The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has earmarked 2024/25 as the financial year Uganda will see the lowest price of a smart phone, with Shs60,000 the target price.
Government also wants to bring the cost of a computer down to Shs800,000 only.
The details are contained in the National Budget Framework Paper 2024/25 for the digital transformation programme whose goal the Ministry noted is intended to increase ICT penetration and use of ICT services for socio-economic development.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the FY 2024/25 Budget is the last for delivering on the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) in which Government’s focus will be on accelerating the realization of key development results with the ultimate goal of building an integrated, self-sustaining, and independent economy over the medium to long term.
During the formulation of the NDP III, the Ministry of ICT made several promises including, “Reduce the cost of ICT devices and services (unit cost of 1Mbps /month of internet on the retail market to USD 70, unit cost of low entry smart phones to Shs60,000 and cost of a computer to Shs800,000)”
The Sector also promised to create 30,000 direct jobs annually, increase local ICT innovation products developed and commercialized to 282 and provide 80 percent of Government services on-line.
Additionally, the Ministry had also promised that by the end of the NDP III, it would have increased ICT penetration (Internet penetration to 50 percent, Digital Terrestrial Television signal coverage to 95 percent, 70 percent NBI connectivity in Government Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), 90 percent national broadband coverage with minimum speed of 8 Mbps.
As the NDP III is almost coming to and end, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance noted that the Digital Transformation programme will continue with the implementation of the last mile connectivity/rollout of broadband infrastructure in key Government service delivery units ensuring all essential service providers such as schools, hospitals, post offices, tourism sites, police, Local Governments are connected through the Uganda Digital Acceleration Programme (UDAP).
The programme will also support the roll-out of e-services such as e-extension, e-education, e-health and remote collaboration solutions, to digitally transform public service delivery.
“In addition, the programme will also support the development and commercialization of local ICT products and build a critical mass of talent to develop applications and services through the ICT Innovation Fund; and provide digital literacy training to SMEs and communities to create awareness about ICTs and empower them in the use of ICT products and services,” ICT Ministry says in its budget estimates documents.
In the 2024/25 national budget, the Digital Transformation programme has been allocated Shs173.922Bn which is higher that Shs191.831Bn the Programme was allocated in 2023/24 and of this amount, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is slated to receive Shs51.582Bn while the National Information and Technology Authority would receive Shs122.340Bn.
According to the breakdown, ICT Infrastructure has been allocated Shs97.582Bn, E-Services will cost Shs11.622Bn, while Research, Innovation and ICT skills development would cost Shs14.604Bn and Enabling Environment would cost Shs50.114Bn.
