Construction of ICT Innovation Hub at Nakawa kicks off
The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has today held a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of ICT Innovation Hub at Nakawa Institute of ICT Campus.
Ground breaking ceremony was presided over by The third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja today morning at Nakawa.
In his speech, the Minster of ICT and National Guidance Hon. Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze said he is glad that his Ministry has broken ground for the construction of innovation centre.
“I am glad that today Wednesday November 8th 2017, my ministry has broken ground for the construction of the ICT Innovation HUB at Nakawa Institute of ICT campus.
This hub will be constructed by the UPDF engineering brigade at 1/3 the cost what the private contractors would have charged us. The total cost of the hub with all finishes and furnishings will be 5.6 billion and it will be completed within six months. I thank the UPDF engineering brigade for giving us a workable quick solution.
The Hub will offer free work-spaces to young innovators who can’t afford to hire commercial rental space in town. A process partner to mentor their trials will be put in place to manage the hub and manage the mentorship process. Innovations that go through the whole innovation eco-system and are quality assured will be commissioned to the market. Government will be first in buying and promoting those innovations.
Every year we shall be putting up a similar hub at every public college/University that offers land.
Without supporting innovations we can’t create jobs through ICT and our digital transformation as a country will lag behind. Our target as the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is to close this gap by putting in place a functional Innovation eco-system. I am glad we are steadily progressing and accounting on what we promised,” Frank said.
