African governments should work toward ICT-literate societies by encouraging local content generation to address the needs of communities, according to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
“I wish to point out that there is no country that can grow without investing in research. I, therefore, urge universities to invest heavily in research in the area of ICTs,” Museveni said at a Uganda Communications Commission symposium.
Research, he explained, will give way to new products and services that are tailored to the African environment and that can be patented to help grow Africa’s private ICT sector.
Museveni emphasized that ICT is not an end unto itself but, rather, an enabler to a better society.
“What do computers and telecoms mean? Has life changed?” Museveni wondered. “Yes, it has, because these tools have increased the tempo at which we work and communicate. But have human needs changed?”
The basic human needs of food, shelter, clothing and means of movement have remained unchanged, he answered, and Africans must realize that ICT can help meet these needs efficiently.
Museveni admitted that low per capita income, illiteracy and restrictive regulatory regimes have all contributed to Africa’s digital divide.
Nevertheless, he praised the players in Uganda’s ICT sector, noting that they had played a key role in helping to transform the sector from what it was 10 years ago to what it is today.
