MTN Uganda has donated state-of-the-art ICT equipment to Best Nursery and Primary School in Fort Portal, aimed at championing digital literacy, and empowering vulnerable children through access to modern learning tools.
This landmark intervention is part of the 2025 edition of MTN’s renowned corporate social responsibility initiative, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign.
Guided by the theme “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools,” this year’s campaign reflects MTN’s deepening commitment to bridge the digital divide and improve the welfare of underserved communities through employee-driven volunteerism.
In collaboration with a diverse range of partners including Bayobab Uganda, Maendeleo Foundation, Clinic Pesa, MUBS Entrepreneurship Centre, TowerCo of Africa Uganda, Transtel, Daj, EBO Financial Services, and Pro Bono, MTN commissioned a fully functional ICT hub at the school.
The centre is furnished with ten internet-ready computers and powered entirely by a solar energy system, making it resilient to the frequent power outages experienced in the region. The hub is not only intended for use by the school’s 484 pupils—among whom are 30 orphaned and vulnerable children aged between 3 to 6 years—but also for members of the wider Fort Portal community, especially during school holidays when access to such facilities is scarce.
Recommended: Seeta University to Open in August 2025 with UK-Backed Science Training Programme
The scope of MTN’s intervention went far beyond digital infrastructure. The company, together with its partners, implemented a wide range of improvements targeting both the educational environment and the welfare of the children.
The Queen Mother Best Orphanage, which shares the same compound with the school, underwent significant upgrades, including structural modifications to create gender-sensitive spaces by partitioning dormitories for boys and girls.
This not only improved privacy and child safety, but also ensured compliance with child protection standards. Additionally, the school was supplied with scholastic materials such as textbooks and storybooks to boost literacy, mattresses to improve sleeping conditions in the orphanage, and outdoor play equipment to support the children’s cognitive and physical development.
MTN also invested in landscaping and leveling the school playground to make it safer and more conducive for recreational activities. To promote nutrition and environmental sustainability, the partners planted fruit trees within the school premises, which will supplement the children’s diets while fostering environmental awareness among the pupils.
In a parallel gesture of compassion, the MTN Women@Work team—comprising female staff volunteers from various departments within the company—mobilized and donated UGX 20 million to support Tooro Babies Home.
Financial contribution was directed towards providing medical care, nutritional supplies, detergents, and entertainment items such as television sets to improve the overall wellbeing of more than 60 orphaned infants under the care of the home.
The initiative was warmly received by caretakers who acknowledged that such targeted support fills critical gaps in their daily operations.
Speaking during the official commissioning ceremony, MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge underscored that the company’s commitment to Tooro Kingdom is not transactional but transformational.
She noted that while ICT infrastructure is central to the intervention, the initiative goes beyond technology to restore dignity, open up access to opportunity, and create a foundation for long-term community empowerment.
“This initiative goes beyond technology. It’s about restoring dignity and expanding opportunity,” said MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge. “Our journey with Tooro Kingdom does not end here. We remain committed to walking alongside this community.”
TowerCo of Africa Uganda Chief Executive Officer Pramesh Ramparsad highlighted the sustainability dimension of the intervention, particularly the use of solar power to run the ICT hub and orphanage facilities.
He revealed that the solar systems are expected to reduce electricity costs by up to 70 percent, a critical saving that can be redirected toward other essential services such as food, healthcare, and teaching materials.
The initiative was received with deep appreciation by Her Royal Highness Queen Best Kemigisa, who described it as a blessing to the Kingdom of Tooro. She emphasized that meaningful development begins with children and that investing in their growth, education, and wellbeing is one of the most valuable contributions anyone can make to the Kingdom’s future.
The Head Teacher of Best Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Abraham Okiring, described the establishment of the ICT hub as a historic milestone in the school’s journey toward modernization. He noted that many of the pupils had never interacted with a computer before and that access to digital tools would fundamentally transform their learning experiences by inspiring creativity, critical thinking, and confidence.
Beyond Tooro, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign continues to make impactful strides across Uganda. Similar interventions are underway in regions such as Kampala, Busoga, the Greater Central region, and the Alur Kingdom, all tailored to address specific local challenges related to digital access, healthcare delivery, agribusiness training, and youth empowerment. These initiatives collectively reflect MTN Uganda’s strategic vision of inclusive development and its belief that corporate success must be intertwined with community wellbeing.
Launched in 2007, 21 Days of Y’ello Care has grown into one of Africa’s most impactful employee volunteerism programs. By mobilizing staff to donate their time, skills, and resources to address pressing social challenges, MTN has cultivated a corporate culture that values people, purpose, and progress.
Through initiatives like these, MTN is proving that connectivity is not just about technology—it’s about creating pathways to a brighter, more equitable future for all.
