By Aaron Asiimwe

Kampala: The minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, conducted an inspection survey to the national ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa Division, a Kampala suburb.

The hub – according to the ICT and National Guidance Minister, Frank Tumwebaze, will serve as a resource centre for Ugandan innovators by giving them free access to all the necessary services such as internet, computers and among others to facilitate the development of their projects.

According to progressive reports, the first of all-time national ICT research and innovation centre in Uganda facility is scheduled to be fully completed by next year and this will be a meeting point for all ICT innovators and research for ICT apprentices from various universities across Uganda and the East African region.

After the inspection, Min. Tumwebaze took to his Twitter handle and wrote thus; “Inspected the ongoing works of the #ICTinnovationhub at Nakawa being constructed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. Despite some logistical challenges that affected completion timelines, the progress is so far good more or less 90%. #Beautiful furniture supplied by Uganda Prisons Services.”

“The hub when opened hopefully early next year will offer space to many young innovators. Many of our other partners will join the hub to offer mentorship to the innovators,” he added.

The centre is being constructed by the UPDF engineering brigade, and according to officials, about 80 per cent of the construction is complete.

The construction of the National ICT innovation Hub in Nakawa, Kampala was launched by the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda on November 8, 2017, and the government said it would spend Shs5Bn on the project.