Background

On January 27, 2003, a National WSIS Taskforce was created to coordinate Uganda's input to the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) PrepCom II, Geneva. The taskforce will also continue through with preparations for the WSIS Summits in 2003 (Geneva) and 2005 (Tunis). Current members of the taskforce are representatives of Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), MTN, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), and WOUGNET. A public meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2003, to consult on Uganda's national position on WSIS. The output of this meeting would form the basis of Uganda's input to the Second PrepCom. (For information about this public meeting, contact ucc@ucc.co.ug)

WOUGNET established this web page for information on WSIS preparations in Uganda with an emphasis on the issues for women's preparation and participation in the WSIS process. WOUGNET's early participation in WSIS I-related activities was largely as part of the WSIS Gender Caucus for which we initally hosted a website and mailing list. The website was hosted at: http://www.wougnet.org/WSIS/wsisgc.html and included access to documents produced by the WSIS Gender Caucus as well as links to other WSIS-related initiatives such as the WSIS NGO Gender Strategies Working Group. The WSIS Gender Caucus later obtained its own domain name, and the Caucus website is at: http://www.genderwsis.org.

Click the following links for information on preparations for the two WSIS summits:
WSIS I, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS II, Tunis, Tunisia

WSIS I, Geneva, Switzerland

In preparation for PrepCom II, WOUGNET recommends the following documents as useful in understanding the issues for women's participation in the WSIS process and in providing suggestions and recommendations for gender equality and increased women's participation in the WSIS:

• Bamako 2002 statement - http://www.wougnet.org/WSIS/genderstatement.html
  This document was prepared at the African Regional prepcom for the WSIS held in Bamako in May 2002. The document lays out recommendations for different stakeholders. It was also at this meeting that the WSIS Gender Caucus was formed.
  
  
• WSIS Gender Caucus submission to the Prepcom II, Geneva - http://www.wougnet.org/WSIS/wsisgcdocs.html
  The issues outlined in the Gender Implication sections are also issues in Uganda and target the three main categories of the WSIS: Access for all; ICTs as a tool for economic and social development; and Confidence and security in the use of ICTs . The Gender Caucus submission also provides a platform for action.
  
  
• Addis Workshop statement - http://africa.rights.apc.org/workshop_dec_eng.shtml
  This statement was produced at the November 2002 workshop on ICT policy and Civil society. It emphasises the need for civil society to engage with the ICT policy processes again to ensure that the WSIS goals can be attained.

After the keynote address by Hon. Werikhe and the presentation of the WSIS Working Document by Dr. Turahi, Assistant Commissioner - MoWHC and member of the Task Force, meeting participants split up into four groups. Each group discussed two themes of the Working document. The groups were structured as follows:
Group 1 - Themes 1&3, moderated by Mr. Vincent Musubira
Group 2 - Themes 2&4, moderated by Ms. Rita Mijumbi Epodoi
Group 3 - Themes 5&6, moderated by Mr. Elisha Wasukira
Group 4 - Themes 7&8, moderated by Hon. Johnson Nkuuhe

After the discussions, each group presented the outcomes of its discussion during an open session where meeting participants made remarks on the various presentations.

Following the Public Consultative meeting, the taskforce amended the WSIS Working Document - taking into account the recommendations by the meeting participants. A final version of Uganda's input to the Principles and Plan of Action for the WSIS has now been prepared for submission to the WSIS PrepCom II in Geneva.

The Commission expressed sincere thanks to all those who worked tirelessly to develop Uganda's input to WSIS. Special thanks went to the Task Force which included Ambassador Mugume, Dr. Turahi (MoWHC), Mr. Barugahara (UNCST), Mr. Aineruhanga (WOUGNET), Ms. Namumbya (WOUGNET), Ms. Lutimba (MoWHC) and the four workshop moderators during the Public Consultative meeting. The UCC is represented on the Task Force by Mr. Masambu and Mr. Mwesigwa.

A copy of the final version of Uganda's input will be made available online. For a copy of the Working Document, click here (WORD format). For a copy of WOUGNET's submission to the Public Consultative meeting, click here.

Online Forum: An Information Society for Uganda, April 14 - 30, 2003

To facilitate contribution to the WSIS working documents, WOUGNET will host an Online Forum: An Information Society for Uganda from April 14-30, 2003.

UNDP WSIS Project - ICT for Poverty Reduction: A Multistakeholder Approach

• Participatory Research on Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Reduction in Apac, Northern Uganda
• Report on WOUGNET/UNDP-WSIS Second Public Meeting “ICT for Poverty Reduction in Apac”
• ICT for Poverty Reduction: A Multi-stakeholder Approach – Presentation by WOUGNET
• ICT for Poverty Reduction in Apac – Presentation by Ministry of Works,Housing and Communications

1. Raise awareness of the WSIS process and consider ways to incorporate the targets for universal access as outlined in the WSIS Action Plan
2. Raise awareness of the state of telecommunications in Uganda and assess the problems that stand in the way of achieving the connectivity goals set out in the WSIS Action Plan
3. Promote awareness of ICTs as a tool for economic and social development

• Creating an enabling environment for the information society: A critical Analysis of Laws and Polices in the ICT Sector
  
• Coordination and Implementation framework for the National ICT policy
  
• Realizing WSIS Objectives: Actions taken (by Government)
  
• The Role of Civil Society in the Information Society
  
• The Media and the Information Society
  
• Private Sector Initiatives in Enhancing WSIS goals
  

The event will take place at the Kabira Country Club, Bukoto. Participation is open to the public, and free of charge, but registration is required. To register, contact:

Uganda Communications Commission 12th Floor, Communications House P. O. Box 7376, Kampala, Uganda Tel: 256-41-348830/1/5 or 340336 or 340572 Fax: 256-41-348832 or 345278 e-mail: ucc@ucc.co.ug

OR

Ms. Berna Ngolobe Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) P. O. Box 4411, Kampala, Uganda Tel: 256-41-256832 Fax: 256-41-234924 e-mail: info@wougnet.org

WSIS 2005 Online Forum: Paving the Way to Tunis, July 11 - 29, 2005

• 11 - 17 July 2005: ICT Policy Priorities for Uganda
• 18 - 24 July 2005: Internet Governance - What are the issues?
• 25 - 31 July 2005: Financing ICT4D in Uganda - What strategies?

The online forum drew a total of ninety-eight participants, of whom thirty-seven (38%) made contributions including eleven women and twenty-six men. Click here for a copy of the WSIS 2005 Online Forum report (in WORD format).

For more information about the forum, please send an email to ictpolicy@wougnet.org.

Additional Information

Last update: August-23, 2005