ICT is a fulcrum of development. It is an accelerator, amplifier, and augmenter of change. It has a huge potential to improve the District’s productivity by making Government and business enterprises more efficient, effective and nationally competitive. It is therefore a crucial driver of social and economic development.

ICT plays a major role in all aspects of life: economic, political, social and cultural. ICT also relates to human rights and supports freedom of expression and the right of access to information. It is against this backdrop that Government of Uganda has recognized that ICT has become a key enabler of economic and social transformation as clearly articulated in the NDPs, where ICT has been identified as one of the primary growth enablers.

The Sector of Information and Communications Technology in Pakwach District Local Government was established in 2018 with a mandate of providing strategic and technical leadership, overall coordination, support and advocacy on all matters of policy, regulations and strategy for the District

The Sector is currently under Administration Department and its headed by an ICT Officer, Mr. Orombi Benard O

Objectives of the ICT Sector

• To provide high quality information technology services to Pakwach District;
• To promote standardisation 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 throughout Pakwach District;
• To provide guidance and other assistance as may be required to other users and providers of information technology;
• To be the focal point of co-operation for information technology users and providers at regional and international levels; 
• To promote access to and utilisation of information technology by the special interest groups.

However, the ICT landscape is itself changing and government must take deliberate steps to keep this pace through the development and adoption of new strategies that can be leveraged to realize the District’s digital future.

There isn’t yet much data and statistics on ICT services and geographical distribution at the district, sub-county, parish, etc.;

This Sector is under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance

The Governance and Institutional Framework of ICT sector in the country can be viewed from four main perspectives;

1.     

Oversight Function

2.     

Policy Formulation and Coordination

3.     

Policy Implementation

4.     

Regulation

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is mandated to govern ICT Sector and is supported by different Government and other Institutions with designated mandates as follows;

1.     

Ministry of ICT & National Guidance – being responsible for ICT legal and regulatory environment; Secure ICT access and usage for all; increased employment and growth opportunities and increased awareness and citizen participation in government programs.

2.     

Uganda Communications Commission – being responsible for regulatory environment of the communications sector including broadcasting; efficient and effective management of scarce Communications resources; fostering efficient/healthy competition; consumer protection; research and development of human resource in sector.

3.     

National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) – being responsible for a rationalized and integrated national IT infrastructure; e-government services in MDAs; regulation of IT environment in public and private sector; capacity building and awareness creation; information security and development of information technology enabled services/business process outsourcing (ITES/BPO) industry.

4.     

Uganda Post Limited (UPL) – being responsible for offering a wide range of postal, communications and logistical services; financial services (Money orders); passenger transport and parcel delivery services.

5.     

Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology UICT) -being responsible to train and conduct courses, seminars and workshops, and create public awareness of the communications sector.

6.     

Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) – being the national broadcaster providing radio and television broadcasting services and programmes.

7.     

The Uganda Media Centre (UMC) – being responsible to provide professional media and communication services to government departments; foster a communication environment between government and the media and to integrate the international marketing of Uganda into the broader communication strategy of government.

8.     

The Media Council – being responsible for regulation and promotion of ethical standards and discipline of journalists; arbitrate disputes between the public and the media; censor films, videotapes plays and other related apparatuses.

9.     

The Vision Group – a multimedia business housing newspapers, magazines, internet publishing, televisions, radios, commercial printing, advertising and distribution services.

10. 

The Parliamentary Committee on Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance – oversees the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance and covers policy matters under the Ministry.

11. 

The ICT and National Guidance Sector Working Group – with a role to harmonize, coordinate, monitor, evaluate and report on the sector vision and goals, policy frameworks, plans, and performance of all sector MDAs. Comprises of membership from Sector MDAs, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, Local Governments private sector, institutions associated with the sector, and representatives of development partners. It is headed by the Sector lead – Ministry of ICT & National Guidance.

Inquiries can be sent to:orombi.benard@pakwach.go.ug or info@pakwach.go.ug or info@ict.go.ug or ictinfo@ict.go.ug