Uganda Communications Commission Assesses NCC’s Role in Driving ICT Innovation

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)  has conducted a validation exercise to review the findings of a study assessing the effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of the National Conference on Communications (NCC), one of its flagship initiatives. The exercise, held on Thursday, sought to determine whether the conference continues to meet its founding objectives and deliver lasting value to Uganda’s ICT ecosystem after nine editions.

Established to promote research, innovation, and knowledge sharing, the NCC has grown into a key platform for advancing youth innovation and digital inclusion. It brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and the student community to showcase locally developed ICT solutions and encourage collaboration across sectors.

The validation workshop drew participation from a broad range of stakeholders, including academic institutions, former host universities, innovators, researchers, schools, government ministries and agencies, as well as industry players. The engagement provided an opportunity to review the study’s findings and gather feedback on the future direction of the conference.

Speaking on behalf of the Director for IT and Research, the Head of IT at UCC, Mr. Michael Bamwesigye, said the exercise was aimed at establishing whether the NCC remains fit for purpose and capable of delivering its intended outcomes. He noted that the Commission’s overarching goal is to ensure the conference evolves in line with the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), thereby enhancing its sustainability and transformative impact.

The evaluation was conducted by a team of consultants from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), led by Prof. Geoffrey Mayoka Kituyi. Using a mixed-methods approach, the team carried out document reviews, stakeholder interviews, participant surveys, and benchmarking exercises. The assessment examined the NCC’s alignment with national ICT priorities, its contribution to research and innovation, and its effectiveness in fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Preliminary findings pointed to a significant gap between conference activities and long-term impact. Only 13.3% of solutions generated through the NCC were implemented after the event, with high implementation costs, policy limitations, and skills gaps identified as major barriers. Although networking during the conference was rated positively, its conversion into sustained partnerships was limited, with just 22.2% of respondents reporting industry–academia collaborations.

To bridge these gaps, the consultants proposed a phased strategic roadmap to enhance the NCC’s relevance and effectiveness. Key recommendations include strengthening post-conference engagement through a digital NCC Connect Platform and establishing a dedicated Collaboration Fund to support long-term partnerships between stakeholders.

Additional proposals include the creation of an NCC Journal of ICT Innovation and an Innovation Pipeline Programme to support research publication, commercialisation, and the translation of ideas into viable, market-ready solutions.

UCC noted that with targeted improvements in structure, funding, and post-event support, the NCC has the potential to significantly boost its contribution to Uganda’s digital transformation. By implementing the study’s evidence-based recommendations, the conference could evolve from an annual academic gathering into a dynamic, multi-stakeholder ecosystem that drives collaboration, informs ICT policy, and turns research into practical innovation.