Members of Parliament on the Information Communication and Technology Committee have asked the government to increase the money sent to the ICT sector in the coming budget.
Speaking at a meeting between MPs, the ICT ministers, Permanent Secretary and Technical staff at the Nakawa-based ICT Hub, ICT Committee Deputy Chairperson, Igeme Nabeta, said with the needs at the Ministry and the importance of the sector on the global market, the government needs to increase on the sector’s budget.
He noted that as a parliament, they are working on harmonizing all monies budgeted for ICT-related services, activities and developments to avoid duplication.
“If you look at the budget of Uganda, you will find that the ICT sector gets peanuts. Ask yourself how much money is being spent in the areas of ICT. We need to create a single platform where monies can be put in the same place. This can save us a lot. We want to rationalize money and focus it on ICT, let it be channelled through a single platform,” Nabeta noted.
According to him, the move will save money in other sectors that are doing the same things that must be done by the ICT ministry and the innovators.
Nabeta said the ICT sector has a number of opportunities and sources of employment for the youth.
Kawempe South Legislator, Al-Hajji Kazibwe Bashir, thanked the Ministry for letting them know what is taking place in the different projects.
However, he was dismayed by the level of popularization of the government projects.
He said there needs to be a deliberate effort to let people know what is happening and taking place.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Hajati Amiina Zawede, noted that through the hubs, they are targeting Ugandans with specific key priorities in ICT and innovation.
She told legislators that in the last quarter release, the sector got budget cuts.
“This quarter is the same; the innovation fund has been cut by 40%. As the ICT sector, we ask you to push for us to get more resources.”
She revealed that they have invited development partners to support them on various platforms “but if we create more awareness, then we shall attract more support.”
