The document discusses Uganda's National Information Technology Authority's plans to support high speed internet access and communications infrastructure development. It outlines initiatives like the National Backbone Infrastructure/e-Government Infrastructure Project which aims to connect major towns and government ministries via 1536km of optical fiber cable. This will provide high-speed internet access nationwide and enable e-government services. The project brings benefits like seamless communication, connectivity for schools and hospitals, and supporting business process outsourcing to create jobs. Challenges to fully realizing these initiatives are also acknowledged.

1. 1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONSOvercoming Challenges to Uganda’s Communications SectorGovernment Plans to Support High Speed Internet AccessJames SaAka: EXECUTIVE DIRECTORNATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY, UGANDA

2. Outline of the presentation ICT/IT and the National Development Agenda Policy, Institutional and Regulatory Reforms Initiatives for developing the National ICT Infrastructure The case for the National Backbone Infrastructure/e-government infrastructure Project Other initiatives to promote and support high speed internet access Challenges, Opportunities, Prospects and Way forward 8/12/2011

3. ICT and the National DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Having identified inadequate stock and quality of physical infrastructure as a key binding constraint to national development - the Government of Uganda has prioritized ICT as a strategy and tool for ensuring faster transformation of the country from a peasant to prosperous knowledge based economy. Enhancing the use and application of ICT services in business and service delivery is a core strategy for both the NDP and the NRM manifesto. Promotion of science, technology, innovation, and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is one of the eight objectives of the NDP. The NDP and NRM manifesto do recognize ICTs as critical enabling factor for the conducive functioning of the rest of the economy as well as facilitating efficient public service delivery. Besides, the classification of sectors depending on their contribution to development under the NDP also puts the ICT sector among the primary growth drivers. 8/9/2011

4. NDP - EGG ANALOGY 8/9/2011

5. Policy, INSTITUTIONAL & REGULATORY Reforms Since the 1990s, the government has implemented a number of policy, institutional and regulatory reforms in the ICT with the aim of promoting faster development of ICT infrastructure; greater access to affordable communications, broadcasting and IT services; high speed internet access and e-government. The reforms included: Liberalisation of the communications and broadcasting industry (allowing competition in the sector) Privatization and divestiture 8/9/2011

6. Policy, INSTITUTIONAL & REGULATORY Reforms Creation of independent regulators and standard agencies i.e. UCC)/BC for Communications and Broadcasting, NITA U for IT POSTA Uganda for postal and Courier services UIICT for telecommunication capacity building In 2006 all issues relating to ICT were put under a single policy framework, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) with full political leadership and technical departments. 8/9/2011

7. INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL ICT INFRASTRUCTURE In general, the reforms in the ICT sector have contributed enormously towards the development of the National ICT infrastructure especially in communications and broadcasting subsectors. In regard to IT subsector, the government has taken more proactive steps to develop the infrastructure through development of the National Backbone Infrastructure/E-Government Infrastructure (NBI/EGI) project. The rest of the presentation will focus on the NBI/EGI project outlining the past achievements, on-going initiatives and future plans of Government in relation to supporting high speed internet access across government and promotion of e-government. 8/9/2011

8. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) was established by an Act of Parliament (National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Act of 2009). The statutory mandate of NITA-U is to; Coordinate, promote and monitor Information Technology (IT) developments in Ugandawithin the context of National Social and Economic development The Vision of NITA-U: A facilitator of a knowledge-based, globally competitive Uganda where social transformation and economic development is supported through Information Technology enabled service. 8/9/2011

9. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT NITA U Key objectives include : To provide high quality Information Technology Services to Government; To Promote standardization in the planning, acquisition, implementation, delivery ,support and maintenance of information Technology equipment and services, to ensure uniformity in quality, adequacy and reliability of Information Technology usage in Government and throughout Uganda; To promote cooperation, coordination and rationalization among users and providers of Information Technology at National and Local level so as to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure optimal utilization of scarce resources; and To promote and be the focal point of co-operation for Information Technology users and providers at regional and International levels; To provide access to and utilization of Information Technology by the special interest groups. . 8/9/2011

10. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT NITA U key functions include To provide first-level Technical support and advice for critical Government IT Systems including managing the utilization of the resources and infrastructure for centralized Data Center facilities for large systems To identify and advise Government on all matters of Information Technology Development, utilization and deployment including systems development, Information Technology Security, training and support To co-ordinate, supervise and monitor the utilization of the Information Technology in the public and private sectors; . 8/9/2011

11. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT NITA U key functions include To regulate and enforce standards for Information Technology hardware and software equipment procurement in all Government Ministries, Departments, agencies and parastatals; To create and manage the national databank, its inputs and outputs To set, monitor, and regulate standards for information Technology planning, acquisition, implementation, delivery, support, organization, sustenance, disposal, risks management, data protection, security and contingency planning; To regulate the electronic signature infrastructure and other related matters as used in the electronic transactions in Uganda; To promote and provide technical guidance for the establishment of e-Government, e-Commerce and other e-Transactions in Uganda; . 8/9/2011

12. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT NITA U key functions include To provide for information management services through acting as records management facility and information repository; To provide guidance in information technology audit services to Government; To provide guidance on the establishment of an infrastructure for information sharing by Government and related stakeholders; Note : The detailed objects and functions of the Authority are respectively spelt out in section 4 and 5 of the NITA-U Act . 8/9/2011

13. BACKGROUND - THE NBI/EGI PROJECT The GoU, through NITA-U is implementing the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and e-Government Infrastructure Project (NBI/EGI) whose major aims are to connect all major towns within the country onto an Optical Fibre Cable based Network and to connect Ministries and Government Departments onto the e-Government Network to deliver high speed internet/broadband The NBI/EGI is composed of two components, the National Data Transmission Infrastructure (NBI) and the e-Government Infrastructure (EGI). Phases I and II have been completed and consist of the following: Laying of 1536.39Km of Optical Fibre Cable across the country to build the National Data Transmission Backbone; Linking Uganda to neighbouring countries – Kenya (Malaba & Busia, Southern Sudan (Elegu); Connecting the towns of Kampala, Entebbe, Bombo, Mukono, Jinja, Busia, Tororo, Malaba, Kumi, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Masindi, Nakasongola, Luwero, Mbarara, Kasese, Fort Portal and Kyenjojo. 8/9/2011

14. BACKGROUND - THE NBI/EGI PROJECT The EGI component is intended to connect all Ministries and Government Departments into an e-Government Network to provide services such as internet, videoconferencing, data and voice communication. The EGI consists of the following: Installation of the Primary Data Centre for the Government at Statistics House has been completed with messaging and collaboration software installed that will be piloted in State House, Ministry of ICT and NITA – U. Extension to other MDAs will follow the rollout of the pilot sites; Connection of 27 Ministries and some Departments through the laying of Optical Fibre Cable onto the e-Government Network; Deployment of services such as videoconferencing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Data exchange and internet access over the e-Government Infrastructure. 8/9/2011

15. National Backbone Infrastructure 8/12/2011 Key Phase 1: Kampala Metropolitan Area (27 Ministries), Entebbe, Jinja, Mukono and Bombo 5 transmission sites Phase 2: Luwero, Nakasongola, Masindi, Gulu, Nimule, Lira, Soroti, Kumi, Mbale, Tororo, Malaba, Busia, Hoima, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, Kasese, Bushenyi, Mbarara 17 transmission sites Datacentre for NBI infrastructure Pilot for messaging & collab. tools Phase 3: Katuna, Kabale, Ntungamo, Masaka 3 transmission sites MONUC (Entebbe) Network Operating Centre (NOC) Transmission sites

16. Benefits of the NBI/EGI PROJECT Seamless and secure communication for Government institutions. High speed data and Internet connectivity throughout the country to all major towns and District headquarters to enable the provision of eGovernment Services such as eHealth, online Education, eTax, Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to all districts and towns. Provision of connectivity to targeted user groups (Schools, Institutions of Higher Learning and Hospitals, Research institutions etc) to enable them access high speed internet bandwidth at reduced costs High speed internet bandwidth to the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centres across the country to provide jobs to the unemployed youth and generate revenue for Government. Finally, the extra capacity that will be utilized to generate revenue for GoUthrough the commercialization of the Infrastructure. This will ensure that Government will be able to repay the concessional loan utilized for Phases I, II and III and fund the expansion of subsequent phases. 8/9/2011

17. STATUS OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE NBI Conducting Forensic and Security audit of the NBI Commercialization of phase I & II of the NBI Implementing Phase III of the NBI Implement Masaka- Mutukula OFC connection as an alternative route to the sea cables Bulk purchase of broadband for MDAs & LG Extending fibre and last mile solutions to critical sites that will drive accelerated value creation: District Head offices, Hospitals (District and Referral) Police (posts, prioritized stations and barracks) Establishment of a National databank to enable e-Government Services Design of Phase 4 to cover especially Northern Uganda 8/9/2011

18. NBI – Phase 4 8/9/2011

19. Other initiatives to promote and support high speed internet access Provision of conducive legal and regulatory environment - a set of regulations to promote e-government have already been enacted these include; e-transactions, e-signature and computer misuse act among others. Promoting secure access for online transactions through the implementation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Promoting community-based information systems through the District Business Information Centres (DBICS) and Internet Point of Presence (POPs). 8/9/2011

21. Establishing IT capacity gaps and benchmarks

22. Developing an updatable database for national IT capacityDevelopment of e-Government Services 8/9/2011

24. Messaging & collab. Tools, Video conf. , VoIP

25. Establish national databank

26. Develop e-govt architecture blueprint, appl. & tech. roadmaps

27. Develop interoperability framework

28. Develop e-govtsolutiions

29. Operationalise the cyber laws

30. Implement the Public Key Infrastructure

31. Establish the National IT standards and regulatory framework

33. Deliver bulk internet bandwidth for MDAs, LGs

34. Implement Phase 3

35. Implement last mile

36. Develop national data centre & shared services for MDAs/LG

37. Implement Masaka - MutukulaKNOW WHERE WE ARE PLAN OUR STEPS MEASURE OUR PROGRESS KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO GET TO

38. CHALLENGES AND MITIGATION MEASURES Inadequate resources – competing national needs and priorities Resistance to change from manual to electronic enabled systems Rapid changes in technology Underdeveloped complementary infrastructure such as Energy, constrain expansion and roll out of IT 8/9/2011

40. Uganda exhibits a growing cadre of IT professionals including zealous and explorative youths

41. Global and regional IT/ICT initiatives such as ITU/NEPAD Infrastructure programmeeg. EASSy(Submarine cable project).

42. E-government/IT support services and applications – e-banking, e-taxation, e-learning etc.

43. Prospects for PPP (commercialization of the NBI, possibility of hosting a Government portal etc) which will address the challenge of underfunding

44. Prioritisation of IT in the national development agenda (NDP, NRM Manifesto etc) cannot be overemphasised.8/9/2011

45. END THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY 8/12/2011