BOSCO Uganda Completes A Crucial Technical Training to Improve Rural Connectivity in Northern Uganda

In a region where only 17% of the rural population has consistent internet access, and where power fluctuations, environmental factors, and limited technical support frequently disrupt connectivity, this training represents a strategic investment in network resilience. By empowering our team and community partners with Working at Height certified tower climbing expertise, network diagnostics, and sustainable solar solutions, we are not just repairing infrastructure but we are also building local capacity to anticipate, withstand, and rapidly recover from disruptions, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity across Northern Uganda.

With a generous donation from Internet Society Foundation (ISOC), Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach Uganda (BOSCO Uganda) successfully conducted and concluded a comprehensive technical training program aimed at strengthening the resilience of community networks in Northern Uganda. This intensive capacity building initiative was specifically designed to equip local communities with critical skills to maintain, troubleshoot, and sustain reliable internet infrastructure amid the unique challenges facing Uganda’s underserved communities. This training was done in two phases, firstly at Bardege ICT Centre and Radio Maria Tower site In Gulu City and then it was concluded at Blessed Daudi and jildo Irwa ICT Centre and Radio Rapa Tower Site in Pader District.

The training responds to an urgent need identified across BOSCO Uganda’s network to minimize downtime and maximize reliability in harsh operating conditions. With communities increasingly dependent on digital tools for emergency communications and entertainment, network resilience is no longer optional, it is a lifeline for rural development. This training graduates participants from passive maintainers into proactive guardians of connectivity, capable of implementing preventive maintenance and rapid fault resolution.

The four day training that started on Monday, July 28th, 2025, and ended on Thursday, July 31st, 2025 at 5 PM closed a lot of gaps and valuable skills were gained.

The Technical Edge We’ve Gained:

Tower Climbing & Safety Mastery

Certified training on working at heights protocols
Hands on practice with full body harness systems and fall arrest equipment
Real world tower climbing at Radio Rapa FM 88.3’s tower
Advanced rescue techniques including pick-off rescues and lowering systems

Network Infrastructure Excellence

Comprehensive Ubiquiti and MikroTik device configuration.
RF signal optimization for maximum coverage

Sustainable Solar Power Systems

Solar system installation and maintenance
Lithium vs lead-acid battery performance analysis
MPPT charge controller programming
Preventive maintenance schedules for off-grid systems

Why This Training Matters for Rural Uganda:
In rural areas where only few of households have reliable electricity, these skills enable us to:
Maintain 24/7 uptime for our community networks
Reduce downtime by up to through local technical capacity
Cut maintenance costs by by eliminating external long distance travels