By namunyetoday
On Wednesday, Members of Parliament voted against the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (Amendment) Bill, 2024 that intended to dissolve NITA-U and have its functions mainstreamed into the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
The move to dissolve NITA-U is part of the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) policy that was adopted by cabinet on 22nd February 2021 as a measure to reduce public expenditure, reduce duplication of duties, and facilitate effective and efficient service delivery.
Whereas the NITA-U Amendment Bill as presented by government proposed that NITA-U be scrapped and its functions are absorbed by Ministry of ICT, the Committee on ICT in its report that was tabled by the vice chairperson, Hon Tony Ayoo called for stay, saying the Authority is a strategic entity in spearheading digital transformation programme.
“NITA- U has enabled Government to save up to Shs49bn by providing internet bandwidth by reducing costs of internet from US$70 to US$35 per megabyte per second (MBPS), with a projection of a further reduction to US$ 20per Mbps,” the report says.
The report adds that NITA-U has reduced duplication of up to US$92m by establishing the National Data Centre and the Disaster Recovery sites hosting 287 critical applications in over 100 Government institutions.
“The decision to mainstream NITA-U into the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance therefore should be stayed to allow the institution to continue championing digitization in fulfillment of the Government’s aspirations enshrined in Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan III and IV,” the report reads.
In recent years, NITA-U has immensely contributed to the increase of mobilization of Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) in the country.
Above all, the Ministry of ICT failed to provide evidence-based information to demonstrate that the mainstreaming of NITA-U into the Ministry will create an efficient and successful management of the projects and effectively implement them. Similarly, the Ministry also failed to justify duplication of roles or even wastage.
NITA-U is an autonomous government parastatal under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, mandated to coordinate, promote and monitor Information and Technology developments in Uganda within the context of National Social and Economic development.