Vendors from Kampala markets benefit from Digital Skills Program

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Vendors from across Kampala markets have graduated after being skilled under the Digital Skills Program implemented by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

The Digital Skilling Program is a collaboration between Uganda's Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, the National ICT Innovation Hub, and private sector partners including MTN Uganda Foundation and Huawei Uganda, has been delivering practical technology training directly to where vendors work.

Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, emphasized how the program exemplifies Uganda's digital vision.

"This digital skilling initiative represents the practical implementation of our Digital Transformation Roadmap. When we see market vendors using digital tools to increase their incomes, we are witnessing digital transformation that matters to ordinary Ugandans. This initiative aligns directly with the Government's commitment to ICT as a driver of national development." Zawedde noted.

Bryan Mbasa, a Senior Manager of MTN Uganda Foundation, explains the human-centered philosophy driving their investment.

"The MTN ACE program has always been about meeting people where they are in their digital journey. With these market vendors, we saw tremendous potential waiting to be unlocked. Our digital buses are bridges connecting traditional commerce to digital opportunity.

A vendor learns digital finance in the morning and is using it with customers by afternoon. That immediate relevance is why we're achieving such high adoption rates and why we're committed to expanding this model across Uganda."

In the bustling Port Bell Market on the outskirts of Kampala, 57-year-old Jane Nakitto arranges colorful fabrics in her small stall. But unlike two months ago, she now pauses to check her phone, quickly recording the sale in a simple inventory app before accepting payment through mobile money.

"Before, I would lose track of what sold best. Now my phone tells me, she says with a smile, holding up her smartphone. My children were surprised when I showed them, I could do this."

Jane is one of 851 market vendors who has graduated this morning from a digital skills program that is quietly transforming Uganda's traditional marketplaces into hubs of digital innovation. Of the 851 vendor, 493 (58%) are male and 358 (42%) are female.

The trainings were conducted in the following areas: Kamwokya Community Centre, Kamwokya Market, Kamwokya Mosque, Kitintale market, Portbell market and Usafi market.

At Kamwokya Market, 42-year-old Robert Okello, who has sold produce for over two decades, now manages his supplier relationships through WhatsApp and tracks his daily earnings using a simple spreadsheet.

"I was afraid of these things," he admits, pointing to his phone. "In my age, you think technology is for the young. But now I send price requests to five suppliers at once instead of calling each one. I save time and find better prices."

The program doesn't just teach abstract concepts, it focuses on immediately applicable skills that translate to better livelihoods.

What makes this program different is its approach to accessibility. Rather than expecting busy market vendors to travel to training centres, MTN and Huawei’s digital buses – modern classrooms on wheels equipped with computers, internet connectivity, and interactive screens – park directly at the markets.

"The first time the yellow bus arrived at Usafi Market, people were skeptical," recalls Mable Kayima, a technical facilitator for the program. "By the second week, we had vendors lining up before we opened the doors."

Inside these mobile digital hubs, vendors learn everything from basic smartphone functions to digital financial services and online marketing. Each skill is tailored to their specific business challenges.

Following the successful first phase in Kampala, the digital buses are now preparing to bring similar training to market vendors across greater Kampala, with plans to reach Eastern, Western, Northern, and Central Ugandan regions in the coming months.

The expansion comes as data shows remarkable adoption rates. Program organizers report that 78% of graduates implement at least one digital tool in their business within two weeks of training, and digital payment transactions have increased by 23% among participants.

For policymakers, the program demonstrates a concrete implementation of Uganda's Digital Transformation Roadmap and a step toward the Digital Uganda Vision 2040.