Uganda Registration Services Bureau has opened a new service center in Masaka in its concerted effort to take its services n ear the people .
Speaking at the occasion of opening the URSB Masaka service center , ICT and NG Minister, Ms. Judith Nabakooba said that her ministry was working hard to have an automated government to deliver quality e-Services to its citizens. The function was also attended by constitution Affairs Minister , Prof. E. Kamuntu , URSB Registrar General Ms. Mercy Kainobwisho and NRM Director Communication , Emmanuel Dombo among others.
“Government is utilizing the National Optical Fiber Cable Backbone installed along all highways to Kampala to connect all public offices to the internet to ensure automation within government.
As a result, Nabakooba said that so far government of Uganda through NITA-U has successfully completed the implementation of 4 phases of the NBI project which have led to the connection of 49 districts and 609 government offices.
The Minister was proud to note that Masaka Refferal hospital which was connected under phase 3 of the NBI project has been able to apply tele-medicine which involves getting treatment from specialized doctors in a different location and they are also able to carry out research through automated service. The hospital also now has automated patient records through the integrated Health Management system.
Nabakooba said that the ICT ministry is now implementing the Last Mile Connectivity Project aimed at further expanding the coverage of the NBI by laying an additional 732km of fiber optic cable and connecting an additional 700 sites to the NBI with an additional 300 Wi-Fi Hotspots.
The Masaka URSB service center is one of the 700 sites and 300 Wi-Fi Hotspots that have so far been connected. “A cumulative total of 350 out of 700 sites including but not limited to Local Governments, hospitals, schools, universities, among others have been connected under the Last Mile Project, “ the Minister stated adding that in the Masaka area alone, 14 government entities are now fully connected to the National Backbone.
These include; Bank of Uganda, Electoral Commission, NSSF, NIRA, NWSC, URA, NFA, Blood Bank, Kitovu Refferal hospital , Kitovu hospital, Microfinance Support Center, Nkozi University Maska branch, Marie Stopes Clinic.
She told the people of the Masaka that the purpose of automating government services was deliberate and intended to ensure that that the citizens receive public services in an effective and transparent way.
“Uganda is now a fully-fledged communications hub with the seven major border posts with neighboring countries all connected to the NBI and thus strengthening regional ties.
