Kampala — THE Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has urged public servants to acquire laptops under a new scheme he launched on Friday at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

The programme is organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Stanbic Bank and US-based companies that manufacture Tropix and Founder computer brands.

Over 300,000 laptops will be loaned to civil servants to promote e-government (electronic government).

For those with accounts in Stanbic Bank, the monies for the laptops will be deducted from their salaries.

Bukenya said each laptop would cost $699 (sh1.1m).

"I am amazed at how fast Uganda is moving in terms of information and communication technology. Why shouldn't we have cheap laptops for our civil servants?" he asked.

Dr. Ham Mukasa Mulira, the ICT minister, said creating a knowledge-based society required the use of communication tools like portable computers.

"For civil servants to participate in e-government, they need laptops. The programme will ensure that the Government works better, is more transparent and reduces costs of providing services."

He appealed to Stanbic to enable public servants also acquire Blackberry mobile phones to boost their work.

The phones have all the basic mobile phone functions, such as phone calls and SMS, as well as wireless networks, email and web browsing.