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.

Smart Palm Phone and Nokia’s ‘Life Tool’ Launched in Uganda

Smart Palm Pre launched
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 By The Independent Team

Riding on a boost in smartphone sales, the personal digital assistant and smartphone manufacturer Palm is launching its Palm Pre in the US. The phone, which has multi-touch screen and sliding keyboard is the first to use Palm’s new Linux-based operating system, WebOs. It functions as a camera phone, portable media player, GPS, and Internet client. The Palm Pre launch comes when mobile phone sales worldwide are falling.

Smart Palm Phone Lauched in Uganda

Smartphones sales, however, continue to grow according to a report published by Gartner, which is the world’s leading technology and research consultancy. Mobile phone manufacturers,Nokia, reported 12.7% growth in smartphone sales compared to the first quarter of 2008.

Nokia continued in the lead with about 36% of the market, a 3% dip from the same quarter last year. Samsung’s sales grew and it is now the second largest cell phone maker with 19.1% of the market. This is up from 14.4% during the first quarter last year. LG, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson make up the rest of the top five cell phone makers.

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Nokia introduces ‘life tool’ service

Mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, plans to introduce a ‘Life Tool’ service to benefit farmers, traders and students across the East African region.

Focusing on education, trade and agricultural sectors, it will provide timely information on weather forecasts, market and production trends so that users make informed trade decisions.

Nokia will identify and partner with local telephone service providers, who will share costs with the subscribers on a two months renewable cost sharing agreement. The service will provide the information in tabular form and in two languages simultaneously to enhance usability depending on the subscriber’s location.

The development comes when East Africa is embracing the use of modern technologies to bridge the wide digital divide.

Uganda Govt Arrests Software Pirates with Microsoft Blessings

Ugandan Govt Officials Viewing Pirated Software: Image Source: New Vision

 

 

This past week brought some very significant I.T developments in Uganda that will definitely change the way I.T Business is conducted in Uganda and the whole East African Region. 

An Asian Businessman was arrested for distributing pirated software products mainly from Microsoft Corporation.  The move by the Microsoft sponsored Law Enforcement is certainly going to cause large changes in Uganda’s ‘I.T Street Industry’.

MICROSOFT in conjunction with the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) have nabbed Asians in Kampala with pirated computer software. The Asians were caught during an anti-piracy operation coordinated by the society in the city centre and its suburbs. The two Asians were manning Infopoint shop that deals in computers and accessories on Kamu Kamu Plaza on Entebbe Road. They were nabbed by the Police and taken to Central Police Station (CPS) for interrogation. James Wasula, the general secretary of the UPRS, said copyrighted software was highly pirated by computer dealers. “Almost all types of desktop software are pirated. To a large degree, we see desktop operating systems, desktop applications plus server and data centre software affected.” Lion China Computers on Kampala Road was also nabbed with duplicated software CDs that were taken to CPS as exhibits. Michael Berenju, the enforcement officer with Microsoft East Africa, said over 86% of all used software was pirated, leading to an increase in computer viruses. Berenju noted that the increase in computer viruses boosts anti-virus service providers. He said software piracy had led to revenue losses of around $30m (sh68.2b) to all firms in the software industry including Microsoft.

http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/682561

On my last visit to Uganda’s Capital, Kampala, it was very difficult to come across any business that sold new authentic software applications. There are a large number of Computer Hardware stores, of course many with duplicate and fake computers mainly from Asia. 

However, I walked the streets of Kampala looking for a store that sold authentic software applications and just few. One Asian businessman simply told me that software does not sell in Kampala because everyone pirates…and he was right… 

The move by the Ugandan Government to enforce laws is the right thing to do and will help in reducing the number of fake and duplicate I.T goods in the country. 

I remember a friend who bought a new “Dell” computer from an Asian businessman and after a few months when this friend got an internet connection, the “Dell” Machine failed to register and the Windows XP application was a pirated copy. 

A few weeks later the “Dell” Machine crashed. Later this friend of mine realized that he had bought a fake Dell computer – he bought an imitation Dell computer from Asia with a pirated version of Windows XP. 

Uganda’s Government is moving a step in the right direction both to protect the Ugandan Consumers and the genuine business folks who cannot conduct business amidst pirates, fake business people, and outright criminals and imposters. 

Yet still what is a little bit disturbing is Microsoft’s involvement in the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Laws in other nations, certainly Uganda.  Why does Microsoft have to grant money to Ugandan Government to enforce copy right laws? Does this not create an advantage over Microsoft’s Competitors? Will Microsoft arrest guys in Kampala who are busy selling Pirated copies of Oracle Software or SAP? 

Though the move to enforce copyright laws in Uganda is welcome, yet Microsoft being a funder and among the World I.T Police is certainly suspect and leaves one to wonder what the intentions of Microsoft are in acting as Africa’s I.T Police…

Kato Mivule | June 2, 2009

This past week brought some very significant I.T developments in Uganda that will definitely change the way I.T Business is conducted in Uganda and the whole East African Region. 

An Asian Businessman was arrested for distributing pirated software products mainly from Microsoft Corporation.  The move by the Microsoft sponsored Law Enforcement is certainly going to cause large changes in Uganda’s ‘I.T Street Industry’.

MICROSOFT in conjunction with the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) have nabbed Asians in Kampala with pirated computer software. The Asians were caught during an anti-piracy operation coordinated by the society in the city centre and its suburbs. The two Asians were manning Infopoint shop that deals in computers and accessories on Kamu Kamu Plaza on Entebbe Road. They were nabbed by the Police and taken to Central Police Station (CPS) for interrogation. James Wasula, the general secretary of the UPRS, said copyrighted software was highly pirated by computer dealers. “Almost all types of desktop software are pirated. To a large degree, we see desktop operating systems, desktop applications plus server and data centre software affected.” Lion China Computers on Kampala Road was also nabbed with duplicated software CDs that were taken to CPS as exhibits. Michael Berenju, the enforcement officer with Microsoft East Africa, said over 86% of all used software was pirated, leading to an increase in computer viruses. Berenju noted that the increase in computer viruses boosts anti-virus service providers. He said software piracy had led to revenue losses of around $30m (sh68.2b) to all firms in the software industry including Microsoft. http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/682561

On my last visit to Uganda’s Capital, Kampala, it was very difficult to come across any business that sold new authentic software applications. There are a large number of Computer Hardware stores, of course many with duplicate and fake computers mainly from Asia. 

However, I walked the streets of Kampala looking for a store that sold authentic software applications and just few. One Asian businessman simply told me that software does not sell in Kampala because everyone pirates…and he was right… 

The move by the Ugandan Government to enforce laws is the right thing to do and will help in reducing the number of fake and duplicate I.T goods in the country. 

I remember a friend who bought a new “Dell” computer from an Asian businessman and after a few months when this friend got an internet connection, the “Dell” Machine failed to register and the Windows XP application was a pirated copy. 

A few weeks later the “Dell” Machine crashed. Later this friend of mine realized that he had bought a fake Dell computer – he bought an imitation Dell computer from Asia with a pirated version of Windows XP. 

Uganda’s Government is moving a step in the right direction both to protect the Ugandan Consumers and the genuine business folks who cannot conduct business amidst pirates, fake business people, and outright criminals and imposters. 

Yet still what is a little disturbing is Microsoft’s involvement in the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Laws in other nations, certainly Uganda.  Why does Microsoft have to grant money to Ugandan Government to enforce copy right laws? Does this not create an advantage over Microsoft’s Competitors? Will Microsoft arrest guys in Kampala who are busy selling Pirated copies of Oracle Software or SAP? 

Though the move to enforce copyright laws in Uganda is welcome, yet Microsoft being a funder and among the World I.T Police is certainly suspect and leaves one to wonder what the intentions of Microsoft are in acting as Africa’s I.T Police…

Uganda Govt to Spend US $57M on I.T for High Schools

Kato Mivule | May 25, 2009

Uganda’s Government is reported to have budgeted Shs 114 Billion – about 57 Million US Dollars for a new computer system for Uganda’s High School, a move that is certainly long over due and will no doubt contribute to making Uganda an I.T power house in East Africa.

Govt earmarks sh114b for computer project
Sunday, 24th May, 2009
THE Government has budgeted sh114b for the establishment of computer technology systems in secondary schools, writes Ayiga Ondoga. The project will be undertaken by the Uganda Communications Commission, according to Alintuma Nsambu, the information and communication technology (ICT) state minister. Nsambu said the Government would equip every secondary school with about 15 to 50 computers by 2012, adding that 4,000 teachers to champion the project had been trained. This was at the launch of Symphony Limited, a computer firm formerly called Computer Applications Limited, at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel recently. Nsambu said the computers would be procured from Inveneo, an American firm. He appealed to the business community and private sector to come on board so that other schools can join the programme for the betterment of their students.
http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/682360

Uganda currently has some of the best High Schools in the East African region that students travel from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Congo to study in Uganda. Giving these High Schools a 57 Million US Dollar Investment in Information Technology is certainly a welcome move.

Not only will this move by Uganda’s Government boost the I.T Economy in Uganda but also will create jobs for the Computer Tech Specialists among other I.T professionals who will need to oversee the systems.I.T State Minister Nsambu Displays an Inveneo System:Image Source: New Vision

However, Uganda’s Government must be held accountable to make sure that this program is seen to its implementation.

With the final steps of laying of the Fiber Optic Cable from Kenya’s Coast to Uganda and accessibility to Broadband Internet, the bridging of the digital divide is becoming a reality at least in Uganda.

How SEACOM Could Beat Competitors

By Kato Mivule | May 11, 2009

A recent article by the BBC sited what would be a significant impediment to the full utilization of the High Speed internet connectivity provided by companies like SEACOM which expects to launch services by June 2009.

“…And some analysts say that the three competing cables due to land shortly may actually create an over-supply of bandwidth in the East African market. Very few Kenyan households even have an internet connection and not many own a personal computer – indeed, there are just three million internet users in the whole country, out of a total population of close on 40 million. The statistics for the rest of Africa tell a similar story – of the 945 million people living on the continent, just 54 million use the internet. For all the talk of opening up access to broadband, this could end up being one big white elephant…”
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7987812.stm

Though East African Governments are racing to complete laying fiber optic cable inland, the High Speed Connectivity infrastructure will stay largely redundant for some time due to the fact that many families, schools, and even government institutions lack computers.

However, the lack of interest in owning a Personal Computer by those who can afford it, mainly Africa’s Middle Class and Business community is that there is a lack of sensitization on the advantages of computerization for both records and communication.

The same African Middle class and business community that shows no interest in owning a PC spends large sums of money buying expensive Nokia Phones and the latest Blackberry headsets.

I know of colleagues in Uganda for example who will buy the latest Nokia phone and yet will not buy a Laptop which would cost almost the same amount of money spent of the latest Nokia Headset.

However, this could be a very good opportunity to boost the Information Technology economy sector in East Africa. If only 3 million people out of 40 million have access to the internet in Africa according to the BBC, then perhaps there is potential for growth assuming that most of the 3 million folks access the internet via ‘Internet Cafes’.

PC Manufacturers could team up with SEACOM and provide broadband internet connectivity at home with the purchase of the latest PC at an affordable price slightly lower or at par with the latest Nokia headset.

Fiber Optic Cable Network Around Africa - BBC

As a matter of fact PC Manufactures are coming out with 200 to 300 Dollar Laptops and that price will continue to drop. SEACOM could beat competitors by teaming up with PC and Laptop Manufacturers and at the same time help promote computerization in East Africa. The Key is to send out a message that computerization is not an ‘elite thing’ but a basic need.

However, Internet Cafes in East Africa had better brace themselves for some tough time ahead as Africa’s Middle Class and Businesses will seek to access the internet from the comforts of their homes.

Yet, Computer Support Tech jobs will increase as the sales of PCs and Laptops increase and therefore the need for service.

Overall if SEACOM can see the ICT deficiencies in East Africa as an opportunity, SEACOM will set itself as a major ICT household name in East Africa.