The ICT fraternity in Uganda was all smiles with the appointment of Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda as the new Minister for ICT.
Various industry practitioners analyze him as a sober, balanced and articulate person with height integrity and one who tends to rise above pettiness in the way he deals with issues.
Dr. Ruhakana has represented Uganda and the United Nations in various capacities. All through his political career, his soft spoken nature has been outstanding. The selection of Dr. Ruhakana by President Museveni is a sign of the government’s focus on the importance of ICT in the coming years.
According to ICT ministerial appointee Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the government wants to use the ministry as a facilitator and catalyst to ensure that the communication’s sector grows from its current status.
Addressing journalists, last week, shortly after appearing before the vetting committee, Rugunda said that the ministry has already made significant gains, citing an increase in the use of mobile telephones in the country from the previous 50000 to now over four million.
He attributed the improvement to the current government policy of liberalization where the private sector has played a crucial role in improving on this sector which he says has enabled reduction of prices for mobile phones.
These good sentiments following his selection have led to a discussion on the online I-Network Uganda community about the need to have a formally recognized and functional Computer Society in the country. Efforts have been made in the recent past to revive the now defunct Uganda Computer Society (UCS) but with not much progress registered.
Industry members agree that to have meaningful interaction with the Government the ICT community needs to emulate what has been done by the lawyers through the Uganda Law Society and the Engineers through the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE).
All in all, the newly nominated Minister for ICT already has the goodwill of a community ready to help in shaping the future of the ICT industry in Uganda.
