MUKONO – Leading pay TV Startimes Uganda in partnership with MTN Uganda and Tecno Mobile Uganda have Tuesday, November 5, donated 50 Lenovo Desktop computers to five schools in Mukono District.
The beneficiary schools include Namilyango College, Kasawo Secondary School, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Secondary School, Kasana Vocational School and St. Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School.
Mr. Shiva Zhong, Managing Director Tecno Uganda said that the donation comes from proceeds made from the recent Heroes in Color Run organized Tecno and its partners.
“Digital illiteracy in Uganda is real and we recognize that fact,” Mr. Zhong said.
This year’s Heroes in Color run was under the theme “Digitalizing the future” and we feel it’s time we paid more attention to this since this is where the world is heading,” he added.
Ms. Cleopatra Koheirwe the StartTimes Public Relations Manager noted that the company believes in giving back to the society.
“A cause that has to do with giving back to society and helping develop the youths matters a lot to us,” she told the media.
Ms. Koheirwe added that it is of great importance that students learn computer skills and are technologically equipped in order to sustain themselves in this digital era.
“The journey to developing our country is a shared one and that why this partnership with Tecno and StartTimes is quite symbolic of the good that people, corporate companies and institutions of our country can do when we combine efforts, Mr. San Somdev said MTN Uganda acting Chief Marketing Officer.
He added: ” We are definitely good together as a team”.
The handover of computers was presided over by State Minister for Education and Sports Mr. Charles Bakabulindi, District Education officer, officials from the ministry of Education and Head Teachers of beneficiary schools in an event held at Namilyango College in Mukono district.
Mr. Bakabulindi was delighted by StarTimes and it’s partners’ for their gesture of giving back to communities especially contributing to the education sector.
He said that it’s the government’s effort to ensure that they create a peaceful environment to attract companies to operate in and in the long run start giving back.
He encouraged students to learn Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the learning system has shifted from analogue to digital and that they should understand the dynamics for them to strategically position themselves.
Mr. Constantine Mpuuga the headteachers, Namilyango College whose school received 10 computers lauded the companies for the generosity they have exhibited to the selected schools.
He said Namilyango College will use the computers to equip students with practical skills and encouraging research.
Mr. Mpuuga called on government to continue availing computers and computer science teachers to schools.
“We would love that government recruits more computer science teachers to teach in schools,” he said noting the internet subscription has remained one of the top challenges that schools have.
