Uganda will host the 35th Assembly of Parties of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO) next month, according to a June 20 statement released by the Uganda Communications Commission, the organiser of the event.

The three-day event will take place at the Serena Conference Centre from July 3 to 6. This will be the first time Uganda is hosting this event, and it will also be the first ITSO Meeting to be held in Africa.

ITSO is an intergovernmental organisation charged with overseeing the public service obligations of Intelsat Ltd. The 150-member state organisation, to which Uganda is a member, works to ensure that Intelsat provides public telecommunications services, including voice, data and video on a global and non-discriminatory basis.

ITSO was established in 1971 through an inter-governmental Agreement to provide, on a commercial and non-discriminatory basis, global public international telecommunications services using satellite technology. This development in itself was an implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution 1721(XVI) regarding the universal access of communications by means of satellite.

At least 250 foreign dignitaries and diplomats - including ministers responsible for ICT - are expected to attend this three-day event at which President Yoweri Museveni will be the guest of honour.