Uganda’s National Backbone Infrastructure – Missing Links Project kicks off

By Najib Mulema

Uganda through its National Information Technology Authority-Uganda NITA-U) has kicked off the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure-Missing Links and e-Government Infrastructure (NBI/EGI) project.

The project is aimed at connecting all major towns across the country including Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies via an optical fiber cable network so as to reduce the cost of public administration, support delivery of secure e-Government services as well as enhance communications services in the country.

Commenting on the start of the Missing Links project, NITA-U’s Executive Director, James Saaka, said, ‘This is an excellent development for the nation. Extension of the NBI will improve economic development to these regions. With the robust and secure NBI anchoring eServices, the Government is set to increase access to public services through e-Government. I congratulate the NITA-U and World Bank technical teams that have worked together in concluding the procurement of this critical national infrastructure.’

The missing links project will also extend connectivity to the major border points across the country and achieve the objective of regional connectivity, thereby delivering on the national objective of fostering East African regional integration through improved upon trade.

So far, the connectivity of the following border points has been achieved namely; Elegu (border point with South Sudan), Katuna (border point with Rwanda), Mutukula (border point with Tanzania) and Malaba and Busia (border point with Kenya). The missing links project will provide new connectivity to Vura and Mpondwe(border point with Democratic Republic of Congo) and Oraba(border point with South Sudan).

According to Mr. Saaka, at the already connected border points, there has been a reduction in clearance times for goods at these border points by average of 70%. Also there has been enhanced coordination between agencies like Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Police Force and Immigration which has improved trade facilitation across the region.

“Following the successful completion of Phases I – III of the NBI/EGI Project, as part of a deliberate effort to ensure the network is able to consistently provide 99.9%, the Missing Links project was started upon. The Missing Links project details laying out of concentric rings connected through optical fiber cable that will ensure self-resilient National Communications Infrastructure,” he said.

Previously underserved regions, West Nile and North Eastern Uganda, are set to get connected to the superior National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) fibre optic network with the commencement of the Missing Links project. This will bring unheralded economic benefits to these regions as the connectivity will bring previously hard to access public services closer to the Citizens in those areas.

So far, 370 Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Local Governments (MDAs/LGs) have been connected to the NBI.

With the commencement of the Missing Links project, this number is set to grow to 570 MDAs/LGs across the nation.