At the official inauguration of a new Hi-Tech Information Access Centre (IAC) facility valued at 300,000 USD, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda underscored the importance of ICT. ‘Government will consider the possibility of rolling out the Information Access Centre facilities, alongside other interventions, to ensure universal access to ICTs’, he said.

The Prime Minister officiated the inauguration of the facility located at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology on Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala, built with the technical assistance from the Government of Korea. Rugunda, however cautioned against misuse of the Internet and social media platforms for malicious propaganda to undermine peace and security of the country. He warned that legal action will be taken on any person involved in cyber crimes, as provided for in the Computer Misuse Act 2012.

The centre will be used to facilitate e.government initiatives to the public and government officials with the objective to create an environment for youth to benefit from new technologies and raise IT literacy levels while promoting the use of ICT for development. It will also provide a platform for students to develop ICT ideas that can promote business development, provide an incubation facility for ICT innovations and environment for students to interact globally with other students in research and knowledge exchange through forums and discussions across the globe.

Minister for ICT John Nasasira said ICT has been a fast growing sector which has greatly contributed to the tax revenue collections in the country. ‘My ministry has developed a five year investment plan to turn Uganda into a knowledge based country’, he said. Nasasira said Hi-Tech IAC centers have been established in 35 countries through the assistance of the Government of Korea. He therefore thanked the Korean government for the technical assistance that facilitated the establishment and installation of this facility. He particularly called upon Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, to utilize the facility in order to bridge the digital divide. Nasasira said NITA-U should publicize and devise means of sustaining the IAC facility.

The Korean Ambassador to Uganda His Excellence Park Jongdae said, the opening of the IAC facility was significant in the partnership between Uganda and Korea. He hoped that the facility will became the ICT Centre in the region and to facilitate youth development in Uganda.