A Makerere University official has called on the Ugandan government to invest urgently in research and innovation to ensure young people in that country obtain the relevant ICT skills to compete in the labour market.

Michael Niyitegeka, head of corporate relations at the university, made the comments at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Makerere and leading ICT firm Huawei Technologies.

He said the teaching of ICT in schools was being ignored, which has resulted in the slow development of the technology sector in Uganda.

The current allocation of the national development plan budget to ICT is just 0.1%, making it the most underfunded sector.

Moreover, while Uganda’s economic performance was on a par with the likes of Kenya and Ghana in the early 1970s, these economies have improved significantly ahead of the Ugandan economy, attributed to their heavy investment in infrastructure, particularly in ICT.

Mobile penetration in Uganda stands at 40%, as opposed to 71% in Kenya, while Uganda has just over 4 million internet users compared to Kenya’s 17 million.

“We need to see innovation centres coming out of government if our youth are to acquire globally employable skills,” Niyitegeka said.

His call follows his previous criticism of the country's lack of a national strategy for ICT.

“We are largely firefighters or latecomers when it comes to embracing technologies.”

The lack of funding, along with limited support for research and innovation, in Uganda has been given as a reason for a brain drain similar to that seen in other African countries.

While Kenya and other nations in the region have moved to invest in technology and transform themselves into regional ICT hubs, Uganda has lagged behind due to lack of support from government.

In its place, the private sector has moved to fill the gap.

The deal with Huawei will see ICT students receive scholarships and specialised training, something Niyitegeka says the government should be providing.

Huawei chief executive Eric Yang agreed there was an opportunity for Uganda to form the backbone of future development by working to build its ICT capacity.

“We believe that this partnership apart from offering the individual students the opportunity to enhance their ICT skills, will also serve to build capacity in ICT knowledge thus forming the backbone for future ICT professionals who are key to the development of the sector and the entire economy at large,” he said.