In 2011, 1,548 km of fibre optic cable was laid in the country. The government also regulated mobile phone technologies to secure this equipment, the development of which was considered a priority. In 2012, there were 850,200 mobile Internet users in Uganda compared to 84,558 users of fixed connections.

In addition, an Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) was developed to harmonise the payment of tax at national level and extend the tax base to all levels of the administration. In 2012, twenty-two ministries, twenty-five government agencies and eight local governments had adopted this system. Following this initiative, the dematerialised services were extended to include electronic payment of urban services (water invoices) and the renewal of administrative documents (passports, education and study grants, tourist visas, etc.).

In order to deploy this national strategy to all the administrations, the programme also promotes the introduction of municipal digital strategies.

http://www.finance.go.ug/mofped/integrated-financial-management-system

Lessons learnt

The impetus from central level helps to structure a consistent national policy framework for the digital transition of the local authorities and their territory. Advocacy encouraged this impetus.