Mr Kenneth Bagarukayo is Commissioner for Research and Development at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Uganda. He has an MSc in Computer Science and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Herriot-Watt University, UK.  

At the Ministry of ICT, Kenneth leads the Department of ICT Research and Development which identifies digital gaps across systems and designs policies and strategies to resolve challenges. The department is also charged with innovation, software development and capacity building in the sector.  As part of the mandate, Kenneth’s team sets standards for the effective use of digital technology in sectors like education and designs policies to foster innovation and centres of excellence. He also designs budgets and oversees resourcing for the department. A recent project includes the rollout of a national Education Management Information System (EMIS), which will manage data on 10 million primary and secondary school learners.  

Kenneth has been in this role for 8 years after several roles in the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Central Bank.  

Key challenges Kenneth is hoping to explore during the fellowship include the high cost of devices, connectivity, electricity provision, teacher digital skills and localised content. He is most looking forward to deepening his understanding of digital strategy, policy and governance as well as holistic models for using EdTech to improve learning outcomes.