Message by the Minister of Information and Communications Technology Hon. Aggrey Siryoyi Awori at the occasion of the Pan African Post Day, 18th January 2010
Today 18th January 2010, we commemorate the Pan African Postal Union day and Uganda proudly joins the rest of Africa to commemmorate this singificant day, with the theme: “The Post, a veritable means for bridging the digital divide .”
Each day, the ICT sector in Uganda and the world over is growing at an accelerated rate. The development in ICT has literally eradicated the physical boundaries among communities and nations thus today the world has become a global village. In turn, we have witnessed a huge influx of mobile and e-based products which has prompted customer to demand for more efficient, affordable and reliable communication services.
This has made it imperative for the Government of Uganda to take a keen interest in the modernization of the Postal sub-sector so that it can favorably compete with other players in the Communications industry.
It is quite obvious that over the years, the Postal sub-sector has fallen behind the Telecom sub-sector in terms of growth and development levels. However Government is determined to make a positive change about this status-quo through the institutionalization of Postal reform policies that will stimulate the development of the sub-sector.
Whereas the Postal sub-sector is faced with a number of challenges, one outstanding matter is the insufficient use of ICT. This has made Postal services less efficient, as compared to Telecom and Internet services. The Postal sub-sector therefore must devise strategies that take into account the need to make Postal services as efficient as that of its competitors.
In liberalizing the economy, the Government of Uganda has created an enabling environment that has attracted a number of local and multinational players to the Ugandan market. For example, the liberalization of the Communications industry has attracted many multinational and local companies into Uganda. Therefore Posta Uganda needs to form strategic alliances with some of them so as to modernize the service and improve on its capital generation.
I am happy to note that Posta Uganda has gone a long way to modernize its services as demonstrated by last month’s launch of the 20 Tele-centers across the country, to provide affordable and reliable email, internet and secretarial services to our rural communities. This project was made possible through the assistance from the Rural Communications Development Fund under Uganda Communications Commission. I wish to commend Posta Uganda for realizing that ICT is not a threat but rather an enabler that can assist it to provide high quality services, that will attract more customers and generate more capital.
The Government will spare no effort in providing Posta Uganda with all the necessary support it requires in order to fulfill its mandate of providing all Uganda’s, quality and affordable Postal communication services.
Government will also continue to work closely with Posta Uganda, other service providers and Uganda Communications Commission to ensure that the sector develops and positively contributes to the wellbeing of all Ugandans.
As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, I call upon the Postal sub-sector to keep searching for ways of keeping in touch with the market. Technology is evolving almost everyday, and if Posta Uganda does not get on board the ICT band wagon, it surely will be left behind
The Government of Uganda salutes the Pan African Postal Union for the commendable contribution towards the development of the Postal sub-sector in Africa and Uganda in particular.
I WISH YOU ALL HAPPY PAN AFRICAN POSTAL UNION DAY CELEBRATIONS.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
Hon. Aggrey Siryoyi Awori
Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
