Lack of ICT ministry hurts Uganda
May 14, 2006
Uganda should fast track the enactment of a new communications policy and set up a ministry of information and communications technology (ICT) if it is to become competitive in the global industry.
By David Muwanga
Uganda should fast track the enactment of a new communications policy and set up a ministry of information and communications technology (ICT) if it is to become competitive in the global industry.
John Musajjakawa, the in-charge of ICT at the Uganda Investment Authority, says Uganda is experiencing delays in ICT development because there is no ministry to fast track the national ICT adoption strategic intervention.
“The Government plans to end the duopoly enjoyed by MTN and utl by 2010. It has also delayed putting in place an ICT ministry unlike the Kenyan government,†Musajjakawa says.
He says the Kenyan government has resolved to construct a KSh15b fibre optic undersea cable system connecting it to the rest of the world.
He says recent media reports from Kenya said the government envisaged Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project driven by 15 telecom firms from 13 African countries was taking too long.
The project aims at establishing an undersea cable system connecting Mtunzini, located north of Durban in South Africa to Port Sudan, in Sudan, a distance of 9,900 km.
Musajjakawa says Kenya’s information and communication permanent secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo was reported saying Kenya would begin discussions with Djibouti, one of the countries involved in the construction of the cable network.
Other countries undertaking the project are South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia and Somalia.
He quoted Dr Ndemo as saying that three years since the EASSy project was envisaged, nothing had been done apart from holding workshops that have cost almost half of the cost for building the network.
“Kenya needs the cable more than any other country. Many foreign companies have expressed interest in investing in the country, but were holding back due to connectivity problems,†Ndemo reportedly told the East African Regulatory, Posts and Telecommunications meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, recently.
Musajjakawa said Ndemo denied that the decision to construct their own fibre optic network would cause collision with other members.
He, however, says Uganda’s competitiveness would be affected if Kenya constructs the fibre optic network because Uganda would be buying bandwidth from Kenya.
Musajjakawa said if the East African Backhaul system route that connects Uganda to Kenya starting from Mombasa-Nairobi-Malaba-Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara through Kigali up to Bujumbura is to be managed by the private sector, then costs for connectivity will remain high.
“Kenya is at an advantage because government is taking the lead in their ICT development. If Uganda’s sector has to be operated by private companies, we shall face high connectivity costs,†he said.
However, he said most countries that may benefit from the EASSy project have not liberalised their telecom sectors.
They include Botswana, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Lesotho Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Uganda’s network is and would be operated by the post-monopolies that include MTN and utl, meaning the bandwidth will be very expensive on the EASSy project.We are victims of our own economic liberalisation policy,†Musajjakawa lamented.
Ends
Uganda should fast track the enactment of a new communications policy and set up a ministry of information and communications technology (ICT) if it is to become competitive in the global industry.
John Musajjakawa, the in-charge of ICT at the Uganda Investment Authority, says Uganda is experiencing delays in ICT development because there is no ministry to fast track the national ICT adoption strategic intervention.
“The Government plans to end the duopoly enjoyed by MTN and utl by 2010. It has also delayed putting in place an ICT ministry unlike the Kenyan government,†Musajjakawa says.
He says the Kenyan government has resolved to construct a KSh15b fibre optic undersea cable system connecting it to the rest of the world.
He says recent media reports from Kenya said the government envisaged Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project driven by 15 telecom firms from 13 African countries was taking too long.
The project aims at establishing an undersea cable system connecting Mtunzini, located north of Durban in South Africa to Port Sudan, in Sudan, a distance of 9,900 km.
Musajjakawa says Kenya’s information and communication permanent secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo was reported saying Kenya would begin discussions with Djibouti, one of the countries involved in the construction of the cable network.
Other countries undertaking the project are South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia and Somalia.
He quoted Dr Ndemo as saying that three years since the EASSy project was envisaged, nothing had been done apart from holding workshops that have cost almost half of the cost for building the network.
“Kenya needs the cable more than any other country. Many foreign companies have expressed interest in investing in the country, but were holding back due to connectivity problems,†Ndemo reportedly told the East African Regulatory, Posts and Telecommunications meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, recently.
Musajjakawa said Ndemo denied that the decision to construct their own fibre optic network would cause collision with other members.
He, however, says Uganda’s competitiveness would be affected if Kenya constructs the fibre optic network because Uganda would be buying bandwidth from Kenya.
Musajjakawa said if the East African Backhaul system route that connects Uganda to Kenya starting from Mombasa-Nairobi-Malaba-Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara through Kigali up to Bujumbura is to be managed by the private sector, then costs for connectivity will remain high.
“Kenya is at an advantage because government is taking the lead in their ICT development. If Uganda’s sector has to be operated by private companies, we shall face high connectivity costs,†he said.
However, he said most countries that may benefit from the EASSy project have not liberalised their telecom sectors.
They include Botswana, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Lesotho Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Uganda’s network is and would be operated by the post-monopolies that include MTN and utl, meaning the bandwidth will be very expensive on the EASSy project.We are victims of our own economic liberalisation policy,†Musajjakawa lamented.
Ends