The Ugandan government has announced its plan to install 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across Uganda as they plan to extend internet access in far-flung areas.
This initiative by the Uganda government is part of the US$75 million Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (RCIP), funded by the World Bank, which started in 2016 and is scheduled to come to an end this year. Within this time, the government has installed 600 WiFi hotspots across the country: 300 in regional cities and 300 in the capital city of Kampala. This has helped government add 764 kilometres of Optical Fibre Cable to the National Backbone Infrastructure.
Pulse Uganda reports that while speaking at the final review of RCIP, the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) Executive Director, Hatwib Mugasa said that the internet will be used periodically between the public office and the public.
“We would like to provide free internet to selected areas at selected times. The internet that we are providing will be utilised by the government during working hours, and by citizens after working hours, and weekends,” He said.
This new initiative will see the government install 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in far-flung areas and the free Wi-Fi hotspots installation programme will be rolled out in every location where the government’s national backbone infrastructure exists.
