Uganda’s 79 districts to get e-link by 2010
Jul 24, 2007
UGANDA'S 79 districts will be online by 2010, the information and communications technology minister, Dr. Ham Mulira, has said. This follows development of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and the Electronic Government Infrastructure projects.
By David Muwanga
UGANDA'S 79 districts will be online by 2010, the information and communications technology minister, Dr. Ham Mulira, has said. This follows development of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and the Electronic Government Infrastructure projects.
He said in order to implement national development programmes like the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture, timely and relevant information must be available at all levels of implementation.
“After recognising this catalytic role, the Government in 2003 adopted an ICT policy framework to ensure optimum utilisation of these technologies geared towards national socio-economic development,†he said in a statement.
“ICT has the potential not only to modernise the way the Government operates for greater efficiency but also to enhance the relationship between government and citizens (GC2), government to business community (G2B) and within government to government departments (G2G),†the minister explained.
He said Uganda’s telecommunication sector has grown rapidly in the last decade following its liberalisation in 1996.
Mulira said the country now has 3.2 million mobile phone owners.
“Penetration has grown from only 0.26 lines per 100 persons in 1996 to over eight lines per 100 persons in 2006 composed of mobile and fixed customers while fixed line density is less than 1%,†he said in an interview.
Mulira said data and voice communication solutions are mainly provided by three companies; MTN, Celtel and uganda telecom.
However, the sector has been fully liberalised and more investors have been licensed.
UGANDA'S 79 districts will be online by 2010, the information and communications technology minister, Dr. Ham Mulira, has said. This follows development of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and the Electronic Government Infrastructure projects.
He said in order to implement national development programmes like the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture, timely and relevant information must be available at all levels of implementation.
“After recognising this catalytic role, the Government in 2003 adopted an ICT policy framework to ensure optimum utilisation of these technologies geared towards national socio-economic development,†he said in a statement.
“ICT has the potential not only to modernise the way the Government operates for greater efficiency but also to enhance the relationship between government and citizens (GC2), government to business community (G2B) and within government to government departments (G2G),†the minister explained.
He said Uganda’s telecommunication sector has grown rapidly in the last decade following its liberalisation in 1996.
Mulira said the country now has 3.2 million mobile phone owners.
“Penetration has grown from only 0.26 lines per 100 persons in 1996 to over eight lines per 100 persons in 2006 composed of mobile and fixed customers while fixed line density is less than 1%,†he said in an interview.
Mulira said data and voice communication solutions are mainly provided by three companies; MTN, Celtel and uganda telecom.
However, the sector has been fully liberalised and more investors have been licensed.