The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) executive director, George William Nyombi Thembo, has stated that the communications sector has made substantial progress in the past five years as a result of the increased adoption of technology across key sectors of the economy, growing broadband access, and expanded digital infrastructure.
He stated this on June 10 during the official transition ceremony at the ministry of ICT and National Guidance headquarters in Kampala. Justine Kasule Lumumba was appointed as the ICT and National Guidance minister, and Yorke Alioni Odria was appointed as the state minister for National Guidance.
Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo maintained her role as the state minister for ICT. Nyombi acknowledged the outgoing ministerial leadership for guiding the sector through a period characterised by the implementation of the National Development Plan IV and the Digital Transformation Roadmap.
He emphasised that digital technology had become fundamental to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda and noted that the ICT sector had registered remarkable progress during the period.
Nyombi extended a warm welcome to the new leadership team and guaranteed them the total backing of the ministry’s agencies in the pursuit of Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
He noted that ICT had transformed from a mere sector of the economy to a critical enabler of development in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, financial services, education, healthcare, manufacturing, commerce, and governance.
He also assured that sector agencies would persist in offering the technical expertise, institutional capacity, and policy guidance necessary to assist the government in realising its vision of accelerated socio-economic transformation.
During the ceremony, Nyombi paid tribute to Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the outgoing ICT and National Guidance minister, who has since been redeployed to the ministry of Health, and to former National Guidance state minister Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku. He stated that their leadership and dedication had had an enduring impact on the sector’s growth and development.
He also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the permanent secretary of the ministry, for maintaining stability and continuity during the transition period. He observed that her leadership had allowed the ministry to operate without any disruptions, despite the transition in political leadership.
Nyombi emphasised the accelerated growth in communications infrastructure, increased broadband penetration, expansion of digital services, and increasing recognition of ICT as a critical driver of economic development and national competitiveness in his reflection on the accomplishments of the past five years.
He encouraged the new leadership to capitalise on these accomplishments and to continue to broaden technology access throughout the nation.
In reference to President Museveni’s recent appeal for diligence during the new administration of ‘Kisanja No Sleep,’ Nyombi stated that sector agencies had embraced the message and were prepared to increase their efforts.
He emphasised that the agencies were dedicated to guaranteeing that the advantages of contemporary ICT were accessible to all Ugandans, including households, institutions, health facilities, and businesses throughout the nation.
In order to expedite Uganda’s digital transformation agenda and guarantee that no citizen is left behind in the digital age, Nyombi further stated that stronger collaboration among political leaders, technocrats, sector agencies, and industry actors is imperative.