24 Jul 2014 Enhancing Access to Mobile Phone and Internet Based Information Services for the Rural Population in Northern Uganda

Uganda

Pagak Ker Kal Kwaro Development Trust (PKKKDT) is a registered non-profit organisation as programme development entity of Pagak chiefdom headed by Clan chief. In Uganda, the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act 1993 led to official ‘restoration’ of cultural institutions which had been abolished in 1966. The restored institutions were confined to cultural functions.
This project was initiated to address agricultural and other related information needs, and inadequate financial services in areas beyond the reach of commercial banks, for the rural population of Pagak community in Amuru district of Northern Uganda.
As originally intended, the project addressed agricultural and related information needs, and inadequate financial services in areas beyond the reach of commercial banks, for the rural community of Amuru, in Amuru district, of Northern Uganda. The project aimed at enhancing accessibility, availability and affordability of the said services, through Information and Communication Technology tools in the form of village based mobile phone services and internet services.
Considering that Northern Uganda remains the poorest region in the country, the pilot Community Village Information Centre project as an access point to address the information needs, and provision of m-money services, has acted as an eye-opener for rural communities as well as other development stakeholders, with regard to what interventions are needed to bring about socio-economic transformation in Northern Uganda.
Rural communities are eager for information if only they could obtain a medium of access. During the project, it was discovered that a lot more people were eager to participate in the programme, a lot more than the pilot project had planned for. Most of the trainees and volunteers mused at the realisation that so many things went wrong in their communities due to ignorance.
Pagak Ker Kal Kwaro Development Trust (PKKKDT) is a registered non-profit organisation as programme development entity of Pagak chiefdom headed by Clan chief. In Uganda, the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act 1993 led to official ‘restoration’ of cultural institutions which had been abolished in 1966. The restored institutions were confined to cultural functions.

Final Report

End of Project Report