Uganda Needs Tough Broadband Price Regulations

Kato Mivule | July 20, 2009

Ugandan Press has been reporting of ‘The Broadband Company’ that claims that they will offer faster affordable internet services to Ugandans. The British company headed by Arvind Knutsen has not invested in any infrastructure but rather is a ‘middle man’ type of company looking to make ‘fraud’ profits in Uganda.

Arvin Knutsen claims that his company will charge Ugandans about 70 US Dollars to 140 US Dollars per month for a 64k to 512k Internet Connection. One wonders what the goal and purpose of the Ministry of ICT is.

If the Ugandan Government has heavily invested in the Fiber Optic Broadband Infrastructure, then why allow unknown “investors” to set outrageous prices for internet access and deny Ugandans a chance to access information on the net?

On the other hand in the USA the new Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – FCC, Julius Genachowski is seeking to make Broadband accessible and available to all Americans and that means lower prices. Americans have seen economic development with High Speed Internet.

“WASHINGTON — Julius Genachowski has laid out a major mission for the Federal Communications Commission: making affordable high-speed Internet available to all Americans. But how the agency’s new chairman goes about achieving that goal has Internet providers watching nervously. Mr. Genachowski, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, confirmed his commitment to widespread Internet access, saying the Web has been perhaps “the most successful driver of economic growth” in the country…”
The Wall Street Journal |JULY 20, 2009
| New FCC Chairman’s Agenda Includes Broader Internet Access, More Transparency

On the other side of the Atlantic in Uganda, Broadband is being hijack by avid middlemen who have invested nothing in the nations fiber optic infrastructure but fly from Europe to come and set exploitative prices.

The Ugandan ICT Ministry has done nothing to challenge such companies as the British ‘The Broadband Company’. What will result is that development will be impended and Ugandans will never benefit from High Speed Internet.

Uganda’s government ought to take tougher regulations to protect its Internet Infrastructure from insatiable businessmen. Uganda’s High Speed internet should cater for schools, hospitals, and farmers in villages. Tougher Prices regulations should be a welcome so as to speed up economic development that comes with Broadband Internet Connection.

Notes

The Independent | July 20, 2009 | The benefits of fast Internet in Uganda

The Observer | July 8, 2009 | INTERVIEW: Broadband company to offer faster internet

British Broadband Company Debuts in Uganda with Outrageous Prices

By Kato Mivule
A British Broadband Internet Service Company launched services in Kampala and will be offering services at a price range of about 73 US Dollars to 750 US Dollars for 64 kb to 512 kb, per month, while offering 3G to 2G services for a prices range of about 140 US Dollars per month. One wonders where Ugandans will get such money to have access to the internet.

This is outrageous and any Ugandan who loves free flow of information will no doubt see this as a ‘gate keeping ‘process in which some ‘elite’ western companies seek to place impediments before Africans as they endeavor to access information on the web. This will not only stifle the free flow of developmental information to millions of Africans but will act as a setback to I.T development in Uganda.

Ugandan Government and especially the Ministry of Information Technology should come out and set prices controls for the interest of Ugandans and not some companies looking for a ‘kill’ in Africa. Such outrageous prices for internet services are higher than in some Western Nations… Take for instance, with the same Broadband infrastructure, the USA offers relatively lower prices than what the “New” British company is offering in Uganda.

The interview and Press Report of this “new” ISP Company in Uganda made it sound like they will offer cheap prices yet the facts are the “new” ISP Company will offer very unaffordable prices for their services. Uganda’s Government invested in infrastructure for High-speed Internet by laying hundreds of miles of Fiber Optic Cable, Ugandans should hold the ICT ministry accountable to stop the outrageous prices hikes.

It would not be a surprise that even with the latest High-speed Fiber Optic Broadband infrastructure in Uganda, Prices might continue to widen the Digital Divide in Africa.

Below is the interview that the CEO did with a local Ugandan daily on the launching of his company in Uganda…

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Business Power | July 14, 2009
Broadband for good speed, customer care

Broadband Company, a new internet service provider and subsidiary of PME Infrastructure, a London-based firm, unveiled its services in Uganda last week. Walter Wafula interviewed Mr Arvid Knutsen the managing director about the company’s strategy.

What drew the Broadband Company to Uganda?
Broadband Company is owned primarily by PME Infrastructure, which is a United Kingdom- based Fund. They have explored and checked out the market in East Africa, and in that process, several countries have been evaluated and many projects have been considered. The conclusion has been that Uganda has good market possibilities in the broadband area. The market drew us to Uganda.

What is broadband because many Ugandans don’t know what it is?
I suppose most people know what internet connection is. You can have fast or slow internet, low or high capacity internet. The definition of broadband can be internet connection with good, fast, and sufficient capacity to make a user happy, as a working tool in a job or private use.
The speed of bandwidth or internet offers here are very slow compared to other markets.

Consumers are hungry for fast and high capacity broadband what is the state of your service?
If you were at our media launch you can tell how good the speeds are. That is what we consider a broadband solution. People must try it out and see what we offer. However, we can deliver any capacity or speed on our lines whether you are a private or corporate customer. Our technology allows us to deliver any speed.
braodband.jpg

GEARED FOR NUMBER ONE POSITION: Mr Knusten. Photo BY EMOJONG OSERE - Daily Monitor

Can you break it down into figures?
Normally, the broadband solutions start at 128kilobits or 256kilobits (Kb) per second. We can deliver below that but we have preferred to start at 128kilobits. The company currently offers up-to 512 kilobits but plans to provide 2,045 kilobits. The 128Kb costs Shs147,000 when shared and Shs483,000 for a single user.

And what have you done to ensure that you sustain the fast speeds and high capacity, no matter how many clients subscribe to your service?

We are a specialised broadband operator. We only deal with internet and broadband. We don’t mix with voice or with other solutions. Our WiMAX technology enables us to monitor, control and send whatever we do for our customers and we are producing our services ourselves. We have our own satellite gateway and ISP platform, so we control our value chain. This guarantees that customers will get what they are paying for.

Your company’s vision is “to serve customers beyond their expectations.” Many firms have come up with almost similar taglines but delivered below expectations in the end. How will you do it?
More than you expect, does not only refer to the speed. It also refers to the way we are going to treat and handle our services. We are going to provide the best customer service we can.

When I compare your pricing to that of other players, I notice a slight reduction in rates. Shall we see the rates go further down with the launch of the submarine cables?
We are not a high price company. We are in the middle, we try to be affordable and I think the market deserves some competition on the pricing side. Yes, you will definitely see a downward trend on the prices.

How soon will this be?
I am not quite sure if we will see any effect this year. May be late this year but I assume we will see considerable reduction in the prices of broadband next year.

Do you intend to deliver mobile phone call services similar to what is offered by GSM operators like Zain and MTN?
We are strictly a broadband service provider but we are also providing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, which has limitations compared to GSM. However, it has huge advantages if deployed correctly and it is extremely cheap – I don’t want to mention prices right now but I can be a fraction of Shs50.

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Business | July 9, 2009
Broadband firm to offer cheaper internet
Walter Wafula | Kampala

The BroadBand Company, a new Internet Service Provider, is expected to unveil its services to Ugandans at prices lower than what most of the current players in the market are offering this Friday.

According to the Managing Director, Arvid Knutsen, the Kampala-based firm will be formally launched by the Vice President Gilbert Bukenya at the Kampala Serena Hotel tomorrow.

The firm will start off its services by offering internet at speeds between 64 Kilobits (Kb) per second and 512Kb per second at between Shs147, 000 and Shs1.5 million per month on its shared packages. For internet that is not shared with other users, the prices range between Shs483, 000 and Shs3.4 million. For individual use, the firm will offer the 3G portable modems with internet at Shs283,500 compared to the average of Shs320,000 offered by other service providers with the exception of Warid Telecom, which offers 2G devices at about Shs240,000. The cost of accessing the internet and voice services is expected to drop further this year, with the launch of the three submarine cables that are under construction from the coast of Mombasa in Kenya.

Speaking at the media launch held at T1 Club, Mr Knutsen said the Broadband Company is the first Internet provider in Uganda to offer services under the latest wireless internet platform called WIMAX E going beyond the current offerings of WiMAX.

“This ensures a faster and more reliable connection and ultimately a more satisfactory Internet surfing experience for our customers,” he said, adding that the company is committed to giving customers “more than what they expect”.
“BroadBand Company will be taking you into a world of increased accessibility and endless possibilities,” he told the press on Tuesday.

BroadBand Company, which was licensed by the Uganda Communications Commission over a year ago, operates under mother company TMP Uganda Ltd, whose majority shareholder is PME Investment Fund, a London based company. The other shareholders are TMP Management, a Norway based company, and a local consortium, Suubi Services Uganda Limited.

Currently, the company’s services are only in Kampala. The company is, however, rolling out its infrastructure to the districts of Jinja and Entebbe. Mr Knusten said their services will be available in the districts in the coming months. According to Mr Knutsen, the company also plans to introduce Voice Over IP service, which will reduce the cost of making calls, as well as offer IP video conferencing, Data Warehousing, Domain Name servicing and more.

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Google’s “War on Info Poverty” in Africa

By Kato Mivule | July 6, 2009

With Google’s launch of an Information Supply Blitz in Uganda combined with recent developments of Uganda getting connected to the Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Network, Africa is readying itself for an information revolution never seen before.

Google's Logo

Google recently launched a new Mobile Phone Service – Google SMS involving the users in Uganda accessing a wide range of information on the web tailored to Uganda. This is a remarkable development and one that has the potential to transform Ugandan society.

“…Google SMS Tips provides health information and clinic location assistance to mobile phone users. It also provides agricultural and weather information to farmers… Google worked with the Grameen Foundation, MTN Uganda and several local organizations to develop and test these applications. “We believe it’s important to reach users wherever they are, with the information they need most, and in areas with the greatest information poverty,” said Payne…”
Google Fights Information Poverty In Africa |Informationweek | June 29, 2009

In a continent that surpassing both Europe and the USA is Mobile Phone subscription, it makes sense to have mobile phone users in Africa have access to the internet yet tailored around their needs.

However, Google’s goal is a little too ambitious in the “fight against information poverty” in Africa. The trouble with Africa’s telecom growth is that mobile phones are simply seen as devices to make phone calls.

It is Africa’s Middle Class that goes beyond the ‘phone calls’, yet many of the poor who can now afford a Mobile Phone find no other use for the mobile phone they carry. The Internet is still seen as something ‘exotic’ and ‘a thing for the wealthy’.

However, Google in her ‘war on Information poverty’ can actually borrow a leaf from the success of Telecom companies in Africa in hopes to drive the point home to many in Africa that Information Access is as important and useful as making the ‘phone calls’.

What Google has done in her ‘War on Information Poverty’ in Africa is flood Africans with ‘lots of info money’ only to be spent on nothing…too much unutilized technology…

This is the biggest challenge that Uganda’s Information Technology ministry faces…how to get folks to actually use this technology and then measure ‘success’ in whatever form it is deemed.

One of the best places to start would be Universities in Uganda. Universities would demand that every student own a Mobile Phone (Laptops are still too expensive), which almost all University students in Uganda own anyway.

The goal would be that Students would access educational information and communicate using their hand held devices with professors on various research projects. The next level would be High School Students and then on and on…

Microsoft’s Legal Gamble Againts Software Piracy in Africa

By Kato Mivule | June 29, 2009

This past week has seen yet another maneuver by Microsoft’s fight against Software Piracy in Uganda but leaving observers as to what the real motives of Microsoft Corporation are in Africa. Press reports in Uganda showed that Microsoft has hired local legal teams to file charges against Ugandan Locals involved in the illegal acquisition of Microsoft’s Products.

“MICROSOFT, the world’s leading software manufacturer, has contracted Kampala Associated Advocates to fight software piracy in Uganda. Dr. Charles Kallu Kalumiya, one of the firm’s senior partners, said over the weekend that Microsoft sought their services to enforce intellectual proprietary rights. “Microsoft hired us after discovering a loss of billions of shillings,” Kalumiya said. “Time is up for these pirates, who hitherto operated with impunity,” he stated…”
Microsoft hires city lawyers| 21st June, 2009| http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/685485

There is no doubt that Software Piracy thrives in Kampala, Uganda’s Capital and that Software companies and vendors almost make no money through the sale of proprietary software. However, the trouble with Microsoft’s approach is that they are not dealing with the root cause of the problem of Software Piracy in Uganda. The trouble with with Software Piracy in Africa is largely a Microsoft self created and self inflicted problem.

Microsoft Windows Vista Logo

I am in no way agitating for the “freedom” of Software Piracy, nor do I condone any kind of theft of Proprietary Software. I do design Databases, and while in Uganda, I found it very difficult to market or even sell any Database System to anyone simply because folks would get one free for pay little fee for a pirated copy. Secondly, you would design and develop a Database System for one entity, only to find it distributed free across town.

The problem is economical and larger than just Software Piracy of Microsoft’s Products. Microsoft has made their products very expensive to purchase and market their products in Africa as if selling to America’s Middle Class. No one in Africa is willing to pay 450 US Dollars for just a Copy of Windows Vista or Microsoft Office for use at home or in a small business office.

Though there is a growing Middle Class in Africa, the earnings of such a class cannot afford a 450 US Dollar proprietary software. 450 US Dollars is some one’s monthly Salary in Africa’s Middle Class. Yet still Microsoft has targeted schools and institutions of Higher Learning in Africa by “forcing” poor parents and students to pay as part of their tuition for Microsoft Proprietary Software on school computers. This is the same Microsoft that is sending out donations to Africa’s institutions in so-called efforts to “bridge the digital divide”…and the public outcry against Microsoft’s practices in Africa is just beginning…

“…Microsoft tried Nairobi and lost to a computer dealer having sued for $2m. Now it has come to Kampala. Almost everyone in Uganda uses pirated software! This is a poor country where the basic income for most people is way below a dollar a day. Uganda had to cut taxes on computers to enable our people in the rural areas benefit from the new computer era at an affordable price. Now in their wisdom, Microsoft think they can force Ugandans to buy software at $300 per user when Government-aided schools pay $50 to install the same software on 20 computers used by over 1,000 students!… If Microsoft cannot reduce the prices to poor countries’ standards, they are wasting their time bullying these countries. Thank you for trying to monopolise software development over the world, but let the poor be.”
Microsoft, give the poor a break | 23rd June, 2009 |http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/685689

While I deplore the acts of Software Piracy and what that means for hard working businesses, I have less pity for Microsoft as I think that Microsoft should change their business model in Africa to encourage a culture of respect for intellectual property and make Software products affordable in the African market. Microsoft should borrow a leaf from the successful African Telecom companies that are reaping ‘big time’ form high Cell Phone Subscriptions that are made very affordable to locals.

Microsoft 'Bing' Search Engine Logo

Still Microsoft’s efforts in Uganda will stall as Uganda’s copyright and interllectual property laws are full of flaws and generally outdated. Another fear is that Microsoft could use it’s legal and Dollar powers to bribe government officials into signing binding contracts with Microsoft for her products thus defusing competition fom other Software developers. Microsoft’s Software Policing in Africa is being viewed with suspision.

Twitter, FaceBook, Technology, and 2011 Ugandan Elections

By Kato Mivule | June 23, 2009

The Elections in Iran not only caught the eyes of the local Iranians but the world has watched with awe as local Iranians bypassed all impediments to freely express themselves and the choice of their candidates without fear and trepidations of the Mullahs and Religious Theocrats who rule Iran with fear and terror.

Twitter Logo

Technology has left no doubt that dictatorial Governments cannot put the freedom of choice and expression by the masses to silence. Iranians took to the streets to campaign vigorously for their candidates of choice and employed Technology such as Twitter and FaceBook to express their choice of leadership.

However, the dictatorial regime of the Theocrats placed a ban on all Internet Media Outlets and also clamped down on the use of Cell Phones and Satellite TV net works.

Twitter

Yet still the courageous Iranians found ways to bypass the Internet and Technological blockades placed by the Theocratic regime and shared their stories to a worldwide audience via the internet on sites such as Twitter and FaceBook.

With the Iranian Election being marred by large scale cheating and theft of votes, Iranian citizens took to the streets to protest while documenting events and using Technology via the internet to share their stories with to the rest of the world despite the Internet Blockage by the Theocrats.

One thing that the Iranian Government could not do and that is largely beyond their control, is that they cannot control the Internet…they cannot pull the plug on the Internet and that is a very good thing. They can control access and Transit to and through their Iranian Domain but cannot control the web.

The Iranian Lessons are certainly being studied by Ugandan Politicians especially the young generation. There is a huge growing discontent in Uganda’s Social Political Set up and most folks are tired of the current Museveni Administration that they see as full of nepotism, favoritism, and outright corruption and theft of Uganda’s resources.

Yet Uganda’s Opposition Political Groups are still disorganized, disunited, lazy, and always procrastinating… However, 2011 is not that far and they could borrow a leaf from the Iranian citizens on how best to employ internet technology to advance their causes.

President Museveni faces similar Iranian Government challenges in Uganda come 2011, a young well educated generation, discontent among the populace, poverty, harsh economic times, advanced Internet Technology, wide Cell Phone subscription, wide Satellite subscription, and a populace hungry for change.

Yet still, there is one thing that President Museveni cannot control, and that is growing advanced Technology. It is something that his party cannot contain but the well educated young opposition politicians in Uganda can take advantage of.

However, Ugandan Opposition Politicians had better start acting now, they had better start coming up with innovative ways to employ technology in an aggressive and antagonistic political climate. They must find ways to keep their documentation alive in an environment where the political persecution is the order of the day.

Yes, President Museveni is not sleeping, he is thinking about how best to deny access to Cell Phones, Satellite TV, Internet Access, Twitter, FaceBook and other Technologies comes 2011, and Ugandan Opposition Activists must stop procrastinating and wake up to the challenge and perhaps hire Technology Officers for their Campaigns if they ever want to at least beat a ‘Clever’ President Museveni in 2011.

Economic Crisis an Opportunity for Open Source in Africa

Kato Mivule | April 6 2009

The current Global Economic Crisis is forcing governments to cut unnecessary spending and the ICT sector is not exempt from this process. This is understandable especially when it comes to African countries in sub Saharan Africa with budgets financed mainly by European donors also reeling back and forth from the global economic melt down.

Take Uganda for instance, donors support 50 percent of Uganda’s budget and in such cases Uganda cannot escape the pains that have come with the global economic recession.[1] Uganda and much of sub Saharan Africa will have to cut back spending on none essentials in their budgets.

However, there are number of ICT Open Source solutions that the Ugandan Government can implement without curtailing ICT growth in Uganda even as the ICT Department suffers budget cutbacks.

The overall ICT infrastructure investment is somewhat ‘secure’ from the global recession in Uganda as Government had already secured loans from China for the Fiber Optic Data Transmission Cable across the country. [2] Telecom companies have already invested and laid Wireless infrastructure.

If there is any area that African governments can cut funding during this recession, it is in the ICT Procurement Departments. The problem comes with Software Licenses and agreements that have to be renewed annually in most cases. This places enormous costs on governments that have to spend thousands of dollars just to upgrade and keep up to license agreements for all governments departments, local governments, schools, hospitals, etc.

Microsoft Corporation for example makes some good hefty sales when it comes to both operating systems and software applications in Africa. Microsoft has been one of the biggest proponents of Proprietary Software in Africa and was late last year named in a corruption scandal in Nigeria in which they tried to bribe some government officials into signing up for their proprietary software according to the Wall Street Journal. [3]

The price for proprietary software in Africa is way beyond the incomes levels of many. As of 2003, South African Government alone spent 352 Million US Dollars on licenses and software. [4] This means that other African nations much poorer that South Africa cannot keep up with the price tag that comes with proprietary software.

Ugandan and other African governments can use this current economic crisis to push for the use of Open Source Software and perhaps pass legislation requiring government departments and schools in the education sector to employ Open Source technologies to cut costs.

As African Governments seek to cut spending in budgets due to the current global economic crisis, ICT innovations and developments don’t have to be put on hold. There are numerous Open Source options that ICT managers can turn to and in the long run free African Governments from having to spend millions of dollars paying Multinational Corporations in Software fees and Licenses.

Rather a small percentage of the money being spent on Procurement of Proprietary Software can be channeled for I.T Training, and support services as needed with new Open Source Software Installation and services.

NOTES
[1] New York Times: Uganda's Presidential Elections, Mary Crane, February 23, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/international/slot2_022306.html

[2] IT News Africa: Uganda legislators approve US$75 million for data backbone, Mobile and Telecoms, December 11, 2008
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=1965

[3] Wall Street Journal: Microsoft Battles Low-Cost Rival for Africa, Technology, October 28, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122332198757908625-lMyQjAxMDI4MjIzODMyMjgxWj.html

[4] Infoworld: South Africa, Nigeria move on Linux adoption, John Yarney, July 08, 2003
http://www.infoworld.com/t/platforms/south-africa-nigeria-move-linux-adoption-173

What is Happening with DELL and Response to Global Needs?

By Kato Mivule | April 3, 2009

This Picture speaks a lot... The photo was taken at the recent G20 London Summit by a Reuters Photo Journalist but posted on the Financial Times Website... The picture shows a demonstrator throwing a Dell Flat Panel Monitor at the RBS Bank...

The Reuters Photo Journalist did a good job of capturing the Dell Logo and the disgust with which the angry anti capitalist demonstrator threw the monitor at the RBS Bank window. Interesting picture indeed that speaks lots about Corporate America and European Banks.


Is Dell doing enough in helping bridge the Digital Divide especially in Poor Africa? Is Dell helping out with alleviating poverty and illiteracy across the globe? To be fair Dell is doing a great when it comes to 'going green' but have the Dell Publicists failed to connect with the larger 'Climate Change' and Green Movement?

Or is it that Dell is simply viewed as simply a 'For Profit' Capitalistic Company with no conscience when it comes to issues like poverty, illiteracy, and diseases across the globe?

Picture Source: Reuters/Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6d531e78-1e96-11de-b244-00144feabdc0.html

Opposition to Phone Tapping Bill Grows in Uganda

By Kato Mivule | March 30, 2009

This month saw a number of I.T related events in Uganda that will have an impact on Uganda’s I.T industry in the future. From the launching of Orange Telecom, MTN Mobile Banking, exporting of Uganda’s I.T ‘Know How’, and the growing opposition to the Phone Tapping Bill. Uganda’s I.T development is accelerating at a pace faster than both locals and politicians can handle.

However, the Phone Tapping bill tends to pour cold water on all these monumental developments if the current bill in its form is passed as law in Uganda. The Information Technology infrastructure will only serve to the meet the needs of ‘the powers that be’ rather than serve Ugandan locals.

Information Technology is rapidly changing the way of life and business in Uganda especially when it comes to voicing opinion and is one reason why the government of Uganda is pushing the unpopular ‘phone tapping’ bill so as to control progress in the I.T sector before it is too late.

However, the Ugandan Government is coming in too late and the speed at which I.T infrastructure development is progressing in Uganda is beyond the ‘policy net’ that the Ugandan government is trying to set up.

This is good news for the locals in a sense that the Ugandan government has no capacity to control new technology from the populace in fear that opposing politicians will borrow a leaf from US President Obama and his campaign in the use of Technology.

Rather than go the Obama way to enhance technology positively, the Ugandan government seeks to employ Chinese tactics in controlling what the general populace can access.

The passing of the Phone Tapping Bill is going to be an ongoing legal battle. Information Technology is to become part and parcel of any legal proceedings in Uganda… The protection of such an infrastructure from ‘Big Brother’ is in the interest of Lawyers, Human Rights Activist, and any God fearing person… “A lawyers’ body has added its voice to the growing opposition to a proposed new law that would legalise phone-tapping by security agencies. The Uganda Law Society, which has a membership of more than 1,200 lawyers spread across the country, says phone-tapping is unconstitutional.”
Lawyers oppose phone tapping Bill
Daily Monitor | March 7, 2009 |Mercy Nalugo

The point is that locals do not trust the Ugandan Government with their privacy and for historical reasons. Ugandans have endured abuse from Governments meant to protect them but instead turn to witch-hunt, harass, and torment any who offer opposing views.

Uganda’s Telecom Governing Body, the Uganda Communications Commission has voiced its opposition to the bill… If the bill is passed as law, the constitutional court will get involved as the bill contradicts the Ugandan Constitution.

UCC not consulted on phone tapping Bill
Daily Monitor | March 26, 2009 |Mercy Nalugo
The proposed Phone Tapping Bill hit yet another snag yesterday when officials from the national communications regulator told parliamentarians that it is in conflict with several sections of already existing laws governing operations in the sector. The Uganda Communications Commissions officials also revealed that the body was not consulted during the drafting of the Bill, further raising questions about the motives of the brains behind it. The UCC becomes the latest organisation, after the Uganda Law Society, a section of MPs, telecommunication service providers, and human rights groups like the Human Rights Network (Hurinet), which have strongly opposed the enactment of the Bill into law.

Human Rights groups have voiced their fears that the Bill would give powers to the government with leverage of abuse. This is not far fetched as it may sound. The outcry from the Human Rights body is based of the current government and its history of Human Rights abuse.

How can they be trusted with Powers to virtually control communication and the privacy of Ugandans? If the Ugandan Government has not respected the individual rights of Ugandans before the advent of the current Information Technology infrastructure, how can they be trusted now with powers to listen in on every one’s call, read everyone’s emails, and know everyone’s movements?

Phone tapping contradicts Constitution – watchdog |New Vision | March 25, 2009

“…Appearing before the same committee, the Human Rights Network requested powers of the minister to intercept communications be shifted to the courts of law, adding that the minister could abuse the powers…The Uganda Journalist Association officials argued that the Bill, if not amended, would remove the confidentiality of their sources contrary to the Media Act.”

However, Ugandan Government officials are trying to use fear mongering and playing the 9-11 card in snatching away the right to privacy for Ugandans. However, such arguments have been fearlessly fought against in the USA and not even President Obama can make the argument that he will Phone Tap because of 9-11…

ICT minister backs phone tapping |New Vision |March 26, 2009
“The Government has been tapping phones, but now wants to make a law. The opposition should actually applaud the Government for the development,” Awori added. The minister said even the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in the US occurred partly as a result of not having a law on phone tapping. Awori said the American government, even after knowing about the attack, could not stop it since they did not have such a law.

There is no doubt that criminals exist and that government has to do its part in protecting her citizens. However, there are no studies or even reports that when governments wire tap phones, criminality rescinds, or terrorists stop their attacks.

Wire Taping does not stop any criminal activity and neither is it a hindrance. For the most part criminals go ‘low tech’ and communicate without the dependence on phones.

Secondly, there might be cases when government will need to wiretap and monitor any cyber criminal activity. However, in such cases the government should seek a court order to gain a warrant and government should be forced to account for its warrant activities to avoid any illegal actions like listening in on people’s private conversations.

Rather than deliberate on how to Phone Tap conversations and read people’s emails, Uganda’s legislative body would better serve their constituents by protecting people’s privacy while enhancing Cyber Security in Uganda and heavily holding Uganda’s government to account in the process.

Uganda’s Technology and Freedom of Speech at Risk

Kato Mivule | March 11th 2009

Though Uganda is experiencing a Telecom boom coupled with an increasing young adult middle class and college graduates, the Political establishment sees this as a threat. The young population is very inquisitive and ever learning, thanks to Internet Technology.

Dictators in Africa are scrambling to find ways to control and gag this young adult population by placing control on information. The recent Press Media Control laws in Kenya are testament that control of information is priority for African Dictators.

Uganda’s Parliament is debating on a new bill that would allow Mr. Museveni’s Government to spy on Ugandans by tapping and monitoring private phone and email communication.

MPs on the Information and Communications Technology Committee are right to put Security Minister Amama Mbabazi to task over the Regulation of the Interception of Communication Bill, 2007, which seeks to legalise the tapping and monitoring of private communication. Through the proposed Communications Monitoring Centre, the security minister wants to be authorised to intercept and monitor private mail and phone conversations among others in an effort to “fight terrorism” and bolster national security…
Do not sacrifice civil liberties| Opinions | March 4, 2009
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Do_not_sacrifice_civil_liberties_80881.shtml

The debate is serious that the Western Press picked on the story. Issues of privacy have continued to be a concern especially after 9-11, 2001 when passed ‘decrees’ to wire tap on Americans and their phone usage…

Opposition MPs in Uganda have condemned a bill to legalise phone-tapping by security agents. They say they fear it will be used by the government for political reasons…The BBC's Joshua Mmali, said many people in the capital, Kampala, were concerned about invasion of privacy…"Suppose I'm discussing something private with a boyfriend?" one woman said. A banker said he said he did not want business deals being overhead. "I'm 100% against the phone-tapping bill," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7926367.stm

However, for African Dictators and African leaders who see themselves as infallible and life presidents, technology brings fear of a populist movement and revolts. Therefore most African dictators will unashamedly borrow a leaf from China and how the communist leaders have controlled telecommunications in China.

While china has allowed the growth of internet usage, it has at the same time placed stringent controls on Chinese citizens as to what they can access across the internet. China in such a way had stifled down political and social oppositions that would have used the internet.

Interestingly, it is China that has turned out to be one of the largest financers of Uganda’s Fiber Optic Data Transmission Lines being currently installed in Uganda. I worry about China’s continued multi million investments in Africa, especially in the area of Technology.

While the investments are good, China is not a friend to democracy and freedom of speech. China is found of striking deals with some of Africa’s worst dictators with the latest example being Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

While Africa struggles to help itself bridge the digital divide by investing in Telecommunication Technology, African Dictators are dreaming about using technology to stripe away the little privacy that African citizens have. To African Dictators, Technology is now seen as a tool to control, manipulate populations, and create a police state in the name of “fighting terrorism”.

It was former US president GW Bush who came up with the term “fighting terrorism” and went to the extent of rescinding US civil liberties by tapping into phone and email communications of US Citizens. However, the Obama Administration seems to be taking a different approach and hopefully they can pressure African Dictators not to use the pretext of “fighting terrorism” in their war against free speech and democracy on the African Continent.

However, I do not have hope in Uganda’s legislative body, the Parliament. The largest majority are members of the current President Mr. Museveni. A few years back Mr. Museveni managed to ‘bribe’ a number of members of parliament in Uganda with 5 Million Shillings (about 3000 US Dollars) in what he called a “Facilitation Fee”, as they deliberated on extending Presidential Term Limits. At the end of the day, the Members of Parliament, the majority being from his own party, removed Presidential Term Limits and thus made President Museveni, a Life President.

How can such a Parliament preserve freedom of speech in Uganda? What credibility do they have? Who knows if they have received another “Facilitation Fee” to help pass a new ‘Big Brother’ Legislation so that Mr. Museveni can employ the power of technology to spy on own country men? The new proposed Bill is nothing but a killing of Free Speech and civil liberties in Uganda.

Fire at Owino Market and Technological Solutions

By Kato Mivule | March 2, 2009

Uganda’s Largest Thrift Market was set on fire by suspected arsonists, destroying merchandise worth millions of Uganda Shillings. Owino market deals mainly in second hand clothes and other used merchandise imported largely from Europe and the USA. Many poor people make their living in this market by trading in used items.

The conditions at the market were not conducive as all of the stalls are make-shift timber structures with plastic coverings that made Kampala’s premier shopping center a good friend to fires.

The Government had a Fire Rescue Team that is stationed about 500 meters from the market but the Fire Engines lacked water and as such could not put out the fire. The other nearest Fire Rescue Team is stationed at Entebbe International Airport and had to travel about 30 miles to get to Owino Market. By the time the Fire Rescue Team fro Entebbe arrived, the market was already in ashes.






[Image Scource: Daily Monitor www.monitor.co.ug]

The most troubling of all the Owino Fire tragedy is that traders at Owino market store their goods in the Make-Shift Wooden Stalls and with the fire burning, most traders lost all their goods and including millions of Uganda shillings in cash that many of the traders for some reason keep locked up in the wooden stalls.

This begs the question why traders at Owino Market do not trust the banking System in Kampala. Why would traders keep millions of paper currency in wooden stalls outside in the open at the mercy of few armed guards?

It is also known many traders had borrowed money from Micro Credit Finance institutions in Kampala yet the same traders would not dare keep money in the Banks or even store it in the same Micro Finance Credit Unions.

However, the good news is that one of the largest Microfinance Credit Union had insured the loans and they simply announced that they were going to forgive the debts of the traders who had borrowed from them. However, that left out many who have just borrowed money from relatives and friends, with no one to help them restart their businesses.

The President of Uganda pledged 1 Billion Uganda Shillings to help the fire victims restart their business with new fresh capital. However, this is where the trouble is going to come… The Market Managers at Owino Market keep records in paper books and most of the books were burnt in the fires.

It is very difficult to legitimately establish who was a trader and who is not. It is going to be very cumbersome to establish who was a Vendor and is not. The Kampala Owino area is full of traders and also folks who do nothing from pick pockets, idlers, and unemployed youth looking for a quick buck.

The situation is made worse because Kampala City Council has no real records of Traders and Vendors at Owino Market. Kampala City Council for the most part outsources its Tax Collection duties to third parties who simply collect taxes from the Traders and issue paper receipts with not legitimate ‘recognition details’ of the Tax paying trader. Tax Collection at Owino Market is not advanced in the form of the computerized Uganda Revenue Authority – URA, Uganda’s main tax collection body.

Astoundingly, almost all the traders and vendors at Owino Market own a Mobile Phone and make numerous calls all day. Most of the traders and vendors are of the ‘Pay As You Go’ Subscriber group. The Telecom sector in Uganda heavily relies on such consumer markets to drive up sales. It is no wonder that when one walks around Owino Market, you will see that the ground is littered with thousands of Telecom used ‘Air Time’ Cards. The Owino traders and Vendors are at least not technologically ‘cut off’ and we cannot for sure state that they are totally suffering from the digital divide.

However, for most of the traders, Technology stops at using the Mobile Phone to call friends and maybe make verbal ordering of goods. The Surrounding area around Owino market is filled with Bank Branches yet one wonders why the traders and vendors stored their money in the wooden stalls and not across the street in the Banks.

I am of opinion that Technology is still seen as an ‘elite thing’ in Uganda. Computers and computerized transactions are not trusted by the majority of poor people who still view such systems as belonging only to the rich and affluent. Kampala City Council has not fully utilized Technology in its efforts to manage the City of Kampala when it comes to collecting city taxes from traders.

Uganda’s Telecom companies are doing a very poor job when it comes to the utilization of the wireless communication infrastructure in the nation. There is no reason why the traders cannot carry out banking transactions over their Mobile Phones. Telecom companies seem to be caught up in only providing ‘Air Time’ Cards without providing any other services that locals can use for business.

The Owino fire showed that traders still don’t trust the banks. However, it is banks that have done a very poor job at reaching out to the traders and vendors at Owino market. Why not reach out with ‘Mobile Banking’? Why not open up Banks late evening so traders can deposit cash during late evening hours? What about ATM machines that can act as ‘deposit’ booth?

Amazingly almost all financial institutions, including Micro Finance Credit Unions in Uganda offer Bank Debit Cards of the Visa brand. This would be an opportunity for Ugandan Financial institutions to offer possibilities for their clients to make payments using Debit Cards.

It would be more feasible for Owino Traders to have a Mobile Payment Terminal installed at one of their stalls that used cloth clients would be able to make payments using their Visa Debit cards. All Thrift Stores and most Farmers Markets in the USA accept Debit Card Payments, Uganda can do the same.

The costs of maintaining such facilities would go to the consumer but at the same time offering security to the trader and creating jobs for the Customer Service sector that would manage the transactions in the Banks and Credit Unions. This would avoid the necessity to keep huge sums of paper money in wooden stall at the danger of thieves and fires. The Telecom sector in Uganda has already laid the wireless infrastructure and enough security to implement such a measure.

The Ministry of Information Technology has a long way to go in educating Ugandans that Computers are not just some fancy toys for the rich but that these computers can help even the least of traders manage their business and keep and maintain records. The days of keeping records in paper books are over, as it is unsafe and unsustainable…

These few things can be done at Owino Market in Kampala…

• Computerize Trader and Vender Records at Owino Market…
• Computerize KCC Tax Collection Efforts in Kampala Markets…
• Computerized Tax collection at Owino Market…
• Mobile Banking, Fully Utilization of ATMs, Visa Debit Card Payments in Owino…
• Invest in Telecom Financial and Business Innovations and solutions…
• Educate locals of the advantages of a Computer…
• KCC fund its own Fire Rescue Team…

Notes
Owino fire shames the nation again
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Owino_fire_shames_the_nation_again_80512.shtml

President gives Owino traders sh1b
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/672905

TRADERS LOSE BILLIONS IN OWINO FIRE
http://www.ntvuganda.co.ug/news.php?task=news&&sectionid=15&&id=1856&&opt=bo

HARSH WEDNESDAY: Owino Market goes up in flames
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/HARSH_ASH_WEDNESDAY_Owino_Market_goes_up_in_flames_80552.shtml

Uganda Gets a New I.T Czar; Will He Deliver?

By Kato Mivule
February 19, 2009

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni ‘reshuffled’ his cabinet, dropping some Ministers while bringing onboard new and old party loyalists according to the Ugandan Press. Among those dropped in the reshuffle was the I.T Minister Dr. Ham Mulira, one of Uganda’s top I.T experts.

Replacing Dr. Ham Mulira is a Harvard Graduate, Aggrey Awori who has had a history of contentions with Ugandan Dictators, including the present Museveni Regime but recently he surprised everyone when he crossed party lines and joined the Museveni ruling party.

Reasons behind the dropping of Dr. Ham Mulira are not known but most likely are political as President Museveni sought to reward his surrogates with positions of power in his regime despite the fact that most of the latest appointees are totally incompetent and lack the merits.

The most telling of these political appointments was President Museveni dropping Dr. Suruma, Uganda’s Economic and Finance Czar and replacing him with Syda Bbumba, who now becomes Uganda’s first female Finance Czar.

She has experience of only being a Banker in relation to Economics and named as one of the worst ministers of the year 2004 for the power shortages during her tenure as Energy Minister. What should Ugandans expect during her tenure as Finance Minister?

However, the dropping of Dr. Ham Mulira is a set back to the Ugandan I.T Sector. He led Uganda’s first I.T Ministry and oversaw the structuring of Uganda’s I.T Governmental Body.

The appointment of Aggrey Awori brings a lot of questions because Aggrey Awori is simply a political appointee and Mr. Museveni engaging in patronage and rewarding his surrogates.

However, the I.T. Ministry requires expertise and ‘Technical Know How’, but President Museveni seems to have gone with the ‘Technical Know Who’ ideals in appointing Aggrey Awori as Uganda’s Chief I.T Officer.

Mr. Aggrey Awori might not even know the lingual involved in I.T though he is a Political Economist from Harvard. Will it be that Dr. Ham Mulira will give Mr. Aggrey Awori a Computer 101 Class before he hands over the Powerful I.T ministry to him?

The same can be said of the new Finance Minister, Syda Bbumba, she has no knowledge and experience of economics and her profile shows that she totally mismanaged Uganda’s Electric Power Sector while she was Energy Minister.

On the other hand Dr. Suruma is an economics expert; despite some set backs he had in Uganda with the NSSF (National Social Security Fund) Funds debacle, Dr Suruma is an expert in his own field.

President Museveni is found of appointing his friends, cousins, and relatives to very technical government posts, only for the relatives to fail to deliver, the latest example is when he appointed his brother Salim Saleh as Minister of Micro Finance who totally failed to extend Micro Finance Credit to Uganda’s Poor.

Uganda’s Government I.T Department risks setbacks because of political appointees who have no technical and managerial expertise to deliver. Ugandan Parliament should scrutinize these new appointees and put them to task to deliver, withdraw their appointment, or resign and avoid the embarrassment.

Uganda cannot afford more years of political games as designed and orchestrated by President Museveni with his political appointees and rewarding of incompetent surrogates.

The I.T. Ministry is very critical to Uganda’s development, from the Agricultural sector, Immigration, Finance, Banking, and Education, information Technology has proved to be a very powerful vehicle in fostering growth and development, thanks to Dr. Ham Mulira’s efforts in laying the infrastructure needed.

Poverty, Diseases, and Illiteracy will still haunt Uganda as President Museveni continues his political games by appointing officials who know nothing about their fields and will only foster mismanagement and corruption.

Notes
Museveni reshuffles cabinet
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Museveni_reshuffles_cabinet_80005.shtml

Aggrey Awori
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggrey_Awori

Syda Bbumba Worst Minister of the Year
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/38/408859

Windows 7 and the Lapse of Microsoft in Africa

By Kato Mivule

Much is being talked about Microsoft’s new OS, Windows 7 and how it is supposed to be the ‘Dream OS’ for all those who chose to stick with Windows XP and rebuffed Microsoft’s overrated Windows Vista.

While some blogs are giving half-hearted praise for the Windows 7, much of sub-Saharan Africa will not benefit, and might stick around with Windows XP or even totally migrate to Ubuntu as is the case in Nairobi, Kenya, where most Internet Cafés have moved to Ubuntu after government crack down on pirated software.

Microsoft’s new OS will not do much to help ‘Bridge the Digital Divide’ but actually will only widen it. Windows 7 is largely provides a smooth transition from Vista to Windows 7. However, much of Africa still utilizes Windows 2000 largely because of it downgraded license requirements, and many entities still use Windows XP.

Windows Vista in this part of the world has only remained an item for the ‘elites’ due to its costs and also need for connectivity for license verification. Only a few corporate entities and well to do multinational corporations could afford the price and ‘strings attached’ that came with Windows Vista.

Secondly, hardware costs also count, apart from the few Corporate entities, the costs of a simple computer with the latest hardware configurations to run Windows Vista well is just beyond the reach of ordinary ‘middle class’ folks who rather will buy a cheap imitated brand name computer from China and run a pirated version of Windows XP.

There has not been any monumental transition from Windows XP to Windows Vista for much of poor Africa. A pirated version of Windows XP is what remains as the standard OS on most of Poor Africa’s Desktops. Therefore, most of Africa might not take the leap from XP to Windows 7.

Even Government Departments with Pre-installed versions of Windows XP could not afford the Price Tag involved in upgrading systems to Windows Vista. Therefore Windows 7 is most likely to mark the beginning of an end of Microsoft’s domination of Africa’s Tech World.

Recent developments and user-friendliness of Ubuntu make it the most likely place that Africa’s Techs will migrate to as one can witness when they visit Internet cafés in Nairobi, Kenya.

However, for most African Techs, Connectivity still remains an impediment in falling in love with Ubuntu, as one cannot get the constant upgrades that come with it. However, with the robust growth of the Telecom sector in Africa, Connectivity is becoming just an issue of price. African Techs will find it far much cheaper to install Ubuntu and pay the Telecom guys a few bucks for connectivity than paying Microsoft a hefty price plus ‘strings attached’ for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Windows 7 is coming out at a very bad time when the world is experiencing an economic downturn. Given that sub-Saharan African countries have half of their budgets sponsored by mostly European Donors, I foresee cost cuts when it comes to Information Technology spending.

Most European Donors, whose countries are not that very friendly to Microsoft, will demand Open Source Initiatives when it comes to Information Technology Spending in Africa and Ubuntu will be a favorable OS, given that the originators of the Software are based in the UK.

Therefore, Windows 7 might be the last of what we see as Microsoft’s dominance in Africa even if Microsoft gives it out for free.

Bill Gates, Mosquitoes, Africa, and the Reality Check

Bill Gates, Mosquitoes, Africa, and the Reality Check
By Kato Mivule

This past week Bill Gates surprised his audience at the TED – Technology Entertainment and Design annual Conference in California by releasing a swarm of harmless mosquitoes into the audience.

Bill Gates was sending a message to the audience that they should have empathy and ‘feel the pain’ that folks in ‘Third World’ nations face with the plight of Malaria.

Among Tech Executives, Bill Gates is one of the best Ambassadors we have so far concerned with helping alleviate Poverty, Diseases and Illiteracy in Developing Nations, and employing technology and philanthropy in the process.

If there was anything good from this conference, it was Bill Gates driving the point home that Technology should not be detached from reality.

I give Bill Gates a plus for this despite his ‘high priced’ software costs with strings attached on unending license renewals at Microsoft, which makes it look like a ‘what Bill Gates gives, a Bill Gates takes away’ venture.

When Bill Gates gives a Million Dollars in Grants to fight Malaria to None Governmental Organizations - NGOs in Africa, they in turn have to pay huge amounts of money in purchasing Software applications from Microsoft not to mention annual renewal costs which they get at reduced prices…then, more mosquitoes continue to bite more Africans…

Bill Gates did drive the point home to many of the Tech Executives who seem to live outside reality and their technological ambitions seem to be disconnected from the many social ills like Poverty, Diseases, and illiteracy faced in much of the poor parts of the world.

However, Bill Gates might have sent mosquitoes into the Audience at the TED Conference in California and many of the Tech Executives might have felt the pain of mosquito bites, but surprisingly many of African Executives are far placed away from reality of the mosquito bites that their people face in Africa.

I wish Bill Gates would carry a larger container of Mosquitoes and release them in a conference of African Leaders, Presidents and Dictators, most probably the African Union – AU, who of recent went out of their mind to elect Dictator Gadaffi as President of the AU.

These are the folks who best need not just harmless mosquito bites but those infected with Malaria so that they would get the feel of the plight of their own people who suffer from Malaria.

Most recently, funds meant to fight Malaria in Uganda from the Global Fund were squandered and stolen by High ranking Ugandan Government officials and as such a number of lives lost. Up to this day no one has been sent to jail for stealing money meant to help fight Malaria.

It is such folks who best deserve a swarm of Mosquito Bites from Bill Gates, but this time mosquitoes infected with Malaria. It is Africa’s Corrupt Leaders who need the best reality check.

Notes
Bill Gates Releases Mosquitoes at TED - BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7871210.stm

Bill Gates Unleashes Mosquitoes on Tech’s Elite – Information Week
http://www.informationweek.com/news/industry/technology-telecom/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=213201784

Global Funds Stolen – All Africa
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805260836.html

Libya’s Qaddafi Is Elected Chairman of African Union
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=azJBmzOWm1jQ&refer=africa

Beyond Uganda’s 8 Million Telecom Subscribers

By Kato Mivule

According to the Ugandan Press, Telecom companies are in a celebratory mood after subscribers reached 8 Million in number, given Uganda’s population of about 30 Million, which is a very significant number in the still relatively new Telecom companies in Uganda.

“Uganda’s mobile telecommunications subscriber base now stands at 8.2 million, a growth rate that is not only underscoring the pace at which Ugandans are embracing technological change but also the boundless commercial potential embedded in that deep yearning for new technologies.” The Daily Monitor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business_power/Telecom_subscriber_base_now_stands_at_8million_78839.shtml

The future for Telecom companies looks great with the ever increasing middle class in Uganda that places demand for faster and better communication. It is a wonder for one to walk the streets of Kampala, Uganda’s Capital and find almost every other person with a mobile phone, which was considered a luxury for only the rich and wealthy just a few years ago.

From the Boda-Boda (Motorcycle Taxi) folks to politicians, communication has been made very easy. Local businesses have taken on the Telecom infrastructure and used it to transact business more easily.

Take for instance, a Matoke (Banana Plantain – A staple food in Buganda, Uganda’s central region) dealer does not have to board a Taxi to go to Masaka (a Town in Uganda) from Kampala to place orders for Matoke, he simply calls and this makes his business much easier… The Telecom Boom in Uganda is really remarkable and revolutionary.

However, despite the Telecom advances and the growing number of subscribers, major challenges remain that daunt Africa in growing out of its plight. There still remains poverty, diseases, and illiteracy.

The moral challenge for Telecom companies in Uganda which are currently harvesting huge profits from the exponential number of subscribers is to find ways to employ the current Telecom infrastructure to fight Poverty, Illiteracy, and Diseases. It is in their interest to do so, rather than just focus on making hefty profits. A healthy society, an educated people, and a financially stable population will be of real ‘interest’…

Many Ugandans, who own Mobile Phones, only use them for making and receiving calls but perhaps more can be done. There is no doubt that Telecom companies in Africa are the current “Big Thing”.

However, many are still locked in the idea of simply increasing subscribers. Telecom companies in Uganda are among the largest spenders when it comes to advertisement, with budgets that would catch the attention of a Western Marketing Agent.

Telecom companies can move to show Ugandans and Africans that they can utilize the current Telecom Infrastructure to better their lives and fight diseases, poverty, and illiteracy. In the long run it is the Telecom companies that benefit from the increased usage of their infrastructure.

It is time Uganda’s Telecom companies moved beyond ‘Subscribers’ and “Boundless Commercial Potentials”… When Africans fare well, Telecom companies will fare even well…

Will the Economic Slump Be a Blessing for I.T in Africa?

By Kato Mivule

I.T Experts agree that Africa generally lags behind when it comes to Information Technology. There are a number of benefits that could be derived from the use to technology, especially in the fight against Disease and Poverty, including illiteracy.

However, the greatest hindrance to the full utilization and deployment of Information Technologies in Africa has largely been due to Cost. The cost of procuring both Hardware and Software is astronomical and most African Governments cannot afford the purchases.

Most African Governments in the sub-Saharan region rely on Donor funds to help make such technological investments but at very minimal levels such as upgrading Central Banks and other critical financial institutions computer systems.

Many other government agencies are left to fend for their own. I recall visiting the Immigration Center in Uganda and going to the storage room were records are kept. Surprisingly, most of the records are kept in paper form and in cardboard files, most of which have been eaten by moth, dampness and mice.

No wonder there is such an alarming rate of forgery and impersonation when it comes to acquiring a Ugandan Passport. Ugandan Immigration Services would find it very difficult to locate a Passport Application of someone who applied in 1980 but happened to pass away… However, such is the sickness with which records and kept in many African Government Agencies, just naming Uganda as an example.

Well, the problem is that even when the prices of hardware keep coming down, the prices of software kept going up and making the accessibility to the latest Information Technologies out of reach for many in Africa.

Interestingly enough is that Microsoft does not cut its prices for software sales in Africa. License Agreements stay the same as when one purchases the same software package in the West. Secondly, one has to keep upgrading and with each upgrade is more money. You will find that some institutions that manage to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft in 2003, will not do so for another 10 years because of price.

Ironically it is Bill Gates and his Foundation has been one of the main donors for funds to fight against disease, illiteracy and poverty in Africa. However, if Bill Gates sends A Million Dollars to help fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, then Microsoft takes that Million Dollars away through high price tags and recurring license fees for their software.

Things seem to be changing, not to sound pessimistic but the economic downturn and recent shakeup at Microsoft with Windows 7 verses Vista, and Layoffs, will maybe help those in Africa look for alternatives such as Open Source Technologies and perhaps force Microsoft to lower their price tag and cut the strings that come attached with it. Even in Africa, the days of a Microsoft Monopoly might be coming to an end.