Nkubito Bakuramutsa, the deputy CEO in charge of ICT at the Rwanda Development Board addressing the meeting. (photo Timothy Kisambira)

He also said that two meetings would be organized every month to do practical work with all the ICT managers in the country, adding that this is a new way of working that will help all them to keep updated because some are still lagging behind.

Bakuramutsa called upon all ICT managers, more especially those working at district level, to help inform their mayors more about the sector because there are always new developments in ICT.

He pointed out that this is all the more important since the sector needs support from district in the process of laying cables when it comes to authorization for civil works, site environment, space availability for equipment, electricity availability, or small expropriations,

As for the National Data Center, he announced that negotiations with qualified companies for its construction are under way, explaining that the center can provide government agencies with quick access to information that will facilitate decision-making, as well as to support and facilitate data-exchange.

The deputy CEO however noted that the establishment of the National Data Center still faces some challenges such as delays in the project’s execution, slow response from potential customers, lack of expertise among the current staff and insufficient funds.

On the positive side, he remarked that last year the Rwanda Information Technology Agency (RITA, which has been absorbed by the RDB) achieved a lot, for example a workflow customization service, short and long term training, deployment of ICT system, training of systems administrators in ministries, districts, government agencies and travel agencies.

Bakuramutsa also advised the ICT managers to use the telecenters that have been put in place in the districts. “We have so far set up 12 telecenters and 18 more are planned. This will help people in selected rural and underserved urban communities to access and use ICT,” he said, adding that through the telecenters ICT training is provided as a means to human development.

Yet the telecenters still face challenges, according to the deputy CEO, which vary from the illiteracy rate in rural areas, availability of the right skill sets to manage the telecenters, connectivity and electricity, lack of interest and involvement of the community, and lack of commitment and ownership by district authorities.

A novelty for this year, Nkubito Bakuramutsa announced, will be the Public Information Kiosks which allow easy and affordable access to information across all major sectors such as education, health, and the economy, and also there will be availability of information and resources both locally and national-wide.

Proposed sites for pilot projects are the airport, immigration, parliament, the ministries of justice, of local government and of education, ORTPN, the National University of Rwanda, Kigali City and Rwanda Revenue Authority.