Ministry Of ICT Seeks 15BN For Mindset Change

Ministry Of ICT Seeks 15BN For Mindset Change

The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology is seeking 15bn shillings in the next financial year to carry out mindset change programs.

The minister of ICT Dr. Chris Baryomunsi justifies the request before the parliamentary committee of ICT saying they plan to carry out ideological orientation programs to teach Ugandans to love their country.

The Ministry asked the parliamentary committee of ICT to approve 15 billion shillings to facilitate mindset change programs in the financial year 2022/2023. The minister of ICT Chris Baryomunisi noted that Mindset programs are tailored to orient Ugandans ideologically and teach them to love their country.

However, the proposal has faced resistance in the committee from members of the opposition who claim the program is going to teach NRM ideology.

The ministry of ICT and national guidance is also seeking 70.6 billion shillings to develop the community information system for the parish development model. ICT justified the request saying that this program is important to collect data to fulfill the other pillars of the parish development model

The permanent secretary Amiina Zawedde informed that the 70.6 billion shillings is needed for validation of information on the beneficiaries, their location, tracking the progress and performance of different pillars so as to report real-time implications of the program. The system will be used to evaluate the livelihood and standards of people living in different regions of the country.

Minister Chris Baryomunsi says that the earlier wealth creation programs like entandikwa failed because there was no mechanism of following up on the beneficiaries.

The ministry also wants parliament to give vision group 2.9 billion shillings to assist in revamping the vernacular papers Orumiri, Etop, and Rupiny which were closed during the first wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in the country saying that these papers are necessary to fulfill government programs like COVID-19 vaccination among others.