ICTs critical in spearheading Africa’s growth, Ssekandi

By Julius Businge

Information and communication technologies have a key role in contributing towards positive socio-economic growth for Africa, according to Uganda’s Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi.

Ssekandi was speaking at the opening plenary of e-learning Africa 2014 conference held in Kampala on May 28.

He said Uganda has identified ICT as one of the priority interventions in the country’s socio-economic transformation agenda.

“This will support government’s ambitions of transforming Uganda into a middle-income country by 2017,” he said.

However, over the years, Uganda’s budget allocations to the sector have been one of the lowest compared to other sectors like infrastructure, education, health, security among others.

For instance, in 2012/13, it was allocated a total of Shs15.3 billion [of the entire Shs 13tn budget] down from the Shs15.5 billion it received in the 2012/13 financial year.

Kiwanuka acknowledged that e-learning is a “catalyst” for delivering education among other services.

“Students have the freedom to learn when and where they want and at their own pace,” he said.

With its theme of “Opening Frontiers to the Future”, this year’s conference focused on the role education and technology will play in ensuring a prosperous future for all.

E-learning Africa aims to create an atmosphere where ideas are shared openly and to inspire cooperation and collaboration on an international level.