Uganda has officially launched the third phase of the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) at Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School in Jinja, marking a major step forward in the country’s commitment to digital inclusion and gender equality. Spearheaded by UN Women, in partnership with the Government of Uganda and the African Union Commission (AUC), the initiative aims to equip adolescent girls with essential digital skills to prepare them for careers in coding, robotics and technology innovation.
Launched continent-wide in 2018, AGCCI is a flagship programme designed to tackle the digital gender divide across Africa. It provides training in ICT and STEM disciplines for girls aged 17 to 25, with a focus on increasing female participation in the fast-evolving digital economy. Thousands of girls in countries including Ethiopia, Mozambique, the DRC and Burundi have already benefited from the initiative.
Uganda’s national expansion of AGCCI reflects its broader policy priorities around digital transformation, gender equality and youth empowerment. The country’s National Digital Vision 2040 outlines the importance of inclusive access to digital opportunities, especially for underrepresented groups such as women and girls.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Joyce Abaliwo Mulebeke, State Minister for Gender, Women & Children Affairs in the Busoga Kingdom, commended the programme’s potential to shape Uganda’s digital future. “We are investing in girls not just as learners but as creators and future leaders in tech,” she emphasized.
According to UN Women, the digital divide in Uganda remains stark, with only 26% of women online, compared to 45% of men. AGCCI aims to narrow this gap through hands-on boot camps, mentorship and instruction in areas like web development, programming and design thinking.
At the event, 60 students completed a 10-day intensive training and received certificates of participation. A live coding demonstration and testimonials from programme alumni added inspiration for future participants. Officials from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the Ministry of Education and Sports were also in attendance, signaling strong institutional backing.
AGCCI’s expansion in Uganda highlights the increasing role of public-private partnerships in advancing digital literacy, particularly for young women. As digital skills become more essential for employability and innovation across Africa, programmes like AGCCI are seen as critical to ensuring that no one, especially girls, is left behind in the tech-driven economy.
