IICD supported project: DistrictNet

Countries: Uganda [UG]
Sectors: governance

Summary

The District Net project stands for ICT for Rural Development. The project was implemented in 2002 by the Ministry of Local Governance in four districts, being Mbarara (west), Lira (north), Mbale (east) and Kayunga (central) with the hope that, if successful, it would be extended to other regions in the country. The project is to set out to improve communication links among the district headquarters, central government agencies and other stakeholders working with districts, and to address problems of inadequate ICT basic skills among the district staff. The MoLG started the District Net project to improve performance in the Local Governments by establishing functional data & information management and public communication systems for effective and efficient service delivery in decentralised governance.” Hence, this project was created under the slogan ‘ICT for Rural Development!’

Update

Updated: 2006-07-11

So far, the districts involved have made savings in administrative expenses, have improved the quality of their services and are keen on expanding the project to involve all sub-counties in their respective districts. Due to the growth of the project it was decided in May 2005 to shift the ownership of the project to the districts themselves. This process will officially be concluded November 20 and 21, 2005 through the official hand-over from Sam Emorut (commissioner MoLG) to Steven Dagada (chairperson Kayunga district and national coordinator of the DistrictNet project). This workshop will officially mark the beginning of ownership of the DistrictNet project by the Local governments of Lira, Mbale, Kayunga and Mbarara. A work plan will be developed for the next six months to complete the final phase of the pilot phase.

Objectives

The goals of this project are: introducing data/voice communication between districts headquarters and lower councils; introducing electronic data processing in financial management, data communication, data storage and analysis; and, strengthening the public information function within the District Administration.

Results

As Mr Olaf Kruidhof, an e-government consultant from Capgemini stated at an e-governance seminar in Tanzania: "The essence of e-governance is about change, not technology. E-government helps to bring the government closer to the people thereby changing the relationship between the government and its citizens." The effects of this change are now being felt in four districts in Uganda, thanks to the DistrictNet project.

Project Owner : The Local governments of Lira, Mbale, Kayunga and Mbarara.

Project Partners : Ministry of Local Government

Project Contact : IICD