The government yesterday announced while reading the budget for the financial year 2022/23 that Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) is now a key priority for the nation. The areas of priority include;
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- enhancement of security, the rule of law, and fighting corruption,
- sustaining economic recovery,
- implementing the Parish Development Model to create wealth and jobs,
- promotion of agro-industrialization,
- commercialization of oil and gas,
- enhancement of transport, energy, and ICT infrastructure,
- enhancing human capital development, science, innovation, and knowledge transfer and
- finally enhancing public sector effectiveness and efficiency.
In allocating the UGX 124.2 billion budget for the technology sector, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said that the geographical coverage of Broad Band services (3G) stands at 66 percent, allowing digital access for 74 percent of the
population.
Next financial year, the Government has promised to support the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies. These include Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the use of Robotics. We shall also extend broadband ICT infrastructure to enable connectivity to facilitate public service delivery.
Using technology to enforce tax laws
The finance minister further said that no new taxes will be introduced in Financial Year 2022/23. The government will achieve revenue targets by improving the efficiency in tax collection and enhancing compliance with tax laws. The capacity of the Uganda Revenue Authority will be enhanced by recruiting and training staff and deploying appropriate equipment, and technology to enforce tax laws.
