The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has told legislators that they will undergo a fresh training on the use of IPADs so as to increase efficiency of Parliament.
Kadaga has thus directed the ICT department to design a more proper training on Electronic Governance to all members that will favor the attendance of all members.
The Speaker noted that at the 24th conference of Speakers of Common Wealth held in the Seychelles earlier this month, a matter of concern was raised for the need of all Commonwealth Parliaments to embrace electronic governance of where Uganda still lags behind.
Kadaga said that the MPs will be required to use only IPADs while in the chambers of Parliament by April this year to completely end the usage of papers.
The Speaker noted that the public will as well be required to use the online system to contribute to formation of Bills and policies.
She observed that through this system, Parliament will be in position to track Bills and reports among other matters brought to Parliament faster than it has been.
Kadaga also warned the MPs to avoid absconding from such important trainings that are to transform the way they do business at parliament.
“I am therefore giving notice that the ICT department has been instructed to design a more proper training on Electronic governance to all members. I received complaints from the ICT Department that in the past when training is organised, very few members attend,” Kadaga told the MPs.
“Now we are going to change the strategy, we shall do the training Committee by Committee. The ICT department will issue a program so that we know who attended and who didn’t, but in any event we expect you to be knowledgeable by April on the use of the IPADs,” she added.
The use of IPADs within the Parliament bagan in the 9th Parliament and it was envisaged that by now, there would be no more use of paper, however that has not been the case.