MPs task NITAU to speed up internet backbone implementation

Aug 19, 2016

Using the $100m that government borrowed for the project in 2006, phases 1, 2 and 3 of the project are complete

Members of Parliament on the committee of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have tasked the National Information Technology Authority (NITAU) to speed up the connection of government agencies to the internet.

The members made the call while touring the NITAU offices to check on the progress of the expansion of the National Data Transmission Infrastructure (NBI) which is to facilitate internet connectivity across the country.

Committee chairperson Paulo Turyahikayo explained that they wanted to find out if there is progress so that they can push government  to make sure that  all government agencies, ministries, departments are communicating  to increase service delivery and reduce costs.

"Now that there is progress, emphasis should be on making sure that installed capacity is utilized for the country to attain its middle income status," said Turyahikayo.

The members were informed that using the $100m that government borrowed for the project in 2006, phases 1, 2 and 3 of the project are complete.

The aim was to connect all major towns within high-speed optical fibre cable based network through the NBI and to connect all MDAs onto an e-government network to provide services such as video conferencing, data and voice communication.

Under phase 1, Kampala, Mukono, Jinja, Bombo and Entebbe were connected and e-government network installed in 27 MDAs.

In phase 2, connections have been, for Jinja to Busia, Malaba through Mbale, Tororo, Kumi, Soroti, Gulu, Lira, to Elegu then back down to Masindi, Nakasongola, Luwero back to Kampala.

Phase three is connecting Kampala to Masaka, Mutukula, Masaka to Mbarara and Katuna, they also plan to extend connections from Kyenjonjo back to Masindi according to Vivian Ddambya, the technical director at NITAU.

Currently the authority is in need of money through a PPP approach to build the ICT Park in Entebbe which is on 27 acres of land among other activities, added James Saka, the executive director, NITAU.

"We don't have money as government but are in the process of procurement to get transactional advice to build a bid document so that we can go out and open up to investors  who can invest in it,' said Saka.

Stephen Mukitale, a member of the committee called on the authority to consider connecting tourist corridors on the NBI infrastructure to increase tourism activities in those areas.

He said at the moment there is an internet connectivity problem in the tourism corridors of Rhino Camp down to Pakwach, Muchshion Falls, Budongo Forest, Kanungu, Kisoro, Bugoma Forest and the entire Albertine region.

"With internet in this place, more tourists will be attracted to the region, hotels and other service providers will transact their businesses online which will increase efficiency needed by everybody including tourists," said Mukitale.

He also added that with countrywide internet connectivity, government will save on costs incurred in the facilitation of district officials like doctors when coming to Kampala for meetings.

"We want to see government departments working and talking to each other. I don't want my doctors, teachers to close office and drive to Kampala to attend a meeting which could have been attended using teleconferencing facilities or Skype," he added.

He was backed by Kyadondo East MP, Apollo Kantinti who asked the authority if they have plans of extending the internet structure beyond districts to sub county level since some sub counties are in towns like Wakiso.

"I believe that when  there in internet for example in health centres at sub county levels, they will be quick communication in cases of drug stock outs or emergencies instead of the people in charge traveling all the way to the ministry of health in Kampala," said Kantinti.

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