Uganda to benefit from EU ICT fund
Oct 22, 2008
UGANDA is to benefit from $100m from the European Commission (EC) to support developing countries in the growth of information communication technology (ICT).
By Catherine Bekunda
UGANDA is to benefit from $100m from the European Commission (EC) to support developing countries in the growth of information communication technology (ICT).
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Makerere University, on Monday said the funds would enable ICT students to carry out research in partnership with their counterparts in developed countries.
The head of the political and trade section at the European Commission, Harvey Rouse, said they invest over 1b euros each year in research and ICT.
“The EC is committed to supporting positive developments in ICT through an increased mobilisation of development funds and local innovation, as well as fostering African participation in its research and development programmes.â€
He said lack of contact between European and African researchers led to the low participation in ICT conferences.
“ICT’s are critical to creating jobs and improving quality of life across the continent. For instance in Uganda, telecom companies have invested $850m in the last 10 years.
These companies also created 400,000 direct and indirect jobs and paid $300m in taxes over the same period,†he said
“Internet subscriptions have increased from 17,000 to about two million users over the last 10 years,†he added.
In a speech read by the Minister of Education, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, called for more research in the ICT sector so as to develop solutions that suit users’ needs, especially in software development.
UGANDA is to benefit from $100m from the European Commission (EC) to support developing countries in the growth of information communication technology (ICT).
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Makerere University, on Monday said the funds would enable ICT students to carry out research in partnership with their counterparts in developed countries.
The head of the political and trade section at the European Commission, Harvey Rouse, said they invest over 1b euros each year in research and ICT.
“The EC is committed to supporting positive developments in ICT through an increased mobilisation of development funds and local innovation, as well as fostering African participation in its research and development programmes.â€
He said lack of contact between European and African researchers led to the low participation in ICT conferences.
“ICT’s are critical to creating jobs and improving quality of life across the continent. For instance in Uganda, telecom companies have invested $850m in the last 10 years.
These companies also created 400,000 direct and indirect jobs and paid $300m in taxes over the same period,†he said
“Internet subscriptions have increased from 17,000 to about two million users over the last 10 years,†he added.
In a speech read by the Minister of Education, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, called for more research in the ICT sector so as to develop solutions that suit users’ needs, especially in software development.