ICT Ministry Needs Shs68billion to Connect Internet in Uganda’s Safari Parks
Tourism being among the major contributors to Uganda’s
economy, the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and National
Guidance has expressed a need for Shs68b for connecting tourism sites to the internet
and other telecommunication networks for easy communications. This was one of
the recommendations carried in the report of the Parliament Committee on ICT
and National Guidance.
According to the report the tourists who visit different
sites and national safari parks want to keep in touch with their people back
home and would like to be connected with their families and friends while in
Uganda. These visitors want to capture live videos and share them with their
friends and families while at the different tourism sites. Hence the committee
saw it important that the Parliament appropriates Shs68b for connectivity. The
private companies that run some of the tourism sites across the country cannot
afford to invest in connectivity because of limited finance.
According to Mr Tumwebaze the ICT minister government
hopes to take the internet fiber to the tourism sector in the next phase of the
National Back Born extension.
After which extension the tourism sector and the government will then ask the telecom companies to operate the infrastructure as demanded by the new broadband distribution regulations.
After which extension the tourism sector and the government will then ask the telecom companies to operate the infrastructure as demanded by the new broadband distribution regulations.
The minister also added that the next phase after internet has been installed in the national safari parks and other tourism sites would be for the government to also embark on the phase of ensuring voice data is also extended to allow tourists to make phone calls when in and around the tourist sites.
The committee also recommended to Parliament to allocate
Shs7b to enhance the ICT innovation program in the ministry of ICT.
The report that was adopted without
debate also recommended the appropriation of Shs40.2b for the Ministry budget
in the next financial year that starts in June.
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