Lawmakers have taken a decisive stand against a government proposal aimed at dissolving the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) and transferring its functions to the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology, and National Guidance.
The rejection came during the consideration of the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which formed part of a series of bills introduced to implement the government’s policy for rationalizing government agencies and curtailing public expenditure, endorsed by Cabinet in February 2021. The overarching aim of this policy is to enhance efficiency, eliminate service duplication, and curb unnecessary government spending.
The House Committee on ICT, responsible for scrutinizing the Bill, recommended maintaining the autonomy of the Authority, citing the absence of overlapping mandates between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and NITA-U. The committee highlighted NITA-U’s significant financial contributions through licensing, permit issuance, and the commercialization of national backbone infrastructure, amounting to approximately Shs200 billion over the past decade and a projected Shs150 billion over the next five years.
Deputy Chairperson of the ICT Committee, Tonny Ayoo, emphasized the importance of preserving NITA-U’s autonomy, underscoring its unique role as the primary implementing arm of government in the IT sector. Ayoo noted that while the committee supported agency rationalization, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance failed to demonstrate any substantial financial burden posed by NITA-U on the consolidated fund.
Echoing the committee’s stance, Jane Pacuto (NRM, Pakwach district) outlined the substantial revenues generated by NITA-U over recent years, indicating a steady increase from Shs18 billion in 2019/2020 to a projected Shs75 billion in 2025/2026. Pacuto’s enumeration further strengthened the argument for retaining NITA-U’s autonomy.
Bugweri County MP, Hon. Abdu Katuntu, criticized the government’s lack of a comprehensive study on the rationalization process, raising doubts about the efficacy of the proposed consolidation.
In response to parliamentary queries, Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Baluku, and Minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, failed to persuade members regarding the necessity of mainstreaming NITA-U under their ministry. Consequently, Minister Muruli Mukasa requested additional time to gather evidence in support of the proposed agency consolidation.
