The Resident Judge of the High Court in Kabale, Justice Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, has called for increased access to computers in schools to equip learners with digital skills needed in the changing world of work.
Justice Ssemogerere made the call earlier this week while visiting Christ the King Secondary School, Rutooma, and Upper Bugongi Primary School, where he advocated for the provision of computers to strengthen Information and Communication Technology (ICT) learning.
At Christ the King Secondary School, Rutooma, which has about 200 students, the judge said technology should not only be viewed as a subject taught in schools but also as an important tool for preparing learners for future employment opportunities.
He said workplaces are increasingly becoming technology-driven, requiring schools to equip learners with digital skills that will enable them to adapt and compete in the job market.
“Exposure to technology should not only be about studying Information Technology as a subject, but should also prepare young people for future employment opportunities,” Justice Ssemogerere said.
He later visited Upper Bugongi Primary School, another church-supported institution identified to benefit from the computer initiative.
Justice Ssemogerere said children should be introduced to technology at an early age because the world they will study, work and live in is rapidly changing.
He said schools should therefore be supported with the necessary equipment and skills to integrate digital learning into their programmes.
Through UCOSAF, computers are expected to be provided to the selected institutions, including Upper Bugongi Primary School, as part of efforts to promote ICT development in schools.
The intervention will also include training school staff to ensure they acquire the knowledge and skills required to effectively use and manage the equipment.
Justice Ssemogerere urged school administrators to take responsibility for the security and maintenance of the computers once they are delivered.
He said the equipment should be protected and used for its intended purpose to ensure that learners benefit from the initiative.
The overseer of Upper Bugongi Primary School welcomed the initiative, saying the institution was grateful to have been selected as the only primary school among those earmarked to receive the computers.
He pledged that the school administration would safeguard and properly maintain the equipment.
The visits underscored the need to extend access to digital resources to schools without established ICT infrastructure, where computers could broaden learning opportunities and help children acquire skills needed in the modern economy.
