Kampala — St. Lawrence University is to host the $150m (sh249.3b) national laptop distribution centre, the information and communication technology state minister, Alintuma Nsambu, has said.

"The project is targeting students from secondary school level upwards and aims at promoting computer literacy," Nsambu, said.

This was at the launch of the sh2b storage facility at the university campus in Rubaga, Kampala.

He said the facility can accommodate one million computers, 80% of which, would be laptop computers and the rest desktop computers.

"These computers will be sold to students and teachers at $450 (sh747,900) each.

"The poor who cannot afford paying the full amount at once will have the opportunity to acquire computers by paying the money in installments," Nsambu, said.

He, however, warned the students against abusing the computers by surfing pornography websites instead of using them to do knowledgeable research.

Prof. Lawrence Mukiibi, the proprietor of St. Lawrence University hailed the Government's efforts geared at promoting the use of ICTs in the country.

Mukiibi said this would help the country develop.

Uganda is ranked among the countries with a high Internet connectivity in the region. ICT centres have been set up in the rural areas to ease accessibility to the Internet.