Overview:
The national backbone infrastructure project is ongoing since 2011 and its objectives are to connect all major towns to a fibre optic network, as well as government ministries and departments to the e-government network.
KAMPALA — China and Uganda have signed a USD 151 million agreement in which the Asian country will finance the expansion of Uganda’s key national data infrastructure project.
Ugandan Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija and Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong inked the agreement on Friday, kick-starting the fifth phase of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and e-Government Infrastructure Project.
“On behalf of the government of Uganda, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the government of the People’s Republic of China for the long-lasting technical and financial support,” said Kasaija at the signing ceremony.
Zhang said the Chinese government’s concessional loan support shows China’s strong confidence in supporting Uganda’s economic and social transformation efforts.
Joyce Ssebugwawo, Uganda’s state minister for Information, Communication and Technology, said phase five of the project is timely in addressing the connectivity gaps in the realization of a digital Uganda by 2040.
“This project will complete connectivity to all district local governments and administrative units, including schools and health centers, to ease service delivery,” Ssebugwawo said.
The national backbone infrastructure project is ongoing since 2011 and its objectives are to connect all major towns to a fibre optic network, as well as government ministries and departments to the e-government network.
Uganda has over 23, 000 schools, according to the official school guide.
To date only 1,300 schools have received computers and connectivity, according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), primarily due to budgetary constraints.
The healthcare sector and specifically medical supply management has also been given priority.