The Ugandan Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Amina Zawedde, has announced that the Ugandan Refugee communities will soon be able to access the internet as part of the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Programme. This is great news for the refugee communities in Uganda as it will provide them with access to communication, information, and education.
The World Bank’s Digital Transformation Programme aims to advance internet connectivity in developing countries. It aims to provide last-mile connectivity to populations that are still without access to the internet. In Uganda, the programme aims to connect all refugee camps to the internet as quickly as possible.
“We believe that our contribution will not only help Refuge and Hope International create 2,000 tarps for the vulnerable community in the camps, but it will also help protect the environment, grow their business ventures, and immensely contribute to the social and economic transformation of the youths, their families, and communities,” the MTN Uganda CEO, Ms Sylivia Mulinge, said.
Uganda has already laid 4,717 kilometres of optical fibre to support its ambitious digital transformation program, despite the high cost of internet-connecting enablers such as smartphones, laptops and routers.
Currently, internet connectivity in Uganda is still a work in progress. In 2023, Uganda had an Internet penetration rate of only 23%. However, the Ugandan government has been making significant strides to improve access to the internet. The government has been working to boost the country’s telecommunications infrastructure to improve internet connectivity in both urban and rural areas.
“It has a number of components that include improving and extending the country’s internet connectivity to the last mile communities. This means that when the internet gets to a hospital, a school, government offices, or any facility, the laboratories and the administrative offices are connected so that those people get to use the internet better,” Dr Zawedde said.
However, for refugees in Uganda, accessing the internet has not been easy. They have faced numerous challenges in trying to get online, ranging from a lack of resources to poor network coverage. The good news is that the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Programme will provide refugees in Uganda with access to the internet, which will significantly improve their lives.
Improved access to the internet will benefit refugee communities in numerous ways. Firstly, it will provide them with access to vital information, such as news, weather reports, and safety alerts. This information could prove critical in emergency situations, such as natural disasters or outbreaks of violence.
Secondly, the internet will enhance communication within refugee communities. It will enable refugees to stay in touch with family members who may have been separated from them during displacement. Also, it will provide the refugee communities with a channel to rally support from the outside world and promote their causes.
Lastly, internet connectivity for refugee communities will open up new opportunities. Education and entrepreneurship opportunities could present themselves, enabling refugees to build new skills and start new businesses, developing self-reliance in the process.
In conclusion, the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Programme is a significant development that will benefit refugee communities in Uganda. Access to the internet will provide them with vital information, enhance their communication, and create new opportunities for education and entrepreneurship. It is, therefore, crucial that the government continues to make efforts to improve internet connectivity across Uganda to ensure that everybody has access to this vital resource. Through this, Uganda’s refugee communities will be able to improve their lives by having equal opportunities to those provided by the digital era.
