About the  Competition

Unserved markets in rural Uganda refer to areas where there is no access to communication services, such as telephone and internet. These areas are typically located in remote and sparsely populated regions, where it is not economically viable for private operators to deploy communication infrastructure.
These areas are often characterised by low levels of economic development, poor infrastructure, and limited access to basic services. Underserved markets, on the other hand, refer to areas where there is limited access to communication services. These areas may have some basic infrastructure, such as telephone lines or internet access, but the quality of service is poor and the coverage is limited. These areas are also often characterised by low levels of economic development, poor infrastructure, and limited access to basic services.

Both unserved and underserved markets in rural Uganda represent significant barriers to economic development and access to information and services. Addressing these market gaps, the Government of Uganda, through the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has been working to increase access to communication services in rural areas and bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas. We also acknowledge that the unserved and underserved communities and markets are not only a preserve of rural areas. There are several such in the urban and peri-urban communities across various sectors. A case in point is the people living in slums and local markets. Thus, the eBooster programme intervention will take into consideration both perspectives of demography.

E-Booster aims to foster the adoption of technology by SMEs and communities in Uganda. It seeks to address the challenges faced by these stakeholders, including limited access to funding, technical expertise, and reliable internet and electricity.

The competition's objectives are aligned with the vision of "Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era" and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, empowering people to leverage digital services for innovation and technology adoption. Specifically, there are no target areas. The competition welcomes any ICT solution, whether from e-commerce, e-health, e-agriculture, e-education, e-governance etc provided they are bridging the gaps between the served and underserved communities.

The competition strongly aligns with the Uganda Communications Commission's mission of inclusive access to communication services and infrastructure. Through initiatives like the Uganda Communications Universal Services Access Fund (UCUSAF), the commission has been committed to bridging the digital divide and improving access to ICT services in unserved and underserved communities.

The fund supports the provision of universal access to ICT services and infrastructure in Uganda and has successfully implemented various ICT projects and initiatives that have brought communication services to previously unserved areas. The eBooster Programme is, yet, another project supported by UCUSAF and implemented by UCC. The programme's main goal is to increase ICT access and promote inclusive development, benefiting unserved and underserved communities and sectors.