Delivering Development, Progress on World Post Day
Oct 08, 2019
Uganda became a member of UPU in 1901 and has served as part of the organisation – the Council of Administration (CA) twice; 2012-2016 and 2016-2020.
Mubende, one of the revamped Post Offices
On 9th October 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) was born in Switzerland. Today, as Uganda marks its 57th independence anniversary, the UPU, an organ of the United Nations, turns 145 years old. The World Post Day, which is celebrated on the day UPU was established, and coincides with Uganda's Independence Day, is a celebration of the positive role played by postal services in the world. The day has been celebrated since the UPU Congress in Japan in 1969.
This year's theme, ‘Delivering Development is Delivering Progress', speaks to the Post's resilience and dynamism in the face of changing technology, as well as its impact on socio-economic development. The UPU's key role is to maintain a global postal territory and to establish rules for international mail exchange among member states. UPU also provides technical assistance aimed at stimulating mail-volume growth to aid the socioeconomic development of nations.
Uganda became a member of UPU in 1901 and has served as part of the organisation - the Council of Administration (CA) twice; 2012-2016 and 2016-2020. Postal services in Uganda are provided by the Uganda Post Ltd (UPL), the Designated Operator (DO), which is wholly owned by the Government of Uganda. In addition, there are 23 licensed private courier operators.
Writing for this occasion, UPU Director General Mr. Bishar Abdirahman Hussein, expressed satisfaction that the Post has kept pace with fast changing technology to ensure "One world. One postal network." He observed that for 145 years, the Universal Postal Union has promoted solutions for the international postal sector, in the process, transforming the entire mail supply chain: from acceptance, through sorting and fi nally to delivery. Contrary to the perception that postal services have been relegated to the periphery by technological advances, Mr. Hussein pointed out in his statement that postal services have themselves harnessed technology and are thriving as a result.
"From manual to mechanized operation, the Post continues to innovate, using modern technology to optimize sorting and delivery and improve the supply chain from beginning to end. By embracing modern developments such as virtual reality, the Internet of Things, blockchain and robotic technologies, among others, the Post is today creating greater fl exibility in customer service through the most advanced interfaces. We are now closer to our customers than ever before," he wrote.