How internet access is bridging Uganda's digital divide

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OPINION

By Timothy Mugyenyi

I am reminded of an interaction I had within Nakivale refugee camp. We stopped by a Rolex stand and spoke with some young gentlemen deeply engrossed in a video while sharing a smartphone. When we asked if they knew about the internet hotspot recently set up in the area, with enthusiasm, they responded saying it is “kyakabi!” The reason was cost saving as compared to the alternatives; it has unlimited data use and ease.

I probed deeper to ask what they use it for, and they said, “to learn new ways of making rolexes and also to catch up with trends on TikTok!”

My colleague immediately ordered a rolex and it was good. This got me thinking, if the internet creates opportunity for a Rolex maker on a shared device, what transformative power does the internet truly have on the communities?

So I sought to ask what some of the people in these, otherwise, rural areas use the internet for, and the answers were simply aligned with increased productivity and development. A market lady orders beans and groundnuts from farmers, and they send videos to verify the quality. A secondary school vacist awaiting results said they do free online courses to certify in areas of study, so that when they join a university, they are better. A butcher picks out a goat for slaughter with video calls. All these are made possible with the internet. 

Internet offers an opportunity and is a multiplier of progress when coupled with the knowledge and tools in the hands of the user to unlock the right opportunities. This shows a particular rift that comes to light in digital inclusion and connection in the outskirts of major urban centres, with many being offline in these areas, either due to no knowledge, devices or internet costs.

The absence of this access creates a divide that is technological, educational, economic and social. It affects communication and knowledge-sharing, which is the very fabric of modern life.

There is a great need for increased low-cost internet options for some of these rural areas or communities, as well as an increase in digital literacy. There have been a number of strides in the field of connectivity and inclusivity of access. Globally, there are initiatives like Unicef’s Giga and the works of the Internet Society. Locally, there are efforts by different actors, including Uganda Communications Commission’s Universal Service and Access Fund and the different players in the space. 

The major call is to see that we need to have internet present in the hands of every citizen in the village or town, so that progress towards development is a collective effort.

I reflect on the recent internet shutdown, and one thought keeps crossing my mind: how we (as an economy) have become so used to utilising the internet and how it has turbo-charged our lives alongside productivity. 

A divide persists between the rural and urban settings. The beauty is that many companies are developing strategies to extend their internet coverage into more rural areas, building out fibre connectivity. 

This raises an important question of how much more we can transform our economy and our nation simply by harnessing the power of the internet. Kilometres of fibre internet crossing villages and towns with minimal uptake are also a challenge that needs to be looked into, and how can those living alongside the towers, as well as the fibre lines, start to reap the benefits of the connectivity that is a lifeline for development? 

There is a need to accelerate the development of digital public infrastructure, an agenda I know is already underway. We must decentralise ICT skills at the grassroots level and integrate them into regular day-to-day life. If we achieve digital literacy for everyone, we will move the needle ahead, not just as people but as a developed, connected society.

The digital divide is real, but so is the opportunity. The question remains, “Will we seize it or watch the opportunity of progress pass us by?”

The writer is the head of partnerships and community impact at Roke Telkom