UGANDA

STATEMENT BY H.e. dr HAM-MUKASA MULIRA
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies,
The Secretary General of ITU,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am indeed honored to address this global gathering of the communications fraternity at this 17th International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference here in Antalya 2006.

The people and Government of Uganda as well as my delegation present here are indeed happy to be associated with this global event where policy, regulatory and development issues in the communication industry are developed.

On behalf of the government of Uganda, I wish to convey our gratitude to his Excellency the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for accepting to host this Plenipotentiary Conference and for the warm hospitality accorded to my delegation by the Government and people of Turkey since we arrived in this beautiful and historic city of Antalya.

We are gathered here to discuss important issues that will shape the future of our Union and to make appropriate decisions on those issues. We firmly believe that a comprehensive discussion will lead us to better decisions that would provide our Union with clear directions to evolve and necessary means to form an effective framework for future development of telecommunication infrastructure, service and systems.

I wish also to add my gratitude to the ITU for the leading role it played in coordinating the activities that led to the successful holding of the World Summits on Information Society in Geneva and Tunis respectively. Special thanks to go the Secretary General and his team during their tenure of office. I wish also to congratulate you Mr. Chairman for having been elected to this important office. We look forward to your wise guidance during the course of our deliberations in the coming days.

The Government of Uganda over the intervening years has continued to pursue macro economic and sectoral policies that have transformed the communication sector from one of the least developed in the world to the fastest growing with one of the best regulatory environment in Africa. I wish note that Uganda was one of the first countries in Africa to develop a policy on Universal Access to communications covering both telephony and ICTs. This policy has largely been successful and has provided a model to many African countries that are desirous in providing Universal Access.

At the regional level, Uganda has been steadfast in a number of collaborative initiatives with other countries in the Eastern and Southern African in regard harmonization of policy, and development of infrastructure to improve on our capacity to deliver services to our people.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished guests, this conference being the top policy making organ of the ITU will among things elect office bearer to different portfolios and organs. I wish to take this opportunity to inform you of the Government of Uganda’s decision to present Mr. Patrick Masambu for post of Director Telecommunication Development Bureau and for reelection of Uganda to the ITU Council.

Your Excellencies, the candidate for whom we respectively wish to present, Mr. Patrick Masambu has along spell of experience, spanning over a period of more than 30 years in the fields of telecommunications, engineering, regulation, ICT development and management. Mr. Masambu’s candidature was endorsed as the sole African Candidate by the African Union Policy Organ meeting that took place in Banjul, Gambia in the period June –July 2006.

Your Excellencies, Uganda’s candidature for reelection to the seat on the ITU Council is based on Uganda’s ability to contribute to the telecommunications sector development as evidenced by what we were able to accomplish in Council over the last four years. We believe that at this point in time, Uganda’s contribution to Council will continue provide immense value to sector expansion and improvement.

It is therefore my honour, Excellencies, to seek on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda for favorable consideration for the candidature of Mr. Masambu for Director of telecommunication Development Bureau and reelection to Council representing Group D.

I thank you for your kind attention