Third East Africa Internet Governance Forum opens in Kampala

By Esther Nakkazi

East African Internet Governance Forum opens in Kampala

The Third East Africa Internet Governance Forum has opened in Kampala, Uganda today.


About 100 participants drawn from the regional Internet Governance Forums (IGF) and different stakeholders in the Information Technology industry are in  attendance.


The theme for the conference is strengthening East Africa’s critical Internet resources, ‘Thinking globally; Acting locally.’


It was opened by Eriya Kategaya, the first Deputy Prime minister and minister of East African Community Affairs in Uganda.

Mr. Eriya Kategeya opened the third EA_IGF

Mr. Kategaya emphasized the need to create awareness on Internet Governance issues within the East Africa region and to enact enabling laws for Internet growth and cyber security.


Patrick Mwesigwa the acting Executive Director, Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) said the Internet is a critical resource whose governance needs participation for everybody.


Chengetai Masango, from UN Internet Governance secretariat said there is need to look at lowering of Internet prices in East Africa after the landing of cables at the Mombasa cost.


The EA_IGF is an annual conference that meets to talk about issues that have been discussed by country IGF chapters. All the East Africa Community (EAC) countries Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda have chapters.


Some of the issues discussed at the national levels that to be discussed include IPV6 migration, de-regulation of ccTLD, cyber security and exchange points.


Alice Muyua, the EA_IGF convention convener said Kenya would host the next global IGF in September 2011 if the UN Assembly gives the mandate. John Alintuma Nsambu the state minister for ICT and Pat Jimmy Ssamanya the permanent Secretary at the ministry attended.