The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) has announced plans to integrate all government information and communication technology systems to enhance sharing of information.
According to Dr Hatwib Mugasa, the Managing Director of NITA-U, they will soon rolling out the Data Integration Platform, a system that will see data seamlessly shared across all government systems so as to improve service delivery.
“In view of this, NITA-U will integrate IT security, data processing and e-government frameworks with the National Backbone Infrastructure to achieve affordable and accessible IT services for the Government of Uganda,” Dr Mugasa said during an interview on Tuesday, 17 August 2021.
He admitted that the government’s digital systems have not advanced.
“Security of the available data we have as government is dependent on the individuals. That’s the biggest point of failure and also our biggest concern,” Dr Mugasa said.
“We are still a young nation in terms of digital services but with this momentum that has come in with new leadership, I believe that Uganda will be at par with the developed world and we should be leading in development 10 years from now,” he added.
NITA-U also plans to enhance the implementation of the National Information Security Framework (NISF) to protect the government’s critical Information Infrastructure against any potential cyber threats.
“This will be achieved by enhancing our National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) as well as strengthening our local, regional and international collaborations on Information Security matters,” Dr Mugasa says.
To enhance IT research and innovation over the next five years, NITA-U seeks to establish a National IT Park.
“This, we believe, will boost research in homegrown ICT solutions that will facilitate and drive the digital transformation agenda,” he said.