Ugandan journos to benefit from TechFest

Media professionals have been invited to the inaugural TechFest Uganda expo which happens alongside the Orange Expo 2011, where mobile operator Orange Uganda exhibits its latest technology innovations.

Journalists will be part of Track 3 of TechFest Uganda, which targets government officials, media and security agents. The expo segment will feature highly educational talks about digital and non-digital security, the impact of technology on journalism and recent government ICT initiatives, according to event organisers .

Track 3 will be chaired by Gregory Branch, award-winning CNN string-reporter and Global Post correspondent. Speakers include Hackers for Charity founder Johnny Long, Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb, Filtre News founder and managing editor Richard Kikonyogo, activist blogger Rosebell Kagumire, and the Uganda Ministry of ICT's Dr. David Turahi.

Features

The expo will also feature segments including; Business, Art, and Entertainment (Track 1), and Health, Education and Agriculture (Track 2). The first track will cover topics such as business models, business intelligence, mobile technology, open-source software, content licensing, and mapping. It will be chaired by Simon Kaheru, director of Business Convergence at SMS Media and lead analyst at Media Analyst.

Track 2 will be of interest to agriculturalists, educators and health professionals who want to learn more about how locally available technology, services, and skills can benefit their organisations and industries. This will be chaired by Makerere University's Michael Niyitegeka.

Kyle Spencer, one of the organisers of TechFest said the objective of the expo is to showcase some of the country's most innovative technology initiatives to boost domestic consumption.

"We want to showcase local initiatives in Uganda so that we encourage people to buy local products and service. You don't have to go to India to get your website built, we have companies in Uganda that can do that but people are not aware. We are trying to raise awareness," Spencer said in an interview. He added that this expo will become an annual event to build-up the momentum.

TechFest Uganda is expected to be characterised by engaging presentations, trade-show talks, group activities, panel discussions, hands on demonstrations and themes ranging from agriculture to robotics.

Other speakers

Speakers will include: Pau Varela (eMOCHA), Prof. Deidre Carabine (Virtual University Uganda), Luke Kyohere (Grameen Foundation), Brian Ssennoga (International Health Sciences University and COSS.ug), Robert Orenstein (S7 Project), Eunice Gnay Namirembe (Text to Change), Kim Nooij (Fruits of Thought), Evelyn Namara (Solar Sisters), Sean Krepp (Grameen Foundation) and Agatha Gikunda (Nokia).

For more, go to www.techfest.ug or download the Techfest Uganda 2011: Event brochure (Size:506KB)