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The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance Permanent Secretary, Dr Aminah Zawedde has launched the West Nile regional ICT Innovation Hub at Muni University in Arua city which is set to boost local entrepreneurship in the region.
The need for a regional ICT innovation hub stemmed from the challenges faced by West Nile entrepreneurs in accessing critical resources, getting guidance and internship required as they expand their businesses.
Prof. Robert Kajobe, the Muni University Director of Graduate Training, Research and Innovation said, the regional hub will help in addressing the problems entrepreneurs face such as lack of meeting or training venue, work spaces, fast internet connectivity and cloud storage system among others.
Prof. Simon Anguma Katrini, the Muni University Vice Chancellor confirmed that the university received UGX 250 million after the decision to establish an ICT hub was mooted in 2020, and a request lodged to the ICT Ministry to receive support through the National ICT Support Initiative program.
Dr. Zawedde said, the Ministry is focusing on digital infrastructure such as setting up connectivity, hubs, data centers and also computer labs, and making Ugandans have equipment such as computers and other affordable devices to support digital transformation.
The ICT hub launch was graced by the Area MP for Ayivu East Division, Hon. Feta Geofrey along with three ICT Parliamentary committee members who included Hon. Leku Joel- MP Terego west, Hon. Ezama Siraji Brahan- MP Aringa constituency and led by Hon. Dr. Noah Musa- MP Koboko North County.
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Dr. Noah Musa while addressing the appealed to the government of Uganda to consider reducing taxes on ICT devices and encouraged the youth to embrace ICT in their day-to-day activities and businesses such as livestock farming.
“We can do all these investments but if the end users do not have the gadgets to use the ICT investments we have put in place; then our investments will be in vain and one of the bottlenecks that we are experiencing as a country is the cost of the end-use ICT devices,” Dr. Musa remarked.
Dr Zawedde noted that reducing the cost of devices is among the policy issues the government is looking into through local assembling and manufacturing.
“If these computers, or smartphones are manufactured and assembled in the country, they will be more affordable,” Dr. Zawedde said.
Uganda is pushing for digital transformation through five major pillars including ICT infrastructure and connectivity, digital skilling, e-services, cybersecurity and data privacy along with innovation and entrepreneurship.