Status: Closed
Country: Uganda
Partner: Community Empowerment & Transformation Agency (CETA) Uganda
Impact goal: 3000
About the project
Siripi Community Connect is a refugee-led digital inclusion initiative to be implemented in Siripi Zone, Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, one of the most digitally underserved zones in the settlement. The project will establish safe, affordable, resilient Internet access, deploy 10 shared community tablets & provide online safety, privacy, and cybersecurity training to refugee and host community members.
Results and challenges
The project strengthened digital inclusion, online safety, and affordable internet access for refugee and host communities in Siripi Zone, Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement. Building on the existing Siripi Community Internet Access Hub, the project improved community connectivity, delivered digital literacy and Online Trust & Safety training, and established a sustainable voucher-based internet access system.
One of the project's most significant achievements was the expansion of the wireless network to Siripi Modern Community Secondary School and nearby households following requests from the community. This extension increased access to affordable internet, educational resources, and digital learning opportunities for more than 2,500 students, teachers, and community members. Overall, an estimated 1,500–2,000 people directly and indirectly benefited from the project.
Alongside improved connectivity, community members gained practical digital skills and learned how to navigate online spaces safely and responsibly. Students and teachers also received hands-on training in computer networking, digital literacy, and online safety, creating a pool of local expertise to help maintain the network. The school has committed to supporting future internet subscriptions and maintaining the infrastructure, while the voucher-based access model generates income to support the network's long-term sustainability.
Challenges
The project encountered several implementation challenges, including periodic solar power interruptions caused by prolonged rainfall, which occasionally affected connectivity and training schedules. In addition, participants had varying levels of digital literacy, requiring trainers to adapt their approach and provide additional support to ensure everyone could participate effectively.
The project also operated in a linguistically and culturally diverse community, requiring training materials and facilitation methods to be adapted for different audiences. At the same time, demand for internet access and digital skills training exceeded expectations, highlighting the significant need for connectivity within the settlement.
Rather than limiting the project's impact, these challenges reinforced the importance of flexibility and community-led decision-making. Community feedback directly led to the expansion of the network to the secondary school, increasing the project's reach and educational impact. Combined with local technical training, school ownership of the infrastructure, and the sustainable voucher system, the project has evolved into a resilient, community-managed connectivity model that will continue to benefit both refugee and host communities beyond the funding period.
About the partner
The Community Empowerment & Transformation Agency is a refugee led community based organization advancing equitable digital access by strengthening community networks. It leads community driven advocacy to eradicate digital poverty in underserved communities and refugee settlements in Uganda. Through infrastructure development, local capacity building and stakeholder engagement, the organization promotes safe, reliable and affordable internet access while fostering sustainable, digitally empowered and self-reliant communities.
