My name is Adrian, and I’ve proudly worn the SYBYL badge for the past 20 years. My journey here wasn’t a straight line.  I started as a physics and math teacher, then ventured into IT at Uganda Christian University.  Even the Ministry of Education entrusted me as a physics examiner, a role I carried forth even after SYBYL saw potential in me and recruited me for their first-ever University project: deploying an ERP system at Makerere University. That was just the beginning.  I embraced the challenge, taking on not only the academic registry but also the financial and HR modules. 

My commitment didn’t go unnoticed. Soon, I was off to South Africa for intensive training: at ITS (Now Adapt IT)  and Sun Systems for long boot camp trainings The same training had been attended by all the Enterprise Engineers and it was a mandatory requirement by our main Enterprise customers like MTN and Celtel. We would return with newfound expertise, becoming self-reliant  Deployment and Support Engineers.  We dove deep into every aspect of the business we supported, with invaluable vendor support from Sun Microsystem. From user onboarding to bank integrations and financial management systems, we built it all.  My career path then shifted towards direct technical support, from the role of Business Support Executive. 

SYBYL’s training programs were intense but incredibly rewarding.  We might have had a small but valued customer base, including industry giants like MTN, Celtel, and Uganda Telcom.  But my thirst for knowledge didn’t stop there.  I pursued certifications across the globe, from HP in the UK to VMware in South Africa, Germany for Dell EMC, and even Dubai and Kenya for checkpoint, NetApp, and VNX storage.  My learnings extended beyond technical skills.  I gained a valuable business insight: customers buy from those they trust (friends) or those who offer the best value.  This wisdom I share with my team to this day.

Looking back, I take immense pride in contributing to Uganda’s technological development.  SYBYL was a pioneer, deploying the first enterprise-level systems like HP EVAs, the Hitachi HDS, NetBackup and Backup Exec in the country.  Sybyl is the first to deploy Converged systems in East Africa. My impact goes beyond systems.  Through knowledge transfer and training, I’ve mentored individuals who are now in prominent positions, like a young lady who works for the International Court in the Hague.  We’ve demystified technology for countless people in East Africa.

SYBYL is an industry leader in  Sub Saharan Africa;  take VMware, for instance.  Years ago, it was a hard sell.  But after our VMware training in 2007, we convinced MTN to use it for their environment. It was first used for their Test Environment and later evolved to production workloads. This paved the way for its widespread adoption in the market.  The same goes for KVM with Oracle DB and NetApp. 

SYBYL’s internship program has further fueled Uganda’s IT landscape.  Our brand recognition is such that when we introduce a new product, the market follows suit.  We were the first to bring Dell EMC’s Vblock systems! Out of only four in the entire region, SYBYL proudly implemented them all.

Looking back;

There’s a stark contrast to when I started. Back then, universities had just three computers, used solely for emails and documents.  From my class, only three of us pursued IT – fueled by a hunger for knowledge. Today, newcomers have a structured path with documented goals, milestones, and clear expectations.  We’ve formalized customer engagements, implemented rigorous quality controls, and fostered greater customer awareness about technology. 

As for me, the next chapter beckons: farming.  My love for technology will undoubtedly be present in my automated irrigation systems and controlled farming setups.  But for now, I cherish the memories and impact I’ve had at SYBYL and the many more years of shaping Uganda’s technological future.