IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) through its projects department called the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF) has launched a call for business plan proposals under a grant to cater for public WiFi hotspots at five border points across the country.

In line with the RCDF III program thematic area of Broadband Connectivity and Access, UCC has set aside these funds for the financial year 2019/20 to be utilized under a collaborative grant framework between UCC/RCDF and a suitable partner to establish and operate five public WiFi hotspots.

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) on Wednesday launched new automated services in Kampala, to improve efficiency and turnaround time for better service delivery.

Speaking to guests during the launch, UNBS Executive director Dr Ben Manyindo said: “The UNBS automated services have replaced the manual systems and we believe this will go a long way in improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in our systems and processes, while allowing our clients carry out self assessments and other self service checks”.

It is defined as an automated method used to identify a person based on physiological and behavioural characteristic using a unique identifier. It can as well be defined as applied mathematics in biology for purposes of identifying individual characterics via finger prints and pictures.

The project has so far cost Uganda 64 million Euros, besides another Shs 118bn needed for the operation of the National Security Information System.

Mühlbauer Technology Group, a German company, was contracted in March 2010 to deliver equipment (software and hardware) that would be used to establish a biometric identity management system for an accurate national identity register.

What you need to know:

• The executive director of KCCA, Ms Dorothy Kisaka, says a smart city campaign is looking at three things; leveraging technology, developing city infrastructure and ensuring organised businesses thrive

The phrase smart city is slowly being adopted by city dwellers.

YahClick, an internet service provider, which has been in Uganda since 2012, plans to strengthen its business by going further than providing satellite broadband but to also provide solutions in e-healthcare, e-education and e-government services.

In a recent notice, Farhad Khan, the group’s chief commercial officer said by venturing in new areas, they would connect more people, organisations and businesses.

In July 2011, the Uganda cabinet approved the National E-government Policy Framework with the overall objective of improving public service delivery through a systematic transformation from manual to electronic-based systems and practices.

The suspension of work on Uganda's national fiber backbone and e-government infrastructure, estimated to cost a total of US$106 million, is the latest case in a string of eastern and southern African telecom and ICT projects that have been hit by charges of corruption.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has launched the Electronic Government Procurement system (EGP), aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability/value for money and effectiveness.

During the launch at the UCAA head offices in Entebbe on Monday, the acting Director General UCAA, Mr Fred Bamwesigye, said that embracing new technology innovations is well in line with the Authority's core values.

Sometime this month, Uganda's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), together with Chinese technology company Huawei, will launch the first phase of the national data backbone, which has cost some US$30 million. The fiber-optic cable interconnects government institutions and departments with the aim of reducing spending on public administration.

Telemedicine is the use of electronically exchanged medical information.

“Telemedicine is an important tool for providing healthcare services,” said ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira.

It will have the capability to maintain two million phone calls simultaneously, marking a revolutionary transformation in Internet access and affordability in Uganda.

Young ICT innovators fro Uganda will now benefit highly from Uganda's Science fund that has for ages been perceived as a fund be restricted to agro, bio and chemical science innovations.

This was said by Hon Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of ICT and National Guidance at the inaugural stakeholders' dialogue held on July 06, 2017, Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.

"It will be a gateway to all government institutions, a one-stop center for all government information," Ambrose Ruyooka, Uganda's acting commissioner of IT, said in an interview.

The portal, which was commissioned by the Ministry of ICT, will also incorporate the government ministries, departments and agencies that do not maintain Web sites at this time.

Uganda’s online service index has improved from 50% in 2016 to 57% in 2018 which puts the country in high online service index bracket. This is according to the United Nations E-Government survey 2018.

The Online Services Index is a component of the E-Government Development Index(EGDI) which is a composite indicator measuring the use of ICTs by Governments in delivering public services at the national level. It examines how digital technologies and innovations are impacting the public sector and changing people’s everyday lives.

The second phase of the project comes more than four years after the first phase of a US$106 million National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) and the Electronic Government Infrastructure (EGI) was commissioned in 2007.

This is in collaboration with South Korea, which will offer technical assistance to develop a comprehensive ICT master plan for Uganda, covering and integrating the economy and a feasibility study on ICT priority areas.

E-government refers to the use of the Internet to deliver government information and services to citizens.

The project under the Uganda Communication Development Fund (UCDF) of the Uganda Communications Commission will see health centers across the country fitted with computers, digital cameras, scanners and other gadgets to allow doctors to diagnose and prescribe treatment to patients in other health centers.

The government of Uganda has launched the fourth phase of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and e-Government Infrastructure Project (NBI/EGI). President Yoweri Museveni performed the launch ceremony.

Construction works on this phase included extension of an ICT backbone to the West Nile districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Koboko, Adjumani, Katakwi and Moroto. There was also connection of the ICT backbone to three border points which are Oraba of Uganda, Vurra of South Sudan and Mpondwe of DR Congo for regional connectivity and to enhance the redundancy of the NBI.

Running until 2019, the strategy will see the government adopt an e-government procurement system designed to empower public bodies to better manage public procurement.

Implemented by the Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and supported by the World Bank, the system also aims to introduce increased efficiency, confidence in the procurement system and value for money.