MTN Uganda has commissioned a new state-of-the-art ICT laboratory at Mvara Secondary School in Arua, strengthening its commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive education across the country.
The facility, part of MTN Foundation’s Shs 1 billion Digital Access Project, is one of 11 ICT labs rolled out in underserved schools, with nearly half tailored to support learners with disabilities. The lab at Mvara is fully equipped with assistive technologies for visually and hearing-impaired students, including screen-reading software and sound amplifiers.
Speaking during the launch, MTN’s Commercial Head for Northern Uganda, Philip Odoi, said the initiative aims to empower every learner regardless of ability to meaningfully engage in the digital economy.
“This lab is about creating equal opportunities and ensuring no one is left behind,” Odoi noted while observing students interact with the newly donated computers.
Mvara Secondary School, a leading institution in the West Nile region for inclusive education, currently supports over 100 students with visual, hearing, or physical impairments. The new lab will benefit more than 1,500 students annually, with special arrangements for learners with special needs.
In addition to 10 computers, MTN Uganda provided a year of free internet access, antivirus protection, printers, scanners, and CCTV systems to enhance the learning environment.
The project has also impacted schools such as St. Francis Primary School for the Blind in Soroti and Iganga Secondary School, where students now access lessons using screen readers and other adaptive technologies.
Since its launch in 2023, the Digital Access Project has become a cornerstone of MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 strategy to promote digital and financial inclusion. To date, 63 ICT labs have been established nationwide, including nine in vocational and technical institutions.
Odoi credited the project’s progress to partnerships with government entities, local leaders, and organisations like Sense International. “Together, we are building a more inclusive and connected Uganda,” he said.
Plans are underway to train teachers in using the assistive tools and to expand the program to more schools in underserved regions.