Only 200,000 computers for 26 million Ugandans
In an age where people in the developed world can access the internet on their mobile phones, over 70% of Ugandans have never heard of the word writes <b>Davis Weddi.</b><br><br>There are less than 200,000 computers serving a population of 26 million Ugandans, and in addition to that, more than 70
In an age where people in the developed world can access the internet on their mobile phones, over 70% of Ugandans have never heard of the word writes Davis Weddi.
There are less than 200,000 computers serving a population of 26 million Ugandans, and in addition to that, more than 70% of them have never heard of the internet, a recent research on e-usage in Uganda has revealed.
On average, there is roughly only one computer for every 100,000 people in Uganda.
The research conducted by Makerere University’s Directorate for Information and Communications Technologies Support (DICTS) was released last week in Kampala.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Patrick Masambu said the research findings have been vital in informing the proposed new Telecom policy making process.
The proposed new policy is expected to feature in parliament this month.
Masambu said UCC injected over US$50,000 for the research while other NGOs like Canada’s International Development Research Centre gave over US$75, 000. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics was also involved.
The outcome of this research will also be very valuable to the private sector especially the telecom service providers, as it will help them make informed decisions on what services to give Ugandans.
Dr. Francis Tusubira, the DICTS Director and head of the research said this house-hold based survey looked into who was using information and communication technologies, where and how users got access, their age and at what cost they bought ICT services, and the rural-urban and gender divides in usage.
The survey’s scope covered 58 enumeration areas and 1770 households of which only 1623 interviews were successful out of the planned 60 enumeration areas with 1800 households. For the benefit of UCC, 56 institutional questionnaires were distributed to organisations, schools, health units and businesses including factories.
The survey notes that the national penetration of computers stands at 0.7 % meaning that there are only 182,000 computers serving 26 million Ugandans.
On Internet usage, the survey says, “The typical bill for home internet is about sh85, 000, but only 4.2% and 0.1% of the urban and rural populations have electronic mail addresses (e-mail) and about 60% of which are free subscription while the rest are paid for. The national penetration of e-mail is 0.4% or about 104,000 people have e-mails of the 26 million Ugandans.â€
Tusubira said the use of internet and e-mail in Uganda is insignificant or next to none.
In his brief analysis of the gender and urban-rural divide in computer usage, Tusubira highlighted that more women than men are using computer based tele-facilities and that the underlying factor in accessing and utilising these facilities appears to focus on income.
According to the survey figures, on telephony, 96.3% of urban dwellers and 99.5% of those in rural areas do not have a fixed telephone at home.
The survey found that fixed phones were rarely used in rural areas as compared to 50% of urban dwellers who used them in urban areas.
According to the report 2% of the rural population and 16.6% of urban dwellers own mobile phones.
“In terms of income, 0.9% of people with lowest income; 6.2% and 15.9% in the middle and high income groups own phones. There is significant usage among the lowest income group. Almost all the phones are on pre-paid terms.
Expenditure on public phones in rural areas is typically sh1, 500 per month while that in urban areas is typically sh2, 500,†Tusubira said.
Payphone usage is greater in the urban areas but increases with income in the rural areas.
Tusubira observed that the survey had underscored some of Uganda’s challenges in achieving equitable access to ICT.
dweddi@newvision.co.ug
There are less than 200,000 computers serving a population of 26 million Ugandans, and in addition to that, more than 70% of them have never heard of the internet, a recent research on e-usage in Uganda has revealed.
On average, there is roughly only one computer for every 100,000 people in Uganda.
The research conducted by Makerere University’s Directorate for Information and Communications Technologies Support (DICTS) was released last week in Kampala.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Patrick Masambu said the research findings have been vital in informing the proposed new Telecom policy making process.
The proposed new policy is expected to feature in parliament this month.
Masambu said UCC injected over US$50,000 for the research while other NGOs like Canada’s International Development Research Centre gave over US$75, 000. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics was also involved.
The outcome of this research will also be very valuable to the private sector especially the telecom service providers, as it will help them make informed decisions on what services to give Ugandans.
Dr. Francis Tusubira, the DICTS Director and head of the research said this house-hold based survey looked into who was using information and communication technologies, where and how users got access, their age and at what cost they bought ICT services, and the rural-urban and gender divides in usage.
The survey’s scope covered 58 enumeration areas and 1770 households of which only 1623 interviews were successful out of the planned 60 enumeration areas with 1800 households. For the benefit of UCC, 56 institutional questionnaires were distributed to organisations, schools, health units and businesses including factories.
The survey notes that the national penetration of computers stands at 0.7 % meaning that there are only 182,000 computers serving 26 million Ugandans.
On Internet usage, the survey says, “The typical bill for home internet is about sh85, 000, but only 4.2% and 0.1% of the urban and rural populations have electronic mail addresses (e-mail) and about 60% of which are free subscription while the rest are paid for. The national penetration of e-mail is 0.4% or about 104,000 people have e-mails of the 26 million Ugandans.â€
Tusubira said the use of internet and e-mail in Uganda is insignificant or next to none.
In his brief analysis of the gender and urban-rural divide in computer usage, Tusubira highlighted that more women than men are using computer based tele-facilities and that the underlying factor in accessing and utilising these facilities appears to focus on income.
According to the survey figures, on telephony, 96.3% of urban dwellers and 99.5% of those in rural areas do not have a fixed telephone at home.
The survey found that fixed phones were rarely used in rural areas as compared to 50% of urban dwellers who used them in urban areas.
According to the report 2% of the rural population and 16.6% of urban dwellers own mobile phones.
“In terms of income, 0.9% of people with lowest income; 6.2% and 15.9% in the middle and high income groups own phones. There is significant usage among the lowest income group. Almost all the phones are on pre-paid terms.
Expenditure on public phones in rural areas is typically sh1, 500 per month while that in urban areas is typically sh2, 500,†Tusubira said.
Payphone usage is greater in the urban areas but increases with income in the rural areas.
Tusubira observed that the survey had underscored some of Uganda’s challenges in achieving equitable access to ICT.
dweddi@newvision.co.ug