Uganda BPO sector strategises

GOVERNMENT

Uganda’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector has met to strategise the way forward for the industry.

The BPO stakeholders met in Kamapala to plot ways to develop Uganda’s BPO sector as part of the bigger national development plan.

Uganda’s Minister for ICT, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, noted that the Government of Uganda had identified ICT as a core strategy for enhancing public service delivery, growth and employment creation.

He said: “The government recognizes that the BPO and ICT business are very competitive, and companies that provide these services will require strict adherence to set standards as well as strict operating procedures.”

He said the National Information Technology Authority – Uganda, in conjunction with Ministry of ICT, is spearheading the process of growing the BPO industry through several “significant actions”.

These include the establishment of a Government BPO centre, designing incentives scheme for other BPO operators, and improving national ICT infrastructure.  “For example, the National Fibre Optic Backbone expected to be completed this year will facilitate access to high speed internet connectivity by priority target users including major towns, administrative units, schools and hospitals.

In addition, the government has entered a memorandum of understanding with Makerere University to train Ugandan youth in conducting BPO business and the first cohort of 500 youth have already been trained.  This is a great opportunity to BPO operators because efficient human resource is a key factor for enhancing competitiveness in the BPO industry,” he said.

‘As government, we are proud of the achievements registered so far and soon we shall achieve the vision of transforming Uganda to a preferred BPO destination in the region,’ mentioned the Hon. Minister.  He further reiterated government’s commitment to develop this budding industry as a way of facilitating Information Technology enabled services (ITES) and providing jobs to our youth.