Impact Assessment: Rural Household Devices Project

Executive Summary 

The Uganda Communications Universal Service Access Fund (UCUSAF) is a strategic initiative established under the Uganda Communications Act 2013. Its primary mission is to bridge the digital divide and extend information and communication technology (ICT) services to unserved and underserved parts of Uganda.

The project under assessment involves distributing grid and solar-powered tablet devices loaded with six months of data bundles to low-income households in villages nationwide. At the time of the study, the project had implemented two pilot phases, with a third phase of distribution and implementation ongoing. By December 2023, the project had reached 54 districts and 10,706 households (see Annex 2). 

The project’s core objectives include enhancing connectivity, digital literacy, and access to information for communities, ultimately bridging the digital divide and empowering beneficiaries to participate in the digital age. This assessment involved collecting qualitative and quantitative data through a survey, focus group discussions, and observations within beneficiary communities, including during the phase 3 distribution cycle with Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) staff. This report assesses the socioeconomic impact, the effectiveness of the digital skills training provided to the beneficiaries, user satisfaction and experience, and the devices’ usability, functionality, and reliability. 

The initiative has been an ongoing learning experience. UCC identified several challenges along the way in the pilot phases of implementation, some of which were addressed in the third phase. This report aims to document the positive outcomes as well as past and current ongoing challenges.