NCC 2025 – Day Two: Final Push at the 9th National Conference on Communications
Kampala, 03 October 2025 — The second and final day of the 9th National Conference on Communications (NCC-2025) kicked off this morning at the National ICT Innovation Hub, Nakawa, with high energy and a palpable sense of urgency. The conference, held under the theme “Harnessing Digital Innovation to Power Sustainable Local Solutions for Uganda’s Development Goals,” is hosted by ISBAT University in partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
Over 500 participants, including government officials, academics, innovators, policy makers, and students, are attending the two-day forum which began yesterday.
Morning Highlights & Opening Session
The day opened with a welcome address by a senior UCC representative, who emphasized the significance of bridging the innovation gap between urban and rural areas, and ensuring that digital solutions remain inclusive.
A keynote panel on “Communications Infrastructure & Local Resilience” followed, featuring industry leaders from telecoms and government. Topics included how to extend broadband to underserved districts, public–private partnerships in rural connectivity, and sustainable financing models.
Delegates engaged in breakout sessions on technical tracks such as IoT & Smart Agriculture, Digital Health & Telemedicine, Civic Tech & Governance, and Green ICT / Energy Efficiency. These parallel tracks are running concurrently throughout the day.
The innovation showcase (exhibition hall) continues to draw crowds. Several student and startup booths are presenting working prototypes—some on display include a smart irrigation sensor, a telemedicine app module, and an AI-powered education chatbot.
Midday Panels & Key Debates
One of the more heated panels tackled “Data Sovereignty, Privacy & Regulation”, where experts debated how Uganda can maintain control over citizen data while promoting cross-border data flows for innovation. Some called for stronger regulation, while others cautioned that over-regulation could stifle startups.
Another well-attended session focused on “Youth, Gender & Inclusion in ICT”. Speakers highlighted the need for more programs targeting girls in STEM, rural youth, and persons with disabilities. Several success stories were shared of women-led tech initiatives winning national and regional grants.
Lunch break offered a networking opportunity. I caught up with a few delegations: one from northern Uganda experimenting with solar-powered connectivity kits, another from Makerere University showing a translation tool for local languages.
Afternoon: Wrap-Up, Awards & Closing Ceremony
In the later sessions, presenters submitted camera-ready versions of their papers and delivered final pitches in a “fast-forward” format (5 minutes each) to a panel of judges.
The organizing committee announced awards for the best research paper, best student innovation, and best regional project. (Awaiting official list of winners for confirmation.)
The closing address is scheduled for late afternoon, where UCC officials, ISBAT representatives, and a guest from government will share reflections and next steps for the national digital agenda.
Key Themes & Observations So Far
1. Local relevance over hype: There is a strong push among presenters to localize high-tech solutions (AI, IoT, blockchain) for Uganda’s real challenges in agriculture, health, governance, and energy.
2. Partnerships matter: Many innovations showcased are joint efforts between universities, private tech firms, and district governments.
3. Capacity gaps remain: A recurring issue in sessions is how to build ICT capacity in underserved regions—lack of skilled personnel, power, and internet remain big constraints.
4. Regulation vs innovation: The tension between safeguarding citizens and enabling innovation surfaced repeatedly in panels—one to watch in policy circles.
5. Youth at the center: The energy from student delegations and ICT clubs is one of the conference’s liveliest components—many are pitching bold ideas with immediate community impact.
What to Watch for This Afternoon & After Closing
The formal closing ceremony with remarks from government and UCC leadership
Announcement of next year’s host institution, theme, and call for papers
Press statement or communique summarizing resolutions, declarations, or policy recommendations
Interviews with award winners, innovators, and delegates
Social media live highlights, photos, and quotes for immediate consumption
