Government says to audit all its IT systems

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The Government is planning to conduct an audit of all its Information Technology (IT) systems across the country.

This initiative aims to harmonise the services provided by these systems and assess their effectiveness as part of efforts to reduce waste in state agencies.

“We want to identify the various systems in government and their purposes, as well as how they connect with each other,” Ministry of ICT and National Guidance permanent secretary Dr Aminah Zawedde says.

She mentions that her ministry has already started the process by reaching out to all accounting officers to designate a focal person from each ministry to assist with the audit.

“We expect you to engage with the agencies to gather information about the systems within these entities so that we can compile an inventory of all the systems”.

She was addressing over 100 IT officers at the National Innovation Hub in Nakawa on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Zawedde highlighted that there are currently many digitised systems offering services, but not all of them are listed in the national registry.

Additionally, the Government aims to assess the skills possessed by IT officers. 

“Whenever you receive training, you must document and submit your skills to the human resource manager, ensuring that your records are updated with the Ministry of ICT,” she stated.

This meeting takes place amid concerns that many IT departments across government ministries, departments and agencies are not being utilised effectively, despite the Government’s push for a digital transformation roadmap.

A recent audit report indicated that various government agencies are either underutilising or neglecting to deploy systems that were developed to enhance service delivery in different sectors.

Digital transformation roadmap

The digital transformation roadmap intends to strengthen the implementation of policies and laws that will accelerate Uganda's digital revolution. 

Launched in April 2023, the roadmap serves as a five-year plan (2023/24-2027/28) designed to fast-track the country’s digital growth.

It outlines key objectives aimed at achieving the goals established in the Digital Uganda Vision, including ensuring 90% household connectivity, 90% broadband coverage by geography, and 90% of citizens accessing e-services online by 2040.

This roadmap provides a comprehensive plan for realising its vision and objectives, which include enhancing digital infrastructure and connectivity, promoting digital services, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering digital skills and literacy, and promoting cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy, all of which are vital for guiding Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.

While Uganda has made significant strides in developing the legal and regulatory framework for digital transformation, improving e-services, and enhancing cybersecurity, further efforts are necessary to improve the digital landscape.

These efforts include integrating e-services, expanding ICT infrastructure, accelerating digital skills training, reducing internet costs, increasing innovation, and applying emerging technologies.