Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is to expand internet connectivity countrywide so as to increase access to information and communication technology (ICT) services in the country.
During the third East Africa Internet Governance Forum held at Imperial Royale, Patrick Mwesigwa, the acting Executive Director of UCC, said Uganda has prioritized the expansion of internet connectivity as a mechanism of connecting the rural communities with the urban ones through the Rural Communications Development (RCD).
Mwesigwa says that under the new RCD policy, UCC aims to expand internet coverage and computer accessibility in most of public institutions like schools, administrative units and hospitals across the country.
“UCC intends to provide broadband connectivity especially to educational institutions and health centres across the country,” he said.
The policy will be pinnacle for the development of a commercially viable communications infrastructure in rural Uganda, thereby promoting social, economic and regional equity in the deployment of telephone, Internet and postal services, according to the UCC.
Mwesigwa called for a fight against internet insecurities like theft, cyber crimes and illegal information hacking.
“The region will not fully benefit from the infrastructure if online safety is not assured,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mwesigwa says UCC has drawn strategies to improve online safety to guarantee confidence to internet customers/subscribers.
This comes after Government recently passed the Regulation of Interception of Communications bill. Other bills such as Computer Misuse, Electronic Transactions, which seek to guarantee security, are in the pipeline.
Currently, Kenya has established a national Computer Emergency Response Team that coordinates responses to cyber security.
From: The Observer
