MTN Uganda has launched a teachers’ resource centre offering digital learning materials and tools, including artificial intelligence resources, as the telecommunications company expands its education programmes beyond access to computers and internet connectivity.
The centre, established by the MTN Foundation in partnership with Burn Radio Ltd under its Bridging the Digital Divide Programme, was unveiled in Kampala on October 22. The launch coincided with the graduation of 102 teachers who completed the International Certification of Digital Literacy (ICDL) ICT for Education programme.
The facility provides online and offline resources to support lesson preparation and help teachers explore digital tools for classroom use. It is also intended to help parents understand Uganda’s curriculum and support children’s learning at home, including in communities with limited internet access.
Bryan Mbasa, senior manager at the MTN Foundation, said the initiative was part of the company’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which focuses on digital solutions, connectivity, financial technology and digital infrastructure.
“Connectivity is an important starting point, but its real value lies in what people can do with it. By supporting teachers with digital skills and accessible learning resources, we want to strengthen teaching and expand opportunities for learners,” Mbasa said.
Government backs private sector involvement
Judith Akurut, commissioner for inspection and compliance in the Ministry of Education and Sports’ Education Standards and Quality Assurance Department, said partnerships with private companies could complement government efforts to integrate technology into teaching.
“Digital learning is most effective when teachers have the skills and resources to use technology in ways that improve classroom delivery and learner outcomes,” she said.
Akurut said the centre would provide practical tools to support implementation of the curriculum and respond to learners’ changing needs.
Uganda has previously outlined plans to expand the use of information and communication technology in education. The Ministry of Education and Sports’ Education Digital Agenda Strategy 2021-2025 identified access to ICT infrastructure, connectivity and teacher capacity as priorities for integrating technology into teaching and learning.
Building on earlier education programmes
The new centre builds on the MTN Foundation’s Digital Access Programme, which supports access to computers and ICT facilities in schools and other learning institutions.
Since 2012, the MTN Foundation has supported more than 100 ICT and education initiatives, including programmes delivered in partnership with Kampala Capital City Authority.
MTN has also supported schools in underserved communities to introduce learners to robotics, coding and artificial intelligence. In 2025, eight schools supported through its partnership with Burn Radio participated in the World Robot Olympiad Uganda National Championship for the first time.
Joseph Tibakanya, a senior curriculum specialist in charge of ICT at the National Curriculum Development Centre, said digital training could improve classroom delivery, particularly if teachers in underserved schools also gained access to such programmes.
The company is also encouraging young people to enrol in its MTN Skilling Academy to develop skills intended to improve their employment prospects and participation in the digital economy.
The initiatives align with Uganda’s broader development priorities, including the Fourth National Development Plan, which emphasises productivity, employment and socio-economic transformation. They also relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, decent work and economic growth, and industry, innovation and infrastructure.
However, the launch announcement did not provide data showing whether the training had improved classroom performance or learner achievement. The programme’s longer-term impact will depend partly on whether teachers can apply the skills in their daily work and whether schools have reliable electricity, suitable devices, connectivity and continued technical support.
For MTN Uganda, the resource centre extends its education work from providing access to digital infrastructure towards helping teachers and families use technology in learning.
