BACKGROUND                                             

The East African Center for Open Source Software(EACOSS) was founded in April 2004 to promote the use of Free and Open Source Software in the East African region. EACOSS  is based in Kampala Uganda, with its offices in Nakawa, Kampala. Through the use  of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), EACOSS believes that the digital gap between the advanced nations developing nations can be bridged and poverty reduced. Lower costs, access to software for all and improved capacity development provide that starting point. EACOSS has introduced application development using FOSS tools, training, certification and access to free software. It enables people in the region to learn more about effective, affordable and appropriate software technology to use for development in Africa

                                                                        MISSION OF EACOSS

To lower the barriers to Information Technology access through provision of quality training, advocacy and awareness, consultancy in open technologies and solutions as well as through partnerships with like minded organisations.    

                                                                                  VISION OF EACOSS

To lower the barriers of access to Information and Communications Technology within East Africa through the use of open technologies and solutions.

                                                                      APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Through its team of skilled developers, EACOSS at an affordable cost develops applications that meet needs that cannot be addressed by off-shelf applications or if the off-shelf applications are available, would be very expensive to acquire. Our main interest is in applications that improve the operations and livelihoods of the people. Click here for some of the applications developed so far.

In an effort to build and grow the developer community within the region, we also offer training targeting application developers but using FOSS tools. 

                                                                   CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING

EACOSS is the sole recognized training, testing and certifying center for the Linux Professional Institute(LPI) certification, http://www.lpi.org within the East African region. LPI in Linux can be compared to CCNA/CCNP in Networking or to ACCA in accounting. However unlike other Linux certifications, LPI draws its universal appeal from the fact that it is a vendor/distribution neutral certification, hence its popularity with Employers and Linux professionals alike. For more details, please write to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The Certification resource page is here .Other training programs available at EACOSS are here .

EACOSS has local and International partners among them the IICD , Ordina NV , Linux Solutions and had its first Chairman as Prof. Dr. Victor van Reijswoud.