UCC SKILLING PROJECT

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), has awarded funding to the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) and Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA) to train 1,000 health workers in 58 Health Facilities nationwide.

See distribution of the 58 Health Facilities

This groundbreaking initiative, branded under the tagline “Digital Skills, Stronger Care”, is designed to strengthen digital literacy among frontline health workers, empowering them to deliver smarter, more efficient, and patient centered care.

Implementation is led by UCMB on behalf of the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB), Uganda Muslim Medical Bureau (UMMB), and Uganda Orthodox Medical Bureau (UOMB). KAWA contributes technical expertise and communications support, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of this national effort.

The 4 medical bureaus come together for advocacy, resource mobilization, and representation under the Inter Bureau Coalition (IBC). The Medical Bureaus (MBs) general mandate include: Coordination of health facilities and Diocesan/Regional health departments; Health systems strengthening along the 6 Health Systems Building Blocks of the World Health Organisation (WHO); Coordination of specific programs/projects that may cover a group of health facilities/Dioceses/ regions; Representation and liaison with Government and other health partners; Participation/contribution to national policy formulation and joint monitoring and evaluation (members of Health Policy Advisory Committee-HPAC); Advocacy and resource mobilization & partnership building, and resource mobilization for health facilities to increase and quantity and quality of service delivery. UCMB & UPMB co-own the Joint Medical Store (JMS) – the second largest Health Supply Chain in Uganda.

Problem Statement

Health facilities supported by the 4 medical bureaus face substantial barriers to implementing and sustaining ICT, digitization, and data management infrastructure. These limitations constrain patient care, disrupt essential digital processes, and prevent facilities from achieving national and global health system standards.

1. Insufficient and Inconsistent Internet Access: With approximately 60% of health facilities in rural settings (primarily HC II, HC III, and HC IVs), reliable internet connectivity is severely limited. Although around 28% of urban hospitals have access to stable internet, most rural facilities lack essential connectivity. This digital divide significantly hampers these facilities’ abilities to access up-to-date health information, engage in digital learning and online collaboration, and leverage virtual tools for patient care, capacity building, and inter-facility information exchange. Comprehensive funding to expand internet access would bridge this gap, enabling broader digital health transformation in lower-level and rural health facilities.
2. Limited ICT Infrastructure in Points of Care: Many health facilities lack the basic ICT infrastructure necessary for fully digitized operations, such as computers, local area networks (LAN), and secure servers at crucial points of care (reception, clinics, wards, laboratories, and pharmacies). Without these resources, facilities are unable to transition to digital medical record systems as recommended by the Ministry of Health in the digital health transformation agenda. This limits data accessibility, security, and accuracy, keeping facilities reliant on outdated manual Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) which is costly. Investments in scalable ICT infrastructure servers, computers, networks, and digital training for staff would accelerate facilities’ transition to secure, digital health record management.
3. Limited Digital Literacy among Health Workers: the current low digital literacy levels among healthcare personnel restrict the effective use of available ICT resources. Training initiatives are either short-term or only reach a small portion of the workforce, leaving many without the skills needed for online Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and access to digital health information. Strategic funding for comprehensive digital literacy programs could build a digitally capable workforce, equipping healthcare workers with the necessary skills for efficient data entry, information retrieval, and digital patient care management.
4. Unreliable Power Supply for Digital Operations: a stable power supply is fundamental for ICT systems, yet rural health facilities often experience power outages or lack of electricity entirely. Even facilities connected to the national grid experience frequent power disruptions, impacting digitization processes and essential operations such as cold storage for temperature-sensitive medicines. While some facilities rely on solar power, system components are frequently outdated, requiring costly replacements. Targeted funding for alternative power sources, including reliable solar power systems with modern batteries, would ensure uninterrupted service delivery and power for ICT operations across health facilities.

To address these gaps, targeted investments can directly enhance the PNFP health system resilience, ensure secure and accessible patient data, and empower healthcare personnel through digital transformation. Strategic support in these areas would not only improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies but also position the PNFP as a model for digital health advancement in resource-limited settings, aligning with global health standards and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Objectives and strategies
The medical bureaus propose to partner with UCUSAF to address the above problems and attendant consequences. The proposed project seeks to achieve the following objectives:
Overall project goal: Improve access to ICT and digital information in private-not-for- profit health facilities (PNFP) supported by the faith medical bureaus