Uganda Telecom, it has been associated with financial troubles , cosmetic management changeovers and firing of the previous Managing Director to mention but a few. While writing to the Prime Minister on 9th Jan 2018, President Museveni requested several directives to be implemented that would see Uganda’s oldest telecom revamped to its former glory.
In the letter, that was received on 23 Jan 2018 by the Prime Minister’s office, the President acknowledged he was informed about a scheme to devalue the assets of Uganda Telecom by some corrupt company officials who have been draining the company coffers dry. He pointed out that UTL has several assets including a 9.31% stake in the western Indian Ocean sub-marine cable and infrastructure to transmit and store electronic data. The head of state still believes that UTL still had a lot of potential to manage government’s data.
The further directed the Prime Minister that there will be no more sale of the company’s assets and instead rely on Hon Evelyn Anite’s proposals among which included;
1. Converting of all debt owed to Government departments and agencies (MDAs) into shares held by UDC on behalf of the government.
2. The second proposal might contradict the existing internet services and NBI provided by NITA Uganda, as the president directed all MDAs to only use the channel in which UTL has shares.
3. To promote investment, the president UTL to partner with Chinese technology company Xinlan Group to start manufacturing phones in Uganda who have proposed an initial investment of USD 10 million.
4. And finally revamp the dying mobile network with the ability to restore government data.
See letter below.
