The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) urged young people, media practitioners, and content creators to apply innovation and technology creatively to tackle unemployment and drive socio-economic growth. Speaking at the inaugural Nile Excellence Annual Awards in Tororo, UCC highlighted the role of digital tools, media, and tech-driven solutions in generating income and employment. The awards recognized talent across over 20 categories and aim to link winners with mentorship, investors, and opportunities.

The Ugandan government launched an electricity extension project in Masaka District to connect underserved communities, focusing on landing sites. Former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi highlighted the initiative’s role in improving livelihoods, service delivery, and economic activity. Local leaders said electricity would reduce reliance on firewood, support small businesses, and prevent losses in fishing and other trades. Officials called for community cooperation to ensure safe installation and effective implementation.

Researchers at Atlantic Technological University in Donegal have developed a smart sensor to monitor handpumps in rural Uganda and ensure safe drinking water. The solar-powered device tracks water volume, pump movements, and lateral displacement, sending data via Uganda’s cellular network to the cloud. Technicians receive alerts about malfunctions for timely repairs. Installed in ten boreholes in Kumi District, the system could expand to hundreds more sites across Uganda and other countries.