NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY-UGANDA (NITA-U)

OVERVIEW OF THE IT SECTOR IN UGANDA AND THE ROLE OF NITA U

INDUCTION RETREAT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON ICT

11th -13th AUG 2011, LAKE VICTORIA SERENA, LWEZA

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

1. Overview of the IT sector

2. Genesis of NITA U

3. NITA –U Establishment

4. On-going Initiatives

5. Challenges

6. Proposals for mitigating challenges

7. Conclusion 8/9/2011

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

1. Describe point A – where we are currently

2. Describe point B – where we want to take IT in

Uganda in 3-5 years

3. Describe the steps and actions that you want to

take from point A to point B

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1. OVER VIEW OF THE IT SECTOR Information Technology can be defined as the

use of technologies to capture, store, retrieve and share information

The technologies among others include but are not limited to ;Computers FacsimileData conversion tools Systems control

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1. OVER VIEW OF THE IT SECTOR CONT…

The key players in Uganda’s IT sector can

be categorized as;Policy Oversight – H.E The President,

Cabinet, MoICT Legislators – ParliamentMDAs and LGNational Service Providers – IT

infrastructure providers -Providers Broadband/Internet

IT Support services – Software developers, provider of IT applications e-govt , e-commerce etc

Development Partners Consumers – end users

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2. GENESIS OF NITA U Despite revolution in the ICT sector experienced since the 1990s, the

IT sub-sector has by and large remained underdeveloped.

The subsector has been charaterised by; Under-developed IT infrastructure Absence of a clear vision for the development the IT sector Lack of clear strategy for the IT sector driving development of the

country Lack of common standards & procedures Absence of a policy for private-public engagement in the sector

The above were attributed to by lack of a specific champion for the IT subsector, and lack of separation of the policy, regulatory and implementation functions within the sector

Its against the above reasons that NITA U was established

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3. NITA U ESTABLISHMENT The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-

U) was established by an Act of Parliament (National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Act of 2009).

The statutory mandate of NITA-U is to; Coordinate, promote and monitor Information Technology (IT) developments in Uganda within the context of National Social and Economic development

The Vision of NITA-U: A facilitator of a knowledge-based, globally competitive Uganda where social transformation and economic development is supported through Information Technology enabled service.

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONTNITA U Key objectives include : To provide high quality Information Technology Services to

Government; To Promote standardization in the planning, acquisition,

implementation, delivery ,support and maintenance of information Technology equipment and services, to ensure uniformity in quality, adequacy and reliability of Information Technology usage in Government and throughout Uganda;

To promote cooperation, coordination and rationalization among users and providers of Information Technology at National and Local level so as to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure optimal utilization of scarce resources; and

To promote and be the focal point of co-operation for Information Technology users and providers at regional and International levels;

To provide access to and utilization of Information Technology by the special interest groups..

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include

To provide first-level Technical support and advice for

critical Government IT Systems including managing the

utilization of the resources and infrastructure for

centralized Data Center facilities for large systems

To identify and advise Government on all matters of

Information Technology Development, utilization and

deployment including systems development, Information

Technology Security, training and support

To co-ordinate, supervise and monitor the utilization of the

Information Technology in the public and private sectors;

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include To regulate and enforce standards for Information

Technology hardware and software equipment procurement in all Government Ministries, Departments, agencies and parastatals;

To create and manage the national databank, its inputs and outputs

To set, monitor, and regulate standards for information Technology planning, acquisition, implementation, delivery, support, organization, sustenance, disposal, risks management, data protection, security and contingency planning;

To regulate the electronic signature infrastructure and other related matters as used in the electronic transactions in Uganda;

To promote and provide technical guidance for the establishment of e-Government, e-Commerce and other e-Transactions in Uganda;

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include To provide for information management services through

acting as records management facility and information repository;

To provide guidance in information technology audit services to Government;

To provide guidance on the establishment of an infrastructure for information sharing by Government and related stakeholders;

Note : The detailed objects and functions of the Authority are respectively spelt out in section 4 and 5 of the NITA-U Act

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

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Executive Director

Director

Technical

Services

Director

e-Govt.

Services

Director

Research

Planning

& Dev’t

Director

Legal &

Regulatory

Services

Director

Finance

& Admin.

Director

Information

Security

NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES

NITA-U’s the medium term priorities and focus for this Financial Year include :Operationalisation of NITA-U:1. Update of NITA-U Strategic Plan2. Effective management and operations of the authority through

establishment of internal management and control procedures3. Provision of first level IT technical support to MDAs and LG

BPO:4. Establishment of the Government BPO centre (300 seater) at Statistics

House (3rd and 4th Floors)5. Establishment of the BPO incentives scheme for BPO operators in Uganda6. Update BPO Strategy7. Develop BPO standards and regulations8. Brand and market Uganda as a BPO destination

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NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES CONT..

IT Infrastructure development:

1. Conduct Forensic and Security Audits of the NBI/EGI

2. Commercialise Phase 1 & 2 of the NBI

3. Procure and deliver bulk internet bandwidth to MDAs and LGs over NBI

4. Implement Phase 3 of NBI

5. Implement Masaka – Mutukula OFC connection as alternative route to sea

cables

6. Extending fibre and last mile solutions to critical sites that will drive

accelerated value creation: District Head offices, Hospitals (District and

Referral), Schools and Universities, Police (posts, prioritized stations and

barracks), Research institutions 8/9/2011

NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES CONT..

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Phase 1: Kampala Metroplitan Area

(27 ministries), Entebbe, Jinja,

Mukono and Bombo

5 transmission sites

Key

Phase 2: Luwero, Nakasongola,

Masindi, Gulu, Nimule, Lira, Soroti,

Kumi, Mbale, Tororo, Malaba, Busia,

Hoima, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, Kasese,

Bushenyi, Mbarara

17 transmission sites

Datacentre for NBI infrastructure

Pilot for messaging & collab. tools

Phase 3: Katuna, Kabale, Ntungamo,

Masaka

3 transmission sites

MONUC (Entebbe)

Network Operating Centre (NOC)Transmission sites

NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES CONT..

E-Government:

1. Conduct e-Government readiness survey

2. Promoting an accelerated value creation program and usage of

e-government services like: Messaging and Collaboration tools,

Video conferencing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) ,

focused e-Government solutions and Smart Local Government

solutions

3. Establishment of the national databank

4. Establishment of centralised data centre shared services for

MDAs and LGs 8/9/2011

NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES CONT..

E-Government (cont’d):

5. Development of the e-Government architecture blueprint

6. Development of the e-Government application and

technology roadmaps

7. Establishment of an interoperability framework for e-

Government infrastructure and systems across Government

8. Continue DBICs rollout – future e-Government kiosks

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NITA U MEDIUM TERM PRIORITIES CONT..

Regulatory environment:1. Establishment of National IT Standards & Regulatory Framework and

Systems2. Operationalisation of the cyber laws and establishment of Public Key

Infrastructure

IT Programme Management:3. Establishment of a uniform and integrated framework and system for

management of IT Programmes and Projects across Government.

Capacity building:

4. Strengthening IT capacity and skills development across Government

5. Development of local IT industry capacity to support strategies and

implementations to lower cost of support while creating jobs 8/9/2011

Isolated IT

Inter-operabl

e ITDevelo

pE-Govt

CreateEnabling

environment

Build IT infrastructu

re

“Interoperable IT is our strategic intent, our rallying call for IT”We will measure interoperability across:

WhatProven National

development contribution

HowBenchmarkedperformance

WhoRecognised ITprofessionals

“Isolated IT ”

1. Each MDA /LG use their own IT infrastructure2. Isolated IT systems in MDAs & LGs3. No interoperability between IT systems4. High maintenance costs

•Operationalise NBI Phase 1 & 2

• Deliver bulk internet bandwidth for MDAs, LGs

• Implement Phase 3

• Implement last mile

• Develop national data centre & shared services for MDAs/LG

• Implement Masaka - Mutukula

“Develop IT infrastructure to support National

development programs”

•Operationalise the cyber laws

• Implement the Public Key Infrastructure

• Establish the National IT standards and regulatory framework

• Establish framework for management of IT Programmes

“Develop the regulatory

environment”

“Develop e-Govt (G2C, G2G, G2B, G2E)”

•Conduct e-govt readiness survey

• Messaging & collab. Tools, Video conf. , VoIP

• Establish national databank

• Develop e-govt architecture blueprint, appl. & tech. roadmaps

• Develop interoperability framework

• Develop e-govt solutiions

KNOW WHERE WE ARE KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO GET TO PLAN OUR STEPS MEASURE OUR PROGRESS

Roadmap to

Inter-operable IT

1. Shared IT infrastructure services2. Interoperable IT systems in MDAs & LGs3. Lower maintenanceCosts4. 80% of all MDA/LG offices interconnected

E-Govt. - For every life

situation.. Marriage

Divorce

Unemployment

Company start-up

Buying real estate

Passport Car

Military or Alternative service

Choosing a vocation

Driver's license

Starting

school

University

Apprentice-ships

Pension

Work Child care

Health ins.

Criminalregister

Moving house Holidays

Tourism Building companies

Job agencies

Voting

Removal companies

Legal advice

Plan proposals

NSSF Social benefits

... a comprehensive range of offerings Birth Death

LC Registration (?)

LC Registration (?)

5.0 KEY CHALLENGES NITA-U is challenged by a number of set-up activities

and this is to be expected for any new institution.

The key challenges include:i. The role of NITA-U is still not yet well understood by most

MDAs and LG, and this therefore still requires a lot of stakeholder engagements

ii. Inadequate financing reflected by unfunded priorities iii. High public expectation vis-a vis resources availableiv. Rapid changes in technology v. Resistance to change from manual to electronic-enabled

systems

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6. MITIGATING CHALLENGES

CHALLENGE MITIGATION MEASURES

Role of NITA-U not understood by MDAs and LG

• Stakeholder engagements• Attend MDA and LG forums• Advocacy through people who

know what NITA-U is e.g. Parliamentary ICT committee

• Publicity and wide media coverage

Inadequate financing • Advocacy for the prioritisation for funding of the ICT sector

• Fundraising drive • Loans and grants• Income-generation –

commercialisation of NBI• PPP

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6. MITIGATING CHALLENGES CHALLENGE MITIGATION MEASURES

High public expectation vis-a vis resources available

• Prioritise Quick-win interventions

• Stakeholder engagement Rapid changes in technology • Change management styles –

BOT, BOO, Turnkey etc• Proactive programme for

phasing out & upgrading technologies

• PPP and Outsourcing Resistance to change from manual

to electronic-enabled systems• Sensitisation and awareness • Mindset change through

demonstration of the importance of IT

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7. CONCLUSION NITA U acknowledges the goodwill of all its stakeholders, the Executive,

Parliament ( in particular Sessional committee on ICT), MDAs and LGs, Development Partners etc

We do recognize the huge expectation about NITA U and we are readying ourselves to live up to this expectation.

However, we wish to draw attention of our stakeholder to the fact that NITA U is still a young institution, and that it needs to be nurtured.

As we take up the mantle of driving the transformation of Uganda into a knowledge-based economy, its our humble appeal to all stakeholders to uphold the support so far offered to NITA U.

Lastly, we appeal for support to ensure that we mobilize the required funding to support the programs we have set before ourselves, in order to deliver the mandate of NITA-U

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END

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

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