[kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Uganda consumers get ICT lobby]

[waudo siganga]

Talking of Uganda I have just learnt that they have a separate ICT
Ministry (headed by our good friend Mulira) and a completely separate
Ministry of Information and NATIONAL GUIDANCE to regulate
media/broadcast content etc. I still believe in the superiority of a
distinct ICT Ministry model .
Waudo

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:01:09 +0300, "alice" <alice at apc.org> said:
> 
> http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/- 
> <http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/->
> /index.html
> 
> ----------------------
> 
> Uganda consumers get ICT lobby
> By ESTHER NAKKAZI
> 
> Posted Friday, January 9 2009 at 14:26
> 
> Dissatisfied ICT consumers in Uganda can now seek redress from the
> Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association, in case of bad service,
> substandard products and general unscrupulous practices by data and
> voice service providers.
> 
> The new lobby, which starts work later this month, will particularly
> address the issue of slow data speeds delivered by Internet service
> providers that do not correspond with the bandwidth paid for;
> overpricing of services and substandard mobile handsets sold at rock
> bottom prices through product promotions.
> 
> The lobby's agenda is to ensure that consumers get value for money;
> act as an arbiter between consumers and service providers; be a
> platform for redress; be a proactive independent body that will set
> standards for service providers and also create an avenue for
> educating the public on consumer rights.
> 
> "We want to bring the different players together for the good of the
> industry. Consumers will get to understand what the suppliers are
> giving them and the service providers will in turn realise that they
> cannot get away with poor service," said James Wire Lunghabo,
> chairman of the lobby and an IT expert at Linux Solutions.
> 
> Mr Lunghabo said the lobby is not out to antagonise service providers
> but to hold them accountable and make them understand that "quality
> of service in the ICT sector is a right, not a favour."
> 
> The chairman of the Parliamentary ICT Committee Edward Baliddawa,
> said, "The lobby is a good initiative that will create checks and
> balances within the industry. It will go a long way in helping to
> educate consumers, most of whom do not have the capacity to verify
> quality of services offered."
> 
> The lobby group will complement the regulator Uganda Communications
> Commission, which is mandated by the government to do this work.
> 
> But critics say that though the Commission is mandated to handle
> consumer complaints, the fact that it is funded by the service
> providers, it cannot not be a fair arbiter.
> 
> The Commission is funded through licence fees paid by ICT operators,
> the government, a 1 per cent levy from operators' revenue under the
> Rural Communication Development Fund and other fees, which the lobby
> group says should be accounted for by an independent body. The
> Commission runs a consumer relations desk that has been accused of
> being docile.
> 
> Commission officials said the new lobby is free to ask it for funding
> as funds for such activities are available, given that the issue of
> consumer protection is too big to be handled by a single entity.
> 
> "We welcome every initiative and will be glad to have civil society
> and public collaboration. The issue of consumer protection calls for
> concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the sector," said Fred
> Otunnu, the Director of Communications and Consumer Affairs at the
> UCC.
> 
> However, some industry players have already expressed reservations,
> saying that if the lobby is to be funded by the Commission, it will
> be controlled by the government and so lose its independence.
> 
> http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/- 
> <http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/->
> /index.html
> 
> __._,_
> __,_._,___
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> 
> This message was sent to: emailsignet at mailcan.com
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emailsignet%40mailcan.com