Uganda needs to build ICT innovation centers at institutes

May 02, 2016

"It's necessary to audit systems, we hear of money being stolen from computerized systems because there is that lack of professionals to track the suspects."

If Uganda can embrace Information Communications Technology specialists, the government will be able to track individuals manipulating systems due to lack of professionals to carry out systems auditing.

Sylvester Sennabulya, acting Secretary Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) said the country requires programmers, systems analysts and telecom engineers to prevent people from stealing government funds.

"Uganda has not taken on computerization as it should have done,"Sennabulya said. It's only Uganda among the East Africa community member states that doesn't have a web portal.

"It's necessary to audit systems, we hear of money being stolen from computerized systems because there is that lack of professionals to track the suspects,"Sennabulya added.

He further said that most of the industries in Uganda have also not automated their systems to minimize the costs of labor and producing a particular commodity unlike when they have introduced robots.

Speaking during a guild meeting at the UICT premises at Nakawa, Sennabulya decried inadequate funding to the institute that has hampered proper training of ICT specialists.

He said the institute needs laboratory equipment to enhance innovations but there are no funds to stock the library with the necessary equipment to kick start projects that may eventually become industries.

"We have only one lab for electronics and yet we need like 30 of specialized labs," He said. Though, there is a promise by government to facilitate the institute to become a Centre of excellence in ICT but it has not come yet.

Sennabulya noted that students have been researching but unable to put to move forward because of laboratories. This has also impeded technology transfers.

 

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