Joseph Olanyo
2 October 2008
The Ministry of Information and Communications is implementing a cyber space bill, which will regulate electronic activities in the country and enable online transactions by buyers and sellers.
The bill, which has been passed by parliament and is awaiting cabinet approval, has three components. They are electronic transaction bill, electronic signatures and computer on its use bill.
This means that farmers will no longer be cheated and exploited by unscrupulous middle men. Speaking at the internal procurement seminar on the dissemination of procurement research findings for NTP, a Dutch project for strengthening capacity in procurement in Uganda, the Commissioner Information Technology Mr Ambrose Ruyooka, said the ministry is also undergoing a study on broad ban infrastructure.
MrRuyooka said the website will act as a convergence zone.
"It is like a portal where I can be able to buy and sell my products and make orders," Mr Ruyooka said.
"It will make it easy for farmers in far areas in far areas access the website and meet customers on site," he added. The seminar was held on the sidelines of the launch of a procurement website and NEVI certificate awards. NEVI is a Dutch Professional Purchasing Course, an equivalent of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS) from United Kingdom.
Rather than CIPS, people can now do NEVI.
NTP has been funding research teams in Kyambogo University and Makerere University Business School in different areas of procurement.
The Head Department of Procurement and Marketing Studies Kyambogo University Mr Charles Kalinzi, said the challenge facing the procurement industry is that a number of practitioners have not undergone the training. Mr Kalinzi said, while procurement courses are on demand, placement for internship remains a big challenge.
"Most people are being employed as procurement officials when they have not undergone any training," Mr Kalinzi said.
"We are calling upon government to make it mandatory to get placement for internship in all government institutions," he added.
NTP Project Manager Dr Joseph Ntayi, said the project is building capacity in terms of training at professional levels of masters and doctorate.
"The project has strengthened research in procurement trends and collaboration between the two universities. We have managed to have research teams," Dr Ntayi said.
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