Govt ministries get sh5.6b video conferencing equipment

Jun 22, 2020

Several Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have acquired modern video conferencing equipment worth $1.5m (about sh5.6b) to enhance communication as Uganda fights the COVID-19.

The equipment that will enable mobile video meetings and communications in different government MDAs were donated by Elsie Attafuah, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative to Uganda, at the Office of the Prime Minister Kampala (OPM) recently.

While handing over the equipment Attafuah said: "The video teleconference technologies will enable government officials to hold business meetings without necessarily sitting in the same location."

Attafuah added: "I am very pleased to inform you that, we would be providing equipment to Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) worth about $1.5m. The first batch of equipment, which we are handing over today, includes (10 Laptops, 4 Display Screens, and 4 Camera)."

The beneficiaries include the Office of the Prime Minister, ICT ministry, National Information and Technology Authority, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The first batch of equipment were handed over to the minister in charge of general duties at OPM, Mary Karooro Okurut, who also provides political guidance to the National Response Fund to COVID-19.

Karooro was accompanied by other members of the fund who included, the Fund's administrator, Dorothy Kisaka. 

The OPM received four laptops, two display screens and two cameras. ICT ministry received two laptops, one display screens and one camera, while the National Information and Technology Authority, received two laptops.

The Ministry of Local Government received one laptop, one display screen and one camera while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received one laptop.

Attafuah said: "The purpose of this support is to improve co-ordination of COVID-19 operations, strengthen and ensure continued service delivery; sustain internal and external collaboration in the partial lockdown occasioned by COVID-19drastically reduce physical contact with virtual meetings and limit the spread of the disease ease the training of various COVID-19 response teams, community outreach, awareness and sensitization on COVID-19."

She explained the donation will also reduce co-ordination costs of transport and create a durable transformation to digitalization in the public sector.

It is also projected to increase intra-government and external engagement and increase citizen participation with real-time video communications.

Attafuah said UNDP will now work more closely with NITA-U and the Ministry of ICT to structure a broader offer to government on digital transformation with a focus on digitalising systems in government.

Karooro said: "We thank all people and organisations who have generously contributed whatever they have in response to President Yoweri Museveni's call to support the campaign against COVID-19. 

All those who have contributed to this fund will be issued with certificates of appreciation for their devoted efforts towards the fight against the deadly pandemic."
 
 

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