KAMPALA - Chinese technology giant Huawei on Monday launched the nationwide 2025-2026 information communication technology (ICT) competition in Uganda to boost local talent.

Huawei said in a statement that the competition aims at encouraging young talent to excel through structured training, industry-level exposure, and competitions, while driving digital transformation.

Under the theme of "Connection, Glory, Future," the competition is expected to gather higher educational institutions, training institutions, and technology enthusiasts to help the ICT talent ecosystem thrive.

While launching the competition, Uganda's Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni hailed China and the technology giant for partnering with Uganda in the field of ICT.

"Our young people have not only participated in the Huawei programs, in and out of the country, but they have also excelled," said the minister.

Zhang Lizhong, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, commended Huawei for its commitment to Uganda's ICT talent ecosystem and the company's initiatives like DigiTruck, Seeds for the Future, ICT Academy, and ICT Competition, which bridge the digital skills gap.

Huawei's Eastern Africa Multi-Country Regional Chief Executive Dong Xuefeng said embracing technology is instrumental in encouraging digital growth and fostering environments where innovation can thrive.

Blessed Nanyonga, a beneficiary of the Seeds for the Future program, said the program has given them hands-on experience in emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, networking, and problem-solving, enabling them to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

"We cannot wait to apply the knowledge and insights gained from this program to contribute to sustainable development, social impact, and youth empowerment in Uganda. Surely as Ugandans, we are not being left behind," Nanyonga said.