The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences (ACE-Uganda) has launched the She-Data Science Program, an initiative aimed at equipping young Ugandan women with practical, high-demand skills in data science, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics.
Unveiled during the ACE Consortium Meeting in Kampala, the program is designed to prepare women to thrive in the digital age and to actively shape the future of work, health, and innovation.
Presiding over the launch, Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, described the program as a step in Uganda’s efforts to empower women in technology.
“The She-Data Science Program is not just about skills training; it is about ensuring women are full participants in shaping the technologies and solutions of tomorrow,” she said.
Already, the program has placed two women at doctoral level, five at master’s level, and several in internships, positioning them as pioneers in a field where women remain underrepresented.
Dr Zawedde congratulated the fellows, calling them “pioneers, role models, and trailblazers” who will inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is committed to expanding such opportunities under the Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023–2027), which prioritizes skills development, innovation, and women’s participation in ICT.
“By embedding digital skills in schools and promoting initiatives that encourage more girls to pursue technology careers, we are laying the foundation for an inclusive knowledge economy,” Dr Zawedde noted.
She added that investing in women strengthens not only individual careers but also health systems, governance, and the broader economy.
The She-Data Science Program builds on ACE-Uganda’s achievements since its establishment in 2019 by the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University, in partnership with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH).
The center has trained over 100 graduate students in data science and bioinformatics, developed digital health tools such as the HEAL application for health workers and virtual reality training for emergency response, and established the region’s most advanced High-Performance Computing Cluster, supporting more than 50 research projects across Africa.
Dr Zawedde also commended the program’s partners the Institute for Global Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, the ACE Consortium, and the Infectious Diseases Institute for their vision and collaboration with Uganda.
“Your partnership is helping us build a more inclusive, equitable, and competitive future,” she remarked.
The launch of She-Data Science reflects Uganda’s commitment to bridging the gender gap in technology.
By empowering women, the country is laying the foundation for inclusive growth, innovation, and sustainable development, while ensuring that women are at the forefront of the digital revolution.
