By Patrick Masambu at the third East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) -2010
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and make remarks at the opening of the East African Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF-2010). We feel greatly honoured for Uganda to be hosting this important event.
On behalf of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), I wish to especially welcome our colleagues who have come all the way from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and elsewhere to attend this Forum.
As the regulatory agency charged with oversight of communications sector in Uganda, UCC is indeed glad to be associated with this important event. The Commission has been involved in the Internet Governance process since the World Summits on Information Society (WSIS) of Geneva in 2003 and that of Tunis in 2005, which resulted in the creation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
It is gratifying to note that the Uganda National IGF has continued to play an active role throughout the entire process. The Internet is increasingly playing a critical role in all our socio-economic activities. Therefore, its governance cannot be left to a closed group of people.
We must all be involved in the policy, legal and technical decision-making process in order for all of us to benefit from the enormous opportunities presented by the information society.
The growing significance of the opportunities and threats created by the development and use of the internet and related information and communication technology (ICT), calls for a concerted effort to create a trusted, transparent and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment at the global, regional and national levels.
Suffice to say, we need to take into account the need for a broad multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance, including significant civil society participation, when seeking to develop effective and equitable policies to meet our socio-economic development goals.
As a region we need to take maximum advantage of the Internet so as to develop our respective countries. We should ensure that the Internet is a resource that benefits all our people. This can best be done, if we have a strong and dynamic regional IGF.
I am sure you will agree with me, the formation of IGFs has been an important step in creating a flexible procedural structure for identifying, discussing and addressing key issues through a growing multi-stakeholder policy dialogue.
The fifth IGF is scheduled to be held in Lithuania, on 14-17 September 2010, which is just a month away. One of the important decisions the next IGF is expected to make is to agree on the future of the IGF.
In view of the remarkable achievements of the previous IGFs, Uganda would support the continuation of the IGF in its current form organized with the participation of all stakeholders.
I would like to thank membership of EAIGF for having given us this opportunity to host this important event. I wish to reiterate the commitment of UCC in ensuring that the Internet remains a tool for socio-economic development of our region.
Ladies and Gentlemen, my remarks would be incomplete if I failed to acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful collaboration we have received from the various stakeholders – without mentioning specific names - who have contributed in one way or another to the convening of this event.
I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to the organising committee, which has worked tirelessly to ensure that this Forum is a success. Please, keep up this spirit.
Patrick Mwesigwa
AG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/UCC
August 11, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment