The Internet and its related platforms can foster peace and development by enhancing citizen participation in governance and development related matters, create opportunities for doing business, among others.
The increasing investment investments in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and an enabling legal and regulatory framework has led to continued growth of Internet users in Uganda. There is an estimated 14.6 million users in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 13.8 million in December 2015 according to the Communications Regulator.
Despite these opportunities, the Internet is also being used to propagate crimes such as fraud, hate speech, violence against women and children and terroristic tendencies.
These obstacles have led to development of tough measures by governments inform of adoption of repressive legislation and imposing tough measures such as blanket shutdown of the internet. Such measures not only infringe on Internet freedom but are also likely to impede the development of Internet considering majority of the population are still struggling to get online due to high cost of access, illiteracy and lack of relevant online local content.
In order to foster a space for dialogue on how such obstacles can be addressed, the Internet Society Uganda Chapter (ISOC Uganda) on August 26, 2016 hosted the 10th Uganda Internet Governance Forum (UIGF) at the Golf Course Hotel, Kampala Uganda.
Hosted by under the theme “Internet as a tool for Peace and Development in Uganda”, this year’s forum aimed at sparking discussion on how to strike a balance between upholding Internet as a tool for peace and development.
The forum also sought to deliberate on issues such as opportunities and challenges presented by the use of big data in driving innovation; internet freedom obstacles and their social and economic impact; regulations and policies presently governing Internet governance (IG) in Uganda and current IG trends and developments and how Uganda can leverage from these to enhance Internet development in the country.
The forum was presided over by the Minister of ICT and Information Guidance, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze. The Minister who called for finding lasting solutions to addressing Internet access problems in the country calling for better regulation of internet infrastructure.
“We can not make Internet cost cheaper without regulating infrastructure investment,” Hon. Frank Tumwebaze.
The Minister also placed emphasis on government’s commitment to supporting ICT innovations as a solution to improving internet development in the Uganda.
In regard to online and offline rights, Ms. Rosebell Kagumire – Chief Executive, Kweeta Consulting and a blogger urged internet users and ISPs to take more proactive actions in fighting back against government shutdowns.
Updates were also heard from Mr. Bob Ochieng – Manager, Stakeholder Engagement – Africa at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), who briefed participants on the IANA transition progress. He also called participants to take part in the DNS industry in Africa feasibility study which among others seeks to identify and define strengths and weaknesses of the DNS industry ecosystem in Africa while developing recommendations on how to advance the industry and bring it closer to the opportunities available.
Some of the main recommendations from the forum include – call for more budget allocations to the ICT sector by government as this would boost investment in innovations and connecting the last mile; infrastructure sharing among telecoms and ISPs; more government involvement in ICANN discussions including a call for Uganda to host an ICANN public meeting; balanced approach to addressing internet freedom challenges and government refraining from blacket internet shutdowns; involvement of other stakeholder groups such as children, women, PWDs private sector in the Uganda internet governance dialogue; awareness creation about strategies and ICT regulations in place that infringe Internet freedom and more involvement of more women participation in IG issues for them to fully benefit from the global Internet.
The Uganda Internet Governance Forum was established in 2006 and has since continued to discuss and address Internet governance and Policy issues pertinent to the country. To date, nine forums have been held with each addressing different thematic areas.
This year, the forum drew 136 participants representing different stakeholder groups – to include, government, civil society, private sector, technical community, academia and general internet users.
The 2016 Uganda Internet Governance Forum was supported by the Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA); Internet Society, Sombha Solutions Store and CIPESA.
Read more about the report here. Some pictures have also been shared here.