THE FIRST ANNUAL UK - UGANDA INVESTMENT FORUM
2010
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ICT SECTOR IN UGANDA
BY
HON. AGGREY AWORI, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Introduction
ICT
– About Uganda;
sector in Uganda;
Developments
Investment
in the ICT sector in Uganda;
opportunities;
Challenges.
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INTRODUCTION
About Uganda
Population:
32,369,558 (2009)
Area:
236040Km2
Nominal GDP (2009):
Total - $15.736 billion,
Per capita - $1,195
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ICT SECTOR IN UGANDA
Institutional Framework
Policy level
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology
Regulatory level
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC);
Broadcasting Council (BC);
National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U).
Operational level
Telecom operators;
Broadcasters;
Couriers;
IT companies.
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ICT SECTOR IN UGANDA
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Policies
Telecommunications policy;
Draft Postal sub-sector;
ICT policy;
Draft Information Technology Policy;
Draft Broadcasting Policy.
Laws
Communications Act;
Electronic Media Act;
Cyber laws.
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ICT SECTOR
Telecommunications sub-sector
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Developments in the ICT sector
Telecommunications sub-sector
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ICT SECTOR
Telecommunications sub-sector
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ICT SECTOR
Telecommunications sub-sector
National Backbone Infrastructure
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ICT SECTOR
Postal sub-sector
Service
No. of Licensed Operators
Dec 02
Dec 03
Dec 07
Dec 08
National Postal Operator
1
1
1
1
International Courier License Holders
5
5
6
6
Regional Courier License Holders
1
4
6
6
Domestic Courier License Holders
5
9
13
13
12
19
26
26
Total number of Operators
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Developments in the ICT sector
Broadcasting sub-sector
•
41 licensed TV stations and 199 FM radio
stations;
• Transfer of Broadcasting Council to Ministry of
ICT;
• Harmonization of Electronic Media Act with
Communications Act;
• Migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.
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Developments in the ICT sector
Information Technology sub-sector
•
•
•
Enactment of cyber laws;
Creation of National IT Authority (NITA-U);
Introduction of new Information systems in
Government, e.g. IFMS, LOGICS, ASYCUDA;
• Development of district websites;
• Acquisition of computers by different sections of
society;
• Installation of District Business Information
Centers (DBICs).
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Developments in the ICT sector
Information Technology sub-sector
• Internet growth
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ICT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The following ICT investment opportunities exist in
Uganda:
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO);
ICT infrastructure and services.
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ICT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) - Status
• Uganda has developed a BPO strategy;
• Initiatives by Private Sector include:
• Call Centers;
• Data Entry ;
• Software development ;
• IT and Technical Services, e.g., Network system
administration;
• Engineering and Design.
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ICT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) – Opportunities
Uganda has a great potential for becoming a dominant BPO
destination in the East and Central African region.
Uganda has got the following advantages:
A solid skills base;
Location in regard to time zones;
Political stability;
A well regulated ICT sector;
Favorable investment climate;
Competitive cost of labour;
Rapid developments in ICT infrastructure;
Weather.
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ICT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ICT infrastructure and Services- Status
•
Private operators have rolled out wired and wireless
infrastructure to mainly towns;
• Government of Uganda is rolling out a National
Backbone to cover most parts of the country;
• An e-government network connecting all Ministries was
installed;
• There are no manufacturers of ICT equipment in
Uganda.
• Private operators offer a variety of voice, data and video
services
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ICT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ICT infrastructure and Services – Opportunities
•
Management of the National Backbone Infrastructure;
• Rollout of e-Government services on the e-Government
network and National Backbone infrastructure;
• Rollout of last mile connectivity;
• Hardware equipment manufacture and assembly;
• Information Technology Parks;
• ICT Incubation Centers;
• Data Warehousing and Data Center Services;
• Software Development and Training.
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CHALLENGES
Limited Government funding for ICT projects
Un-coordinated implementation of ICT projects;
Insufficient legal and regulatory framework;
Limited access to ICT infrastructure;
Low literacy rates;
Limited awareness across all levels of society of
benefits of ICT.
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Thank You
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