In a new initiative aimed at enhancing internet connectivity, Uganda plans to deploy 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation.
Government offices will use the internet during business hours, and it will be accessible to the general public after hours and on weekends.
Although detractors claim the connection is unstable, the government has already set up hotspots in the city, Kampala, as well as provincial cities.
Every location where the national backbone infrastructure of the government is present will have additional hotspots installed. The Uganda Digital Acceleration Program includes the initiative.
Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, the executive director of the National Information Technology Authority, stated that this is a component of the Uganda Digital Acceleration Programme that is awaiting Cabinet approval during the final review of the Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme in Uganda, which began in 2016 and ends this year.
Every area with a national backbone infrastructure will have the free Wi-Fi hotspot installation program implemented.
“We would like to provide free internet to selected areas at selected times. The internet that we are providing will be utilised by government during working hours, and by citizens after working hours, and weekends,” he said, added that the internet will also be used during emergencies for people applying for government services such as national identification registration.
“Right now, we have free internet hotspots in Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja. But we now want to spread it across many other districts,” he noted.