The State Minister for Higher Education in Uganda, Hon. John Chrysestom Muyingo presided over the Huawei ICT Competition awards ceremony on Monday morning at the Ministry of Education and Sports head offices in Kampala —where university students who represented Uganda at the 8th Huawei ICT Competition 2023/24 Global Final in Shenzhen, China were rewarded with gifts and awards worth forty million Ugandan Shillings (UGX40 million).
The event celebrated groundbreaking ideas and innovations exhibited by the students at the global finals held in May this year having previously been successful in their respective national and regional competitions.
The Ugandan teams comprised of twelve (12) university students showcased exceptional talent and innovation, emerging victorious across multiple tracks. The prestigious Grand Prize: Network Track Team 1, was awarded to Gulu University and Muni University. Kabale University secured the First Prize: Network Track Team 2. Muni University clinched the Second Prize: Computing Track Team 1, highlighting their technical prowess. Additionally, Kabale University received the Women In Tech Award: Network Team 2, celebrating its commitment to fostering gender diversity in technology. These achievements underscore the remarkable capabilities and dedication of Uganda’s academic institutions.
Muyingo on behalf of the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni encouraged the victorious students and the youth who are privileged to be skilled in the ICT field, to build on to and leverage ICT training, with innovation which is today’s competitive advantage in every sphere of society.
He further expressed the Minister’s sincere appreciation to the Chinese Embassy of Uganda under the leadership of H.E Ambassador Zhang Lizhong and the Management and Staff of Huawei Technologies Uganda Limited, for their significant contribution to the development of Ugandans and their communities through initiatives like the Huawei DigiTruck, the Huawei LEAP Digital Talent Training Program and the Huawei Internship Program.
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H.E Zhang Lizhong the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Uganda extended his warmest congratulations to the 12 Ugandans for their outstanding achievements in the Huawei ICT Competition 2023/24 Global Final —and thanked Huawei for their devotion to education as part of the cooperate social responsibilities in Uganda. “It fully demonstrates the efforts and achievements in China’s business community supporting Uganda’s ICT infrastructure construction, contributing to digital transformation,” said Lizhong.
Lizhong called for more Chinese companies and investors to carry out more diversified CSR programs for youth and women in Uganda.
Mr. Ssali Gao, the Deputy Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Uganda Company, Limited applauded the students for their remarkable achievement which is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and innovative spirits. He extended his appreciation to the Ministry of Education and Sports for their unwavering support without which the success of nurturing and supporting young talents would not have been possible.
“Your encouragement and vision have been instrumental in creating an environment where our students can thrive,” said Gao while applauding the Ministry.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Museveni flagged off the students on May 16th, 2024, at State House Nakasero to Shenzhen, China to represent the country in the competition which attracted more than 170,000 students from over 2,000 universities and colleges across more than 80 countries and regions.
The Huawei ICT Competition is a global initiative encouraging young talent to excel in ICT through structured training, industry-level exposure, competitions, and digital transformation.
Huawei’s annual ICT competitions are a transformative initiative providing participants with unparalleled opportunities to grow and excel in the tech industry. One of the standout benefits is the access to cutting-edge technology training in advanced fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Big Data, 5G, Cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These training programs are fully sponsored by Huawei, ensuring that participants receive top-tier education without financial constraints. Additionally, the competition offers students the chance to earn globally recognized Huawei certifications, which significantly boost their employability and career prospects locally and internationally.
Beyond technical skills, the competition fosters industry exposure and networking opportunities, enabling students to tackle real-world ICT challenges and connect with industry leaders. This exposure broadens their perspective and lays the groundwork for future collaborations and career pathways. Furthermore, the initiative is crucial in strengthening university-industry collaboration, and deepening the ties between local universities and Huawei. This collaboration encourages research, innovation, and the development of ICT infrastructure, creating a robust ecosystem that benefits the academia and the technology sector.
