Bridging the Digital Divide in Northern Uganda: Empowering Rural Communities through Connectivity

Access to the internet is a game changer for development, yet, in rural communities across Africa and beyond, digital connectivity remains out of reach for many. At Global Tech Inclusion Network (GTIN), we believe the internet should be inclusive, accessible, and empowering for all, especially those in underserved rural areas. That’s why over the past few months; we’ve been actively engaged in expanding and maintaining our digital connectivity network centres in Northern Uganda. Community-led and gender-just digital connectivity can transform lives and livelihoods in the most remote corners of the country.

Expanding Access with Solar-Powered Technology

During our most recent site maintenance exercise, we went beyond system checks, we scaled the network. We installed additional solar-powered routers to extend coverage to off-grid communities. This expansion means more rural residents now enjoy free and reliable internet, even in areas beyond the national power grid.

The upgraded network spans a significant radius from our central access point now reaching:

• Schools – enabling e-learning and digital skills
•  Hospitals & health centres – supporting telehealth and access to information
• Local government offices – facilitating service delivery
• Media houses & markets – boosting communication and economic activity

These upgrades are helping bridge the infrastructure gap and open new opportunities for thousands of people in the region.

Building Local Capacity for Sustainability

We know that infrastructure alone is not enough. For technology to be sustainable and transformative, local communities must be equipped to maintain and use it effectively. To this end, we’ve recruited and trained community-based network and technical support officers, ensuring real-time maintenance and support within the community. These local champions help manage the system while also serving as digital literacy facilitators. We’ve also established fully equipped training centres, offering access to devices, internet, and tailored digital skills programs. These centres are designed to be inclusive spaces where youth, women, farmers, and local leaders can engage, learn, and innovate with confidence.

A Gender-Just Approach to Digital Inclusion

In many rural communities, women and girls face unique barriers to digital access, ranging from limited digital skills to gender-based stereotypes and online safety concerns. At GTIN, we are intentional about addressing gender inequalities in our rural connectivity model. Our programs apply a feminist and gender-just lens, ensuring that women and girls are not only connected, but meaningfully included in the digital transformation. We promote women’s leadership in digital spaces, support gender-sensitive training sessions, and ensure that our infrastructure and programs create safe, empowering environments for everyone, especially the most marginalized.

Why This Matters

When rural communities are connected, the ripple effects are powerful:

• Children learn better with access to educational content.
• Health workers deliver improved care with access to real-time health information.
• Entrepreneurs reach new markets, and farmers access climate-smart agriculture tools.
• Citizens engage more actively in local governance and civic life.

Connectivity is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. But it must be delivered in ways that are inclusive, sustainable, and locally owned.

What’s Next?

As we continue to grow the rural connectivity model, we remain focused on strengthening rural digital ecosystems, supporting innovation from the grassroots, and ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age. With each new solar-powered router and every trained community tech lead, we are proving that connectivity can and should work for everyone even at the last mile.
The internet is for everyone, and at GTIN, we’re committed to making that a reality—one village at a time.

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