IICD supported programme: East African Centre for Open Source Software - Uganda

This project is the outcome of a research conducted in 2003 by IICD focusing on the status of Open Source in Africa. Open Source Software or ‘OSS’ is software where people can easily change the source code and that is usually available for free. The main conclusion of the conducted research was: Africa is in need for more certified Open Source System developers and system administrators. For instance in Uganda the server environment of most Ministries and ISP’s are running on Linux. However: Support personnel have to be flown in from abroad (expensive consultants from Europe and USA).

Supported by IICD a joint venture was set up between Martyrs University and Linux Solutions Ltd which led to the establishment of a non-governmental organization called the East Africa Centre for Open Source Software (EACOSS).  The goals are to raise awareness about the benefits of OSS and to train system and network administrators throughout the East African region through a Training Centre and Resource Centre. Although training activities at EACOSS got off to a slow start, by June 2005 a break-even point had been reached. Internet café activities got underway and the www.eocoss.org website has been revamped (offering Linux distributions etc..).

As of to date EACOSS offers courses in Computer literacy, Web site development (Xamp), Basic and Advanced Linux Networking and System Administration.

1. The corporate acceptance of Linux in Uganda. Today, over 80% of companies that have internet connectivity or some form of Wide Area Netowrks are using Linux in one form or another to provide services like Mail, Firewalling, Proxy e.t.c.
2. Talk of Linux in various fora is no longer greeted with alot of surprise. It is something people have an idea about already. As to whether their perceptions are good or bad, that is another story.
3. It is now more common to find adverts in papers for IT administrators indicating the need for Linux Expertise. This was unheard of 3 years ago.
4. Universities like MUK have taken up training in Linux as a way of complementing the skills they are offering their students. This is remarkable.
5. 10 years ago, there were no more than 2 companies offering Open Source support and solutions in Uganda, today, they are not less than 20.
6. Uganda has an installed base of over 1000 Inveneo low power solar PCs which run off Linux. These can be found in Schools, rural NGOs and projects.
7. Certification of training (LPI) at EACOSS was approved in 2008 and has been imlemented - see www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1797&s=news

Deployment of Open Source Software shall imply the availability of ICT systems in many hitherto unexpected localities and communities. This shall make access to ICTs easier than earlier envisaged. 

Read more about IICD’s Uganda Country Programme.

1. Create training and certification facilities on OSS in Uganda
2. Create up-to-date access to Free and Open Source software, manuals and handbooks at low costs and stimulate software development as a result.
3. Establish a platform for the integration of Open Source in the development of ICT policy
4. Produce a research/feasibility study for replication elsewhere.

• Creating an improved understanding of the role of OSS for the development of civil society;
• Contribution to national development by empowering people with appropriate skills in OSS for job creation and potential entrepreneurs;
• Developing a local ICT industry;
• Reducing the barriers to ICT's

Read more about IICD’s approach towards Education.

The project was initially started with more political oriented staff than technically oriented ones. Several changes in the management have resulted to lack of clear strategy and guidance. As of early 2008, a new manager, more business oriented, was brought on board. But his lack of technical skills and little knowledge of the OSS community in Uganda and East Africa has not yet allowed EACOSS to make progresses towards sustainability.

EACOSS was from the beginning set up as a joint venture between the private sector (Linux Solutions) and the academia (the Uganda Martyrs University).

Sustainability is a key issue for the center and many activities are geared toward that end.