga, which faces a high rate of teenage pregnancy – estimated at over 30% among adolescent girls, according to the Ministry of Health.
Simultaneously, digital access remains limited across Uganda, with only 10% of the rural population owning or being able to use a computer and just 27% regularly accessing the internet, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Juliet Kakayi Nsubuga, Managing Director of Bayobab Uganda, an MTN Uganda affiliate, framed the initiative as part of a broader effort towards digital inclusion. “Connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” she stated. “Our partnership with Busoga reflects a commitment to inclusive growth through expanded access to digital infrastructure and knowledge.”
Nsubuga emphasized that the combination of vocational tools and reliable connectivity forms a critical component of MTN’s strategy to reduce economic vulnerability among young women by equipping them with employable skills that promote independence.
This marks the second time Busoga has benefited from MTN’s Y’ello Care campaign, with a previous donation of 20 computers to the same center in 2016. Those resources have since proven invaluable in equipping thousands of learners with essential digital skills.
The 2025 Y’ello Care campaign, themed “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools,” builds on this foundation and expands support across five regions within Uganda.
Beyond Busoga, MTN Uganda is actively implementing similar projects nationwide. In Kampala, they are collaborating with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to address urban youth unemployment through the Kabalagala Youth Centre.
In the Greater Central region, specifically Luwero District, MTN is partnering with the Nnabagereka Development Foundation to promote youth-led agribusiness initiatives.
In northern Uganda, the focus is on addressing teenage pregnancy through digital reproductive health education in collaboration with the Ker Alur Kingdom. Finally, in western Uganda, MTN hopes to support the Tooro Kingdom in advancing digital tourism and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention.
The campaign, valued at UGX 500 million, is a collaborative effort involving various organizations, including the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, MTN Mobile Money Uganda Ltd, Bayobab, Maendeleo Foundation, AYO Uganda, Roofings Group, Transsion, Xeno Investment, and AYO.
Launched in 2007, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign mobilizes MTN staff across Africa each June to volunteer their time and expertise in community service.
This initiative aligns strongly with MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which places digital and financial inclusion at the forefront of its vision for sustainable national development.
Through these targeted interventions, MTN Uganda is making significant strides in empowering communities, bridging the digital divide, and fostering a brighter future for the nation.
