Industrial , Telecom
Central
Development
The National Information Technology Authority
25-10-2021 09:53:09
The government of Uganda is in the process of developing an Information Technology(IT) Business Processing Outsourcing(BPO) Park. This is intended to attract experienced multinational ICT companies to invest in Uganda with the overall objective of promoting ICT industrial development, income generation, and employment creation for the youth. This is consistent with national aspirations enshrined in the Uganda Vision 2050 to have cities with well-developed ICT/BPO parks and software incubation centres.
The government has decided to harness Information Technology Parks as a means of supporting a knowledge-based economy and fostering market-oriented technological development. In this regard, the Ministry of ICT &NG and NITA-U will collaborate with other agencies like Uganda Investment Authority(UIA), Uganda Free Zones Authority (UFZA), Urban Authorities and Local Governments to implement the Government's vision for IT/BPO parks.
IT/BPO Parks substantially boost the prospect of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)and enable a structured growth of the IT/BPO sector. Large capital investments and a carefully thought through approach is required to build and ensure occupancy of such IT/BPO Parks.
Output expected from ICT Park admeasuring 16.38 Acres:
A. World class business cluster with HIGH-End Software Lab & Data Center
B Direct employment :35,000 (including 10,000 independent consultants working from outside the ICT park)
C. Indirect employment :100,000 (Legal, Accounting, Marketing, Security, Catering, Commuting etc.)
D. No. of firms: about 100 once fully occupied(including 80MSMEs & startups)
E. Business turnover: USD 60billion during 30years of operations(cumulative)
F: Revenue to GoU during 30 years from SPC: about USD1.45Billion
G. Excellent social infrastructure could be created nearby in due course
H. Onset of digital/knowledge economy along with an increase in e-governance
I. Initiation of ICT Start-up culture
J. FDI: about USD 200m (by SOC and Occupants) at ICT Park in intial years
K. Capacity building and technology transfer
L. Branding Uganda as ICT destination
The Uganda Vision 2040, the e-Government Master Plan, and the National BPO Strategy for Uganda have emphasized the set up of ICT Hubs as a necessary tool for accelerated development. By this, we mean the deliberate promotion of ICT-led entrepreneurial clusters, rejuvenation of the private sector units focusing on new technologies, and wealth creation at all levels of the economy.
The Government of Uganda, therefore, expects to see IT Parks:
A. Attract international, regional, and local IT companies to an ideal business complex.
B. Catalyze incubation of startup ICT Companies including Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing(KPO) firms.
c. Minimize the cost by providing incentives for internet bandwidth, tax, utilities like electricity, etc.
D. Promote Uganda as a destination for ICT innovations and attract innovative technology firms from other countries; and
E. Change the labor and skills landscape by c-locating new and established knowledge-based companies in attractive zones around the country.