I saw my first computer when my elder brother came home from abroad. I was a boy from Nkuke village in Masaka, and that one machine changed my life. Today, through our school computer donations, I want every child in Uganda to have that same moment, no matter where they are born.

Why School Computer Donations Matter

In many parts of Uganda, a computer is still something children only hear about. Well-equipped labs are mostly found in urban schools. Meanwhile, learners in villages and informal settlements finish school and compete for jobs against peers who have used computers for years. That gap is what we call the digital divide.

What We Have Achieved Together

With our partners, Microsoft and the Global Technology Access Foundation, we have helped equip schools such as Buddo Christian Secondary School, Lango College, Lifeline Secondary School in Bukedea, Maluku Secondary School in Mbale and St. Charles Lwanga Kalungu Girls Training Centre. In 2025, the Frontline Institute of Medical Science in Hoima received 20 internet-connected computers. More recently, a community lab in Katwe opened its doors to young people, school dropouts and single mothers.

Together, these labs reach more than 700 people every year.

What We Learned From Giving Labs for Free

From 2010, we donated labs completely free. However, by 2018 we noticed a problem. When schools received everything for nothing, some did not feel ownership. When a machine failed, there was no budget to fix it, and the lab slowly died.

So we changed our approach. Today, we use a 1:1 matching model. For example, if a school needs 20 computers, the school buys 10 and we donate 10. As a result, the school is invested, and the lab keeps working for years.

What Every Donated Lab Includes

• Energy-saving Windows MultiPoint Server systems
• Licensed Microsoft software and offline learning content
• Internet for the first months, installation and teacher orientation
• Ongoing maintenance support

How Your School Can Apply

We make only three donations a year, so we look for schools that are ready: a real need, a qualified ICT teacher and a commitment to match the donation. You can find the full criteria on our school computer donation page.

“A child in a remote village should have the same opportunity to learn technology as a child in any major city.”

Slowly by slowly, the lion’s journey begins with a single step. I invite you to take that step with us. You can also read New Vision’s report on the Katwe community lab.

About the author: John Kyakuwa is the founder and Executive Director of Computer Works Uganda. He started the company in 2005 to make technology accessible to every Ugandan. Need help? Contact our team or call +256 701 385898.