Vandalism remains a substantial challenge to the country's social and economic development, leading to network outages that disrupt online transmissions, including cell phones and banking systems, resulting in revenue loss. Vandalism also extends to hydroelectric installations, with equally severe consequences.
The government, in collaboration with various technological companies, has convened to address the ongoing issue of vandalism, which significantly impacts the telecom sector and hinders the digital transformation agenda.
Vandalism remains a substantial challenge to the country's social and economic development, leading to network outages that disrupt online transmissions, including cell phones and banking systems, resulting in revenue loss. Vandalism also extends to hydroelectric installations, with equally severe consequences.
This act is now recognized as economic sabotage rather than petty theft, as previously thought by the law. A stakeholders' meeting, chaired by the Uganda Communications Commission and the American Tower Corporation, gathered officials from the Ministry of ICT, Uganda Police, UPDF, telecom companies, UMEME, and other affected parties to address the issue comprehensively.
Amina Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, emphasized the critical importance of safeguarding infrastructure such as fiber cables and poles for successful digitalization efforts. She affirmed that the meeting aimed to find lasting solutions and stressed the necessity for collective action from all concerned parties, including security agencies.
Nyombi Thembo, the UCC Executive Director, highlighted the integral role of ICT in daily life and underscored the need for concerted efforts to combat vandalism, which continues to plague installations despite mitigation efforts.
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Dorothy Kabagambe, CEO of ATC Uganda, emphasized the importance of mobilizing collective action and forging partnerships to protect the integrity of the country's ICT infrastructure, which underpins various aspects of daily life and economic prosperity.
Dennis Kakonge, Legal Director for Airtel Uganda, emphasized the breach of the social contract with customers and the government due to vandalism, resulting in financial losses and service disruptions. He stressed the importance of sensitizing the public and reviewing existing laws to deter such behavior effectively.
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The forum's agenda includes discussions on designating telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, with the aim of deterring vandalism through a robust legal and operational framework.
This designation would strengthen security measures and enhance coordination among relevant authorities to prevent and address acts of vandalism effectively.
Furthermore, the forum provides a platform for aligning strategies with Uganda's Digital Vision and the Digital Transformation Roadmap, emphasizing the crucial role of ICT in driving socioeconomic progress and achieving national development goals through collaborative efforts.
