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The Parliament has authorized a loan of US$150 million from the Export-Import Bank of China to facilitate the digitization of the nation. The Minister of Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, highlighted the government’s plan to connect all unconnected districts to the national internet fiber.

According to Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance, the government is on track to digitize the entire nation and provide internet access to every person.

After Parliament approves a government request to borrow US$150 million from the Export-Import Bank of China, this plan will come to pass. The goal of the plan is to connect all of the unconnected districts to the national internet fiber.

The government has been covering 50% of the nation with fiber so that we can access the internet. “With the help of this loan, we will be able to provide internet access to the remaining 62 districts,” Baryomunsi stated on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, during the plenary session led by Speaker Anita Among.

According to Baryomunsi, the loan’s primary goal is to link government service infrastructures, including sub-counties, district offices, health facilities, and schools.

According to him, the government will also construct “clouds,” or data banks, where its agencies will keep their records.

Henry Musasizi, the State Minister of Finance (General Duties), clarified that the loan has a 20-year term with a two percent interest rate.

Hon. John Bosco Ikojo, the Chairperson of the Committee on National Economy, stated that the committee approved the loan and suggested lowering internet costs to make them more accessible.

The committee observed that even with the relative investment in this area, government and individual user access to the Internet is still limited and expensive. According to Ikojo, the committee was notified that the monthly cost of internet usage had decreased from US$ 97 per megabit per second in 2016 to US$70 per month in 2018.

According to Ikojo, the impact of the high cost of internet has been seen in schools that have not included ICT courses in their curriculum, even though it is government policy for all educational establishments to offer them.

Some educational institutions have not been able to use computers because of insufficient internet access. Despite government policy to digitize most services, the committee discovered that the majority of local governments are not online, according to Ikojo.

The committee further urged the government to start the rural electrification program immediately, stating that without electricity, which is the case in the majority of rural areas, the loan will not be repaid.

The loan request was approved by several members. The loan, according to Hon. Timothy Batuwa (FDC, Jinja South Division West), enables him to propose a motion pleading with the government to take telemedicine into consideration.

“The technology known as telemedicine allows us to have a physician in Kampala treat patients in the most remote areas of the nation. This would balance the number of employees. Even in the smallest health center, equipment must be installed so that the doctor in Kampala can read it, the man stated.

Given that many businesses are run online, Hon. Elijah Mushemeza (NRM, Sheema County South) stated that the loan has the potential to spur economic growth.

Speaking to the youth, Hon. Moses Ogwal (NRM, Dokolo North County) prayed that “internet bars” would be installed in every local government at a significantly reduced cost.

The House also wanted the government to refrain from rationalizing NITA-U, which they claimed was in line with the loan’s implementation.