A government bill that would have abolished the National Information Technology Authority of Uganda and transferred its responsibilities to the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology, and National Guidance was rejected by lawmakers.
Several proposals, including the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (Amendment) Bill, 2024, attempted to implement the Cabinet-approved government policy for the rationalization of public spending and government agencies in February 2021. The government justifies agency mergers in order to guarantee effectiveness, prevent duplication of services, and curtail unnecessary spending.
The House Committee on ICT examined the Bill and recommended against mainstreaming the Authority because the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and NITA-U had separate mandates. The Committee also pointed out that the Authority had contributed money by issuing licenses, permits, and commercializing the nation’s backbone infrastructure.
The Committee stated that NITA-U expected to raise Shs150 billion during the following five years, having raised about Shs200 billion over the previous ten years.
Hon. Tonny Ayoo, the deputy chairperson of the ICT Committee, stated that although the committee is in favor of agency rationalization, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance was unable to provide evidence of the Authority’s financial drain on the consolidated fund.
According to Ayoo, “NITA-U was mandated to regulate and coordinate and regulate ICT services in Uganda in the context of social and economic development, while the Ministry was tasked with policy or strategic leadership and supervision of the entire Ministry.”
In support of his argument, he said that NITA-U is the only government agency that implements IT, and that keeping it separate will allow all government IT efforts to be consolidated.
“The committee recommends that the bill for NITA-U’s dissolution be rejected by the entire House and that NITA-U be retained as a semi-autonomous arm of government,” Ayoo stated.
With the following revenue contributions from NITA-U, Hon. Jane Pacuto (NRM, Pakwach district) backed the Committee’s position: Shs18 billion in 2019/2020; Shs21.1 billion in 2020/2021; Shs25.5 billion in 2021/2022; and Shs45.5 billion in 2022/2023.
“It is anticipated that NITA-U will receive Shs53 billion in 2023/2024 and Shs75 billion in 2025/2026,” the speaker continued.
Hon. Abdu Katuntu, the Bugweri County MP, criticized the administration for failing to carry out a study on the process of rationalization.
Godfrey Baluku, the Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, and Wilson Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Public Service, failed to persuade the Members that the Authority ought to be integrated into their respective Ministries.
Muruli Mukasa, the minister of public service, then requested extra time to collect all the data needed to mainstream the agencies.
“We’ve made a deal with the ICT Minister to return after gathering all of this data. Muruli Mukasa stated, “I humbly request the Speaker’s indulgence.”
