Computing & IS

Framework for Establishment of Community Multipurpose Telecenters in Karamoja

Published

6 years ago

October 19, 2020

Mark Wamai

The State Minister for Karamoja-Hon. Moses Kizige (4th R), Principal CoCIS-Prof. Tonny Oyana (3rd R) and Dr. Joyce Bukirwa (R) pose for a group photo with the Project Team after the Research Dissemination on 13th October 2020, CoCIS, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

A group of researchers from the College of Computing and Information Sciences, (CoCIS), Makerere University on 14^th October 2020 disseminated research findings for their project titled “A Framework for the Establishment of Community Multipurpose Telecenters in Karamoja Sub-Region”

The project team which comprises of Mr. Aloysius Mwanje (Principal Investigator), Assoc. Prof. Agnes Rwashana (Researcher), Mr. Francis Ekwaro (Researcher), Ms. Lois Mutibwa Nankya (Researcher) and Mr. Kenneth Kirya Erickson (Researcher) carried out the research in six districts of Karamoja (Abim, Amudat, Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Napak).

The key research finding was that the establishment of telecenters in the nine districts of Karamoja will not only bridge the digital divide gap that exists between Karamoja and the rest of Uganda but will also go a long way to achieve economic development in the sub-region.

“Karamoja is behind in all aspects of development in Uganda. These multipurpose community telecentres are ICT for Development Innovations which are relevant for rural areas. If you adopt them for Karamoja, you will bridge the digital gap between the region and the rest of Uganda by providing ICT services, community radio, access to library services etc.,” Ekwaro said.

The research involved 728 respondents including community members, district leaders, health workers, education officers and non-state organisations. Notable among the findings was that the sub-region has only one public library which is in Moroto, five radio stations out of which four are in Moroto town, insecurity, illiteracy and poor communication networks.

Ekwaro noted that during national examinations, schools hire computers from secretarial bureaus. He also noted that due to poor radio signals, most locals listen to Kenyan stations.

Mwanje, the Principal Investigator, said the choice of a telecenter is the best response to these needs and that government does not need to fully implement the project but rather start with a pilot center and once successful, roll out to other districts in the region.

The Chair, Department of Library and Information Science, Dr. Joyce Bukirwa said
that if we talk about building a knowledge-based economy then information must reach the people,” she noted.

Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal, CoCIS also welcomed the research done by the team especially in such a remote area and during this COVID-19 pandemic and pledged to provide additional support to the team in terms of mentorship.

The Minister of State for Karamoja and the Guest of Honor at the dissemination, Hon. Moses Kizige expressed willingness to work with the University and the project team to establish these centers.

Please see below for the Project summary and Research findings.

Makerere-CoCIS-RIF-Establishment-Multipurpose-Telecenters-Karamoja-Project-Summary Download

Related Topics:Karamoja Mak-RIF Research Telecenter

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CoCIS CIPSD Short Courses January 2021 Intake

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Computing & IS

CoCIS CIPSD Short Courses for Vacists, Students and Professionals

Published

6 days ago

May 19, 2026

Mak Editor

Block B of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) is the main ICT Training, Research and Consultancy Centre in Makerere University. The College has six Academic departments comprising of the Department of Computer Science, Department of Networks, Department of Information Technology, Department of Information Systems, Department of Library and Information Sciences, and the Department of Records and Archives management.

In addition to the mainstream degree programmes, CoCIS has a specialized Center for Innovations and Professional Skills Development (CIPSD) which delivers state-of-art training in ICT e.g. the Cisco Networking Academy for Cisco related courses, the Microsoft IT Academy Program for Microsoft related courses, International Computer Driving License course, Oracle Certified Training center for Oracle, Linux and Unix Training center. CIPSD also offers Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) as online courses.

Click link below for start dates and to register:

https://forms.gle/eTVwcAfBGXaVLL9b7

All courses are at affordable fees catering for Students, Vacists, Professionals and
Anyone who wants to start a career in ICT or polish his/her ICT skills.

Contact Information

E-mail: psd.cis@mak.ac.ug
Call/WhatsApp: +256 752 779964 | +256 701 806656 | +256 752 373023
URL: https://cocis.mak.ac.ug/cipsd/

***CoCIS CIPSD Short Courses for Vacists, Students and Professionals.***

Computing & IS

Mak-AI Multilingual AI for Health Challenge – Fully Online

Published

2 weeks ago

May 13, 2026

Mak Editor

Makerere University Centre for Artificial Intelligence (Mak-AI) Multilingual AI for Health Challenge is now open fully online on Zindi, Deadline: 21st July 2026. College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

What happens when AI speaks African languages?

The Makerere University Centre for Artificial Intelligence (Mak-AI) Multilingual AI for Health Challenge is now open on Zindi; inviting innovators, researchers, and developers to build AI systems that answer health questions in African languages such as Luganda, Kiswahili, Akan, and Amharic.

This challenge focuses on improving access to trusted maternal, sexual, and reproductive health information for communities across Africa, especially in low-resource settings.

Win up to $5,000 USD
Fully Online
Open until 21 July 2026

If you’re passionate about AI, language technologies, and building solutions with real social impact, this is your chance to contribute.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4u5VrFG

Computing & IS

Call for Applications: Certificate in Health Informatics (June 2026 Intake)

Published

1 month ago

April 14, 2026

John Okeya

Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) invites applications for the June 2026 intake of its 4-week Certificate in Health Informatics short course, designed to equip professionals with practical skills to use data and digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery.

Course Overview

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are transforming healthcare delivery across Africa. However, many professionals are trained in either health or informatics, creating a gap in the effective use of digital solutions in healthcare.

This course is tailored to bridge that gap by equipping participants with practical knowledge and skills to design, implement, and manage health information systems. Through case-based learning and real-world examples, participants will explore how technology can improve healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Course Aim

To equip health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively implement and utilise health informatics for improved healthcare service delivery.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Apply Health Information Technology (HIT) to improve healthcare systems
Understand and use Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), including integration and interoperability
Manage digital health innovations such as telemedicine, mHealth, and wearable technologies
Apply data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) concepts
Address ethical issues in health data, including privacy, security, and governance

Course Modules

Health Information Technology
Adoption and Diffusion of Healthcare IT
Clinical Decision Support Systems
Electronic Health Records
Healthcare IT Industry & Global Policies
Telemedicine
Ethics, Security, Confidentiality & Privacy of Health Records
Healthcare Data Collection and Management

Course Schedule

Dates: 1^st June – 30^th June 2026
Duration: 4 weeks
Sessions: Daily (2 hours)
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (EAT)
Mode: Online (Zoom)

Target Audience

This course is suitable for:

Health professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists)
Paramedical personnel and hospital administrators
Statisticians, data managers, and social scientists
IT professionals and health IT implementers
Medical science graduates

Applicants should have relevant experience or interest in improving healthcare delivery using technology and be willing to work in multidisciplinary teams.