Rural Communications
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) started and administers a Universal Service Fund (USF) for communications in accordance with the provisions of the Communications Act of 1997. The USF is called the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF). The main objectives of RCDF are to;
- provide access to basic communications services within a reasonable distance to all the people in Uganda
- leverage investment into rural communications development
- promote ICT usage in Uganda
RCDF was started in the year 2003. The activities of RCDF are guided by the RCDF policy of 2001 which was rolled over for the five year period 2003 to 2007. The RCDF policy programme defined by the Policy for the five year period is as follows;
| SN | Programme Area | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Internet Points of Presence | At every district headquarters |
| 2 | Internet Cafe | At every district headquarters |
| 3 | ICT Training Centres | At every district headquarters |
| 4 | Web Portal | For every district |
| 5 | Public Pay Phones | For every 2500 inhabitants/every parish |
| 4 | Web Portal | For every district |
| 5 | Public Pay Phones | For every 2500 inhabitants/every parish |
| 6 | Research Projects | To guide rural communications development |
| 7 | Postal Support Projects | Strategic rural areas |
| 8 | Multi-purpose Community Telecentres (MCTs) | Strategic rural areas |
| 9 | School ICT Facilities | In line with national ICT Policy |
| 10 | Health care ICT facilities | In line with national ICT Policy |
| 11 | Call Centres | Strategic Underserved locations |
Achievements of RCDF
The performance of the RCDF overall programme is primarily pegged against its achievements in line with the RCDF policy programme. Many targets that are in the original RCDF policy programme in the 2001 policy whose implementation started in the year 2003 were achieved around the year 2005. New targets were then redefined for the period up to the end of the year 2007. The table below shows the achievements of RCDF as at 31st December, 2007. Projects that were still under development as at 31st December, 2007 were in very advanced stages of completion. All the projects were expected to be completed by the 30th June, 2008.
A new RCDF Policy for the period 2008 to 2012 is expected to be in force by 1st July, 2008.
| SN | Programme Area | Commissioned Projects | Projects Under Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Internet Points of Presence | 76 | - |
| 2 | Internet Cafe | 55 | 53 |
| 3 | ICT Training Centres | 67 | 1 |
| 4 | Web Portal | 78 | 0 |
| 5 | Public Pay Phones | 3349 | 750 |
| 6 | Research Projects | 4 | 1 |
| 7 | Postal Support Projects | 35 | - |
| 8 | Multi-purpose Community Telecentres | 13 | - |
| 9 | School ICT Laboratories | 108 | 100 |
| 10 | Health Care ICT Facilities | 43 | 53 |
| 11 | Call Centers | - | 1 |
RCDF Projects Status As of 1st October 2009
| SN | Programme Area | Operational Projects | out of service Projects | terminated Projects | Projects Under installation | total Projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Internet Points of Presence | 22 | 12 | 18 | 53 | 105 |
| 2 | ICT Training Centres | 31 | 16 | 17 | 1 | 65 |
| 3 | Telecentres | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 4 | Web Portal | 40 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 5 | Internet Points of Presence | 74 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 76 |
| 6 | Postal Centres | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 7 | Postal Telecentres | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 8 | School ICT Laboratories | 97 | 11 | 0 | 100 | 208 |
| 9 | Health ICT Laboratories | 20 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 43 |
| 10 | Payphones (Incl. CICs) | 3349 | 0 | 0 | 750 | 4099 |
| 11 | Wireless Communications Sites (base Stations) | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
RCDF Projects Roll Out Strategy
The district centres are the main starting point for penetration of ICT services into the district using the RCDF intervention. Roll out starts at the district level and then into the lower administrative units of the district. This roll out strategy allows for service to start where it is most needed, where it is most sustainable and allows for awareness into the remote areas to take effect before service gets there.
Implementing the RCDF Policy Programme
Implementation of the RCDF programme is a sequential and cyclic process.
UCC defines underserved areas in line with the RCDF policy programme. Projects that can deliver sustainable communications services to the underserved areas are then developed. Implementers of the projects are sought through a competitive bidding process. Financial subsidies are extended to project implementers. Implementation of the projects is governed by contractual terms which ensure that the objectives of RCDF are realised.
The project implementer owns the project. UCC monitors and offers technical support to the project through out its stipulated project life. As the owner, the project implementer enjoys all the direct benefits accruing from the project and also bears all its normal risks.
The projects are designed in such a way that they stimulate similar projects to be started in the underserved areas without further intervention from RCDF.
Sources of Funding
RCDF may receive funding from the following sources;-
- Money appropriated by Parliament ( National budget
- Donations and grants from development partners
- Money from the Uganda Communications Commission
- Donations, gifts, grants and loans acceptable to the Minister of ICT and the Minister responsible for Finance
In the past, RCDF has employed funding from two main sources;
- Money from the Uganda Communications commission particularly from the 1% of Gross Annual Revenue (GAR) of operators
- Donations and grants from development partners
Other sources of funds were expected to be invoked as the scope of activities expanded.
Management of the RCDF Programme
RCDF is administered by UCC at arms' length. Its management is defined by Statutory Instrument 2002, No 52 and it is directed by a dedicated Board of Directors.