National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (NITA-U) is carrying out a study to recommend and implement National Databases integration in Government.
The Government of Uganda through NITA-U has identified the need to integrate National Databases to provide a standard e-Government Integration Framework for the development of G2G, G2B and G2C. This follows a feasibility study conducted by NITA-U in 2015 which found that 110 Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Governments (MDAs) in Uganda each operate disparate systems. It also revealed that 63% of MDAs do not provide web-based e-services and 78% do not provide mobile based e-services. This is a clear indication of the limited integration of national systems.
“The integration of National Systems and Databases will ease National Planning and improve quality of service delivery”
Therefore, the integration of National Systems and Databases will solve some of the existing problems in data sharing between Government and MDAs, MDAs and Citizens, MDAs and Businesses such as consuming processing of paper documents, duplication of data entry, inconsistency of records and sometimes inaccurate data.
This integration of National Systems and Databases will ease National Planning with the sharing of reporting platforms and it will also improve quality of service delivery and reduce; citizens will not have to line up in long queues for some Government services.
The access to this information through the integration of National Databases will leverage Government’s efforts in providing services quickly and efficiently. For instance, an immigration officer processing a travel document, an education loans officer who needs to authenticate information availed by a student loan applicant or a police officer who needs to know if a suspect is wanted in another jurisdiction.
These and countless other situations require rapid access to a wide range of complete and accurate information that is often scattered across numerous agencies.
“Uganda like all other countries worldwide, is promoting the use of e-Government in service delivery and sharing of information across government with a focus on the citizen and businesses at large,” said James Saaka, Executive Director, NITA-U.
However, there are compelling and numerous benefits driving the adoption of data integration practices globally and these include: Availability, Timeliness, Accuracy & integrity, Consistency & Clarity, Completeness, Reduced duplication, Faster Processing & Turnaround Time, Lower Data Acquisition & Storage Cost, Informed & Defensible Decisions, and Greater Accountability.[related-posts]
According to a statement by NITA-U, the purpose of these regulations include, but they’re not limited to the following:
- Identifying the different data controllers in Uganda.
- Providing for the roles and responsibilities of the data controllers for the effective management of the national databank.
- Prescribing procedures for the collection, storage, retention/archiving, presentation, transfer, control and disposal of data by the data controllers.
- Ensuring security of data collected in the national databank.
The comments from the workshop will be incorporated in the final draft which shall then be forwarded to the Solicitor General for final approval, whereupon the same will be passed as Law.
“Uganda has not been left behind in this quest to provide more efficient services to its citizens/businesses through the application of ICT to transform the way Government works,” said David.
Follow the link to the regulations.
