Uganda Updates
Uganda has won to retain its position at the Council of administration of the global Posts body called Universal Post Union. The voting took place Wednesday 5th October 2016 at the 26th sitting of the UPU congress going on now in Istanbul turkey’s capital. Out of 192 member countries, only 151 countries had voting rights at this congress and Uganda was voted 6th from the African region that had 16 contenders. Only eleven had to be picked.
As Uganda’s head of delegation, I am very proud of this win. Despite the fact that we didn’t have any campaign budget to host lunch and dinner receptions as many countries did here at the magnificent Hilton hotel, we still managed to sell our country candidacy through a subtle- one to one campaign typical of our home grown kakuyege. I’m immensely grateful to the competent team of staff from Uganda commissions, Uganda posts, Ministry of ICT and foreign affairs that ably backed me on the ground here to execute the campaign. I also thank our ambassador to Turkey H.E Johnson Agara Olwa for his frantic diplomatic efforts. I thank my Predecessor Hon John Nasasira for having set this campaign in motion. Largely we owe this victory to his leadership. Equally appreciated is Hon Sam Kutesa and his ministry for creating good dependable allies of Uganda. Above of all that, I thank H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for being a good ambassador of our country as the chief guide of our foreign policy. Many countries that we canvassed support from had high regard for our President. That is what largely enabled our campaign.
This 26th UPU congress also discussed the role of Posta in the changing global digital environment. It was agreed that posts all over enjoy huge networks of physical infrastructure and if integrated with e-commerce, Posts can become a far much better, efficient and cheaper actor in the provision of e-commerce services compared to banks and telecoms. Member countries, therefore, were tasked to review their domestic policies to make sure the work of Posta copes with the digitally changing environment and position it to respond ably to the needs of its clients, majority of whom are the rural under-served.
Next week Uganda proceeds to Washington – USA, where we are sponsoring a candidate Mr Patrick Masambu vying for the top most job of Director General of the International telecommunications satellite organisation (ITSO). We hope for the best and seek prayers of all Ugandans.
Frank Tumwebaze
Minister of ICT and National Guidance
