By Mark Olila
Lira, Uganda – Excitement filled Lira City Council Hall as Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, WMP Lira City and Minister of Health accompanied by Hon. Judith Alyek, Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group and WMP for Kole District, and Hon. Tonny Ayo, MP for Kwania, officially launched the much-anticipated National Tech Camp 2025.
The event, aimed at fostering digital innovation and empowering the youth, drew widespread attention from leaders and participants eager to embrace transformative technology.
The camp’s official host site, Jerusalem Heritage School, Lira City, located in Jinja Camp, will serve as the base for this groundbreaking initiative.
With significant support from key stakeholders, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Hon. Judith Alyek contributed UGX 1 million and UGX 500,000, respectively, while Archbishop Orombi Comprehensive School donated UGX 200,000 toward the training.
In her keynote speech, Hon. Judith Alyek urged the youth to be responsible in their use of technology, cautioning against the misuse of computers, phones and other digital tools.
As Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group, she reaffirmed her commitment to supporting innovative solutions aimed at addressing Uganda’s daily challenges through ICT.
“Our goal is to transform this hub into a ‘Home of ICT Innovation’, where local innovations from Lira City and the entire Lango sub-region can thrive, supporting not only universities and private entities but also the broader community,” Alyek said.
She emphasized the importance of public awareness about the hub’s initiatives, including e-procurement, software development and e-payment systems.
Alyek highlighted the need to improve and expand these innovations, suggesting that the hub could evolve into a Center of Excellence for technology and innovation in Uganda.
Alyek also encouraged parents to allow their children to participate in tech-related workshops, such as software development and robotics.
She promised to support youth-led innovation hubs like Kakebe Technology and Innovation Hub, which have shown promise in advancing local solutions.
She concluded her speech by calling for a collective effort involving Members of Parliament, Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Chairpersons, mayors, schools and local councils to ensure the camp’s success and long-term impact.
Tech Camp 2025 is set to be a catalyst for digital transformation, positioning Lira City as a hub for homegrown technological solutions.