Uganda is setting up a committee to discuss the Kigali protocol, under which the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) will build the US$2 billion Uhurunet and Umojanet broadband infrastructure networks.

The Uganda committee, christened Broadband Infrastructure Strategy Team (BITS) Uganda, aims to come up with a national position on the Kigali protocol.

The Kigali protocol is the policy and regulatory framework agreement designed to enable eastern and southern African governments to harmonize regulations and facilitate the construction and operation of infrastructure. A stakeholders meeting held in Kampala has resolved that wide consultations on the Kigali protocol, which has so far been ratified by seven countries, be carried out before the protocol is ratified in Uganda.

"Before ratification, we need wide consultations so we [can] come up with a white paper on Uganda’s position on the Kigali protocol," said Badru Ntege, the chairman of the Uganda Internet Service Providers’ (ISP) Association.

"Ratification as-is has many implications for the telecoms sector in Uganda," said Donald Nyakairu, the corporation secretary for Uganda Telecom. "I would rather remain outside until some clauses are changed," he continued, noting the main question is whether the telecom company would be able to participate in Baharicom as an investor.

Baharicom is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that has been created under the Nepad ICT broadband infrastructure initiative, expected to run a network 50,000 kilometers across Africa, terrestrially and underwater. Baharicom is part of the Nepad e-Africa Commission, tasked with developing ICT policies, strategies and projects. The e-Africa commission is coordinating the signing and ratification of the Kigali Protocol.

The Nepad ICT broadband infrastructure network has been split into two networks including Uhurunet, the submarine cable, and Umojanet, the terrestrial cable. The two networks will be managed by Baharicom.

Uganda Telecom's Nyakairu, who is also an official with the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), also stressed that if Uganda signed the Kigali protocol, as it is, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) would have to change Uganda’s regulatory framework.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.