NITA-U Donates 25 Laptops to Uganda Media Centre

The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda(NITA-U) has donated 25 laptops to the Uganda Media Centre to boost government communication.

The laptops were handed over by the NITA-U Executive Director, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa to the Media Centre Executive Director, Alan Kasujja in the presence of the State Minister for ICT, Godfrey Kabyanga.

Speaking during the handover, Dr.Mugasa said the donation is part of NITA-U’s response to calls to support government communication efforts.

“We are looking at devices to enable the centre to disseminate information, monitor activities and government programmes, collect and process information before dissemination, and also improve e-services we can deliver, including web hosting, connectivity, and more.We want to digitise Uganda, and this is a start with the Media Centre,” Dr.Mugasa said.

He said in a bid to improve e-services, NITA-U has so far delivered 150 laptops to communication officers under the Ministry of ICT, and around 2,000 laptops to other government offices.

“The biggest challenge is the absorption of ICT services, which is hindered by the cost and availability of devices. Under the leadership of the Minister of Finance, we are discussing ways to reduce these costs so that ordinary citizens can afford smart devices. We hope to have results within a few months,” he said.

Uganda Media Centre Executive Director, Alan Kasujja applauded the Ministry of ICT and specifically NITA-U for heeding to their call to support government communication.

“We are not involved in a PR exercise; we are involved in nation-building. We want to open the eyes of young people to the opportunities that exist in this country. We want them to see that their motherland will take care of them, and that their future is bright if they continue contributing to the progress of this nation,” he said.

“The ambition of government is very clear: by 2040, this economy must be worth 500 billion dollars. How do we achieve that? By communicating—by telling Uganda’s story.”

Kasujja urged other government institutions to support Media Centre’s quest to revolutionalise government communication.