Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (MoICT) has awarded 70 million Uganda shillings grant to Gulu University who emerged as one of the 45 winners or innovators that won the National ICT Initiatives Support Program (NIISP) announced in early February.
The project named ‘Gulu University Digital Solutions Platform’ stood out among the 45 best according to Bagirre Vincent Waiswa the Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT in the award letter to the University dated 3rd February 2021.
Dr. Lamwaka Veronica Alice who doubles as Gulu University head of department, Pharmacy and the project lead confirmed receiving the award letter from the Ministry of ICT and said that the project will focus on creating a digital solution to support the public service delivery system in the country through digital education platform and solutions to support the fight against coronavirus COVID19 pandemic.
“We shall work together with the University ICT team and create a hub in the University and through the lead hub in the University, we shall support most districts, regional referral Hospitals and Health Centre IVs to have their own digital spokes in the fight against coronavirus throughout the country,” Said Dr. Lamwaka
Dr. Lamwaka also added that the project will physically and virtually train all the stakeholders involved in the project and use media for strategic sensitizations on the subject matter including relevant focus discussion groups as a strategy of creating awareness and sensitization in the fight against Corona Virus throughout the country.
Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah the Gulu University Vice-chancellor said the grant sealed a close working relationship with the Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Health, and the University in ensuring the promotion of technological advancement approach in fighting the pandemic in the country.
“This is a great initiative, I’m proud Gulu University won this grant, my office will give all the support to the team to ensure that the objective of the funding is achieved 100% to create the impact much desired for the betterment of all Ugandans”. Prof. Openjuru responded.
The project will take a period of six months starting in March 2021. After COVID19 broke out in the country, the Program called innovators to submit projects that can help support the fight against respiratory illness with a proposal call that was announced in April 2020.
According to a statement from the ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the call attracted over 950 online applications.
NIISP primarily aims at facilitating the growth and development of indigenous software applications to provide systematic and sustainable support to ICT innovators, to promote ICT products and services for improved service delivery.