UGhub platform, the Key to Unlocking E-Government Puzzle

In a bid to ensure effective service delivery to the citizens, government through the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) recently launched UGhub platform, an application that will give Government Entities timely access to data and information and be able to coordinate with colleagues across different agencies.

The UGhub platform has been developed with funding from the World Bank under the Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (RCIP) and currently 19 entities have been integrated and can seamlessly share data in a secure, harmonized and reliable manner.

While briefing the media on Thursday, Acting Board Chair NITA-U Hon. James Kabajo asked members of the Press to become Ambassadors of UGhub if government is to achieve a seamless information sharing system.

“The UGhub platform is the key to unlocking this E-Government puzzle. The end game is enabling of this efficiency across agencies is better service delivery for citizens. For example, there will be no more need for a citizen to fill out multiple documents just to Government service or make multiple visits to an office to follow up a service request,” Kabajo said, adding that Government entities spend considerable time and money to purchase, develop, implement and operate their own stand-alone systems.

The Government of Uganda’s Digital Vision 2020 identifies ICT as a key driver to development. Through the Ministry of ICT&NG and NITA-U, the Government set up the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) so as to connect all districts and towns via an optical fiber-based network. The NBI currently spans over 4,000km across 56 districts and connecting over 1,400 Government offices. This has enabled the reliable transmission of data and other eGovernment services across Government and enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of communication as well as service delivery to the citizens.

The Government also established the first tier-3 National Cloud Data Center that has capacity to host all Government systems, applications and data.

According to Kabajo, the core objective of setting up the IT infrastructure is to enable Government plans of having citizens receive government services without necessarily having physical contact with government offices.