In an effort to make government run more smoothly, Kampala is moving toward establishing a video conferencing network for government employees. The new technology called Secure Messaging and Collaboration system was launched this week and has analysts hopeful that it will make doing business with the government easier. “Too long the Ugandan government has been bogged down with wait times and an inability to be reached for needs, but this will definitely improve the government's ability to get things done and reach out to potential investors as well as day-to-day needs,” said IT analyst and former communications ministry official Kato Humbani. According to local reports on the new system, it will enable ministries to hold discussions through video conferencing without being forced to schedule meetings far in advance and waste time in travel. Uganda's ICT minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the system also includes end-to-end secure email, instant messaging, voice and video-conferencing. He said that the goal is to make government services more efficient. “I am happy to be associated with this crop of young and energetic professionals recruited at NITA-U who are expected to be leaders of the ICT revolution in Uganda,” he said at a press conference launching the new system. BM
