Female Entrepreneur from Uganda Develops Award-Winning Platform to set up Business

Elizabeth MukasaElizabeth Mukasa, a female entrepreneur from Uganda, educated in the UK was names the most significant role model and therefore the winner of the  WCIT 2010 Give Challenge a Change Award.

Mrs. Mukasa developed a platform that is qualitative, integrated and affordable in Uganda. To enhance meaningful inclusion she innovated localized elearning materials in local language (luganda) appropriate to the understanding of their target groups. Tuition fees were minimal and sometimes zero to the vulnerable women students.

The usage of her platform helped entrepreneurs to set up their businesses. On top of this Mrs. Mukasa helped over 100 people to connect in order to improve accessibility to digital and information technology, thereby making a valuable contribution to bridging the Digital Divide.

Mrs. Mukasa: “While I do appreciate this, the question remains how can Africa be helped to bridge the digital divide basically caused by the velocity of technology development? Special thanks to the eInclusion track secretary Olivier Zwolsman who ensured my presence. It was a great honor for me and my nation Uganda. Africa continues to depend on friends like you."

At the age of 45 Mrs. Mukasa studied IT Diploma at Lewisham College (UK) beating the barriers age and gender. Here she was astonished by internet connectivity so she felt pity for Africa exclusion. In 2008 she spearheaded the development of an eInclusion pragmatic model in Uganda. Today, over 250 participants - rural-urban, men and women with or without formal education had successfully accessed the IT literacy inclusion model through OLC - a positive indicator of einclusion in practice. The targeted Sme's contribute to 80% of Uganda economy. Elizabeth is born in Kampala (Uganda) in 1956.

The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) is regarded as one of the world’s most influential conferences on IT. WCIT is the flagship of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), a consortium of IT branch organizations from across the world whose members represent over 90% of the global IT market. The 17th edition of the conference was held in the RAI exhibition complex in Amsterdam from May 25th to 27th 2010. The congress is an official event organized under the auspices of the Spanish EU presidency. It is supported by the European Commission and hosted by the Dutch IT branch organization, ICT~Office, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Amsterdam City Council. The main commercial partners are Capgemini, Intel, KPN, IBM, Microsoft, UPC, Xerox and KPMG.During WCIT 2010 delegates addressed global impact issues regarding economic and social development and exchange policies and ideas on how ICT can enable change and innovation in all parts of the world. For that reason the organization wanted to highlight the best example at this congress that embodies the heart of the congress.

Madam Mukasa,

Many congratulations to you. What an inspiration. We need more women like you to look up to, women mean business. I do have more questions, I will follow up on e-mail.

Thanks Nalongo Mukasa may Allah reward you for what you are doing for the people in Uganda and Africa

Madam Mukasa, im overjoyed by the news.Atleast im glad that your sweat has got the rewards before it dried out.Alluta continua,Kibuuka, Uganda

I hope you receive many more Awards

unebelievable amount of congratulations messages from world wide. What can I say - the Glory i return the Almighty God who worked through wcit2010. I have said it all -but one person i cannot stop repeating is Olivier Zwolsman who spoted whatever he spoted in me. Yes unless Africans take it upon ourselves, and each one practically contributes and stop talking, moaning, dependency the digital gap will only grow. Grateful to media and internet - why not get in touch and we talk more on sengafm@yahoo.com

I am overjoyed with your achievement Elizabeth. It has been long overdue. You dont mind one desktop shipped to Uganda. likewise i believe one by one makes a heap. Stop laughing Lizzie - i wish i were there with you walking the podium!!!!! Ha!!Ha long live WCIT2010
Joycemuwonge Huntingdon UK reach me on joycemuwonge@yahoo.com

Congratulations Elizabeth - one by one makes a bundle. Unless Africa start somewhere and somewhat otherwise the digital gap will speedly grow wide and bigger. Uganda is pround of Elizabeth, Director Opra learning Centre for Inclusion. We want more dynamic roll models to uplift young peoples creativity in the developing world. Much as we need a helping hand Yes lets show what we can do before soliciting help. Well Done Elizabeth let many follow.

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