Top American software manufacturers are prospecting extending their domination in the industry to Uganda by sponsoring software development competitions and mentorship programmes for lecturers and students at Makerere University.
The dean faculty of Computing and Information Technology Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba said last week in Kampala that software makers Google, Microsoft and IBM are interested in the region and African market which they hope to influence through Uganda because of its potential as an ICT hub in the region.
Prof. Baryamureeba said the initiative is meant to identify talent and support it so as to benefit though global out sourcing programmes.
“As Makerere tries to establish itself as an ICT hub in the region, partnering with Google and the big software makers is a good start for us,” he said.
He said Google would run a software gadgets development competition for students while IBM is running a mentorship programme where students and lecturers from Makerere University work with IBM experts to improve on their skills.
The project, which is going to be an annual event, is slated to start in March this year and end eight months later. It will involve about 100 students, said Mr. Michael Niyitegeka who coordinating the two projects.
He said Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi will also be participating in the project. Niyitegeka said that Google and IBM are especially interested in working with Makerere University because as the university has the largest students population in the region.
He said the faculty’s CIT getting continually positioned which is why world class ICT companies identifying them as competent partners.
“The fact that we have a large ICT faculty in the Africa, the calibre of our staff and infrastructure, are all of interest to Google and IBM,” he said.
He also said after the competition the project, gadgets made, would be taken by Google and other interested companies at a fee.
Niyitegeka said previously the faculty of CIT was getting small projects from the private sector and government to develop for them gadgets.
He pointed out that working with the best brains in the software industry is going to open the whole world for the department.
“Working with Google will be a stepping stone. If the students and lecturers do well then we can start to attract more projects from reputable companies through out sourcing,” he said.
The IBM project known as the Makocha Minds mentorship programme aims at training students and lecturers in areas where they have interest so that they can sharpen their skills and insight for one year. Already 30 students and lecturers have been enrolled and are working with experts from IMB through an e-learning programme.
East African Business Week
