East Africa Governance Forum: Uganda

6th INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM 2011 DATES

2011-03-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

The dates for the sixth 2011 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for 27th to 30 September 2011 in Nairobi at
the United Nations, Gigiri.
We wish to have strong participation of all stakeholders and would particularly like to encourage industry, civil society and policy makers,and media who would bring to it expertise, partnerships, and best practices.

We hope to leverage, build upon, and enrich the 2011 IGF, by extending the benefits of the IGF programming to begin to build a foundation for young people within the context of the East African Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) which will prepare them to participate meaningfully and constructively as IGF youth Ambassadors.

Best regards
Alice Munyua
Picked from the Mailing list [asis]

Reposted by Maureen Agena

Youth, ICT Entreprenuership and Internet Governace in EastAfrica.

2010-08-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

By Maureen Agena

The idea of involving the youth in issues of internet governance was one of the emerging issues at the 3^rd internet Governance forum that took place from 11^th to 13^th August 2010 in Kampala Uganda.

Mr. Tony a representative from Digital Opportuinty trust an international non-for-profit organization whose mission is “To create a global network of talented, energetic young leaders who make real change by educating local communities to apply technology effectively for real life” shared the experience they have with the youth, ICT and internet governace in East Africa.

Digital Opportunity trust is currently operational in four African Countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Egypt in addition to other countries. It was noted that in EastAfrica, 50 percent young people are under the age of 25 and that even with secondary education young Africans face challenges, they are still three times more likely to be unemployed than adults.

Youth and ICTs: Promoting Youth Engagement.

Early Access to ICTs means early adoption and adaptation of ICTs and skills therefore spurring innovation and economic growth. Mr. Tony from Digital Opportunity trust said that young people need to be empowered in community-Building , knowledge Generation and sharing , projects support, skills development and advocacy. He acknowledged that the youth input in ICT policy development is important as the policies can provide the necessary framework , support, legitimacy for young peopleto intiate and support their own intiative. There is also a great need to create opportunities for the youth to participate in national, regional and international ICT policy development processes.

The Third East Africa Internet Governance Forum: Issues and resolutions

2010-08-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Theme: Strengthening East Africa’s Critical Internet Resources

Ø Cyber security management in East Africa

Ø Strengthening critical Internet resources

Ø IPv6 challenges in East Africa

Ø Access and affordability to Broadband

Emerging issues

A. Cyber Security Management in East Africa

Cyber security is a combined effort and requires collaboration at all levels.
Harmonisation of cyber security management frameworks at the regional level should be undertaken. EACO has set up a cyber security taskforce.
We need to develop relevant polices to address emerging issues.
UNECA is Launching Knowledge Management platform for eastern Africa: November 2010.

B. Strengthening critical Internet Resources

From a technical standpoint ccTLDs are quite stable and well run. However there is need to “strengthen” ccTLDs in areas of policy and involvement of stakeholders in the process of management. what criteria should be used to define a strong ccTLD
Research findings show a lot of misunderstandings about terminology and roles of entities involved in the ccTLD and ICANN, which could contribute to the confusion that we see about what it means to do some things like re delegation of domains.
ccTLDs are facing stiff competition from gTLDs due to perception and pricing strategies for domain names

C. IPv6 Challenges in East Africa

The idea is to get prepared and not to panic as we make the transition. (Timelines and not deadlines)
Governments have set up taskforces on IPv6.
AfriNIC has templates on IPv6 transition, deployment and can provide email support
We need to create awareness about IPv6

D. Access and affordability to broadband

Countries are investing in Broadband infrastructure and increasing access
Lack of local and relevant content
The need for last mile solutions
Infrastructure challenges still prevail
Interconnection should be improved with the use of provincial, national and regional IXPs
We need to define “What is broadband?” what speeds are we benchmarking for broadband

E. Emerging Issues

We need to have develop our human resource capability. Regionally recognised certifications should be adopted.
We need to involve the youth more in the activities of Internet Governance
The dot Africa initiative is a good initiative. Africa should make a combined proposal for it and should include ccTLDs in the process.
The code of practice ensures that all the people using the internet space are give an opportunity to be involved in the process of managing how they use their space.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECLARATIONS

A working group constituting all the ccTLDs from the 5 East African countries be set up to look into: (1) The strengthening of the ccTLDs in the region and what criteria defines a strong ccTLD in East Africa.

(II) The business case for the dot EAC gTLD and how the process can be moved forward.

The East Africa Internet Governance Forum calls upon ICANN to pay more attention to the strengthening of country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) especially those in Africa, which are weak and facing stiff competition from gTLDs.
All landlocked countries in the region should ratify the treaty The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that protects their right to access the sea and also provides legal protection in doing so.
The EAIGF should host information and share knowledge that arises from forums so that we can consolidate the information and knowledge in one place.
Let us unify our strategies so that we can get to our objectives quicker.

HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

Code of Practice: By your participation at the forum you become a tool to carry forward the resolutions and recommendations in your organisation and country
Organizers shall examine participation to ensure its balanced and all inclusive (private sector)

Rwanda to host the next East African Internet Governance Forum

2010-08-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

By Ether Nakkazi

The third East African Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) ended with the over 100 participants from the region agreeing to set up a working group constituting all the ccTLDs from the five East African countries.

The theme of the three-day conference was ‘strengthening East Africa’s Critical Internet Resources’ and was closed by Dr. David Turahi, the director Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministry of ICT in Uganda.

Dr. Turahi said the EAIGF had identified the ICT problems and recommendations of the five countries, which would be presented to the fifth annual IGF in Vilnius, Lithunia next month.

Lillian Nalwoga, from CIPESA, the organizer of the third EAIGF will represent the EAIGF as a block at the meeting and present the deliberations and recommendations made at the EAIGF Kampala, Uganda meeting.

The EAIGF meeting recommended that ICANN pay more attention to the strengthening of country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) especially those in Africa, which are weak and facing stiff competition from gTLDs.

The next EAIGF will be held in Kigali, Rwanda next year. Senator Wellers Gasamagera from Rwanda on the ICT committee in Parliament attended the EAIGF.

East Africa Alert for Cyber Security

2010-08-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

By Esther Nakkazi

The recent landing of fibre optic cables along the East Africa coast has led to high Internet speeds and exponential growth in the use of the Internet but has also made the region more prone to security attacks.

“The East Africa region is making conscious and deliberate efforts to enhance Cybersecurity management in the region,” said Michael K. Katundu

the Assistant Director, Information Technology Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).

Michael Katundu of CCK

This is being done under the East Africa Communications Organization (EACO) banner made up of ICT regulators, telecom operators, postal and broadcasting operators in the five EA community member countries.

EACO has a Cybersecurity Taskforce chaired by Kenya and was formed in 2008 to coordinate the development of a Cybersecurity management framework for the EACO region.

So far EACO has facilitated the establishment of National Computer

Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to facilitate Internet-wide response to Cybersecurity events and conduct research targeted at improving the security of existing systems.

Patrick Mwesigwa, the acting executive director Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) says EACO coordinates responses to Cybersecurity incidents at the regional level and provides incident reports annually to EACO member countries.

Patrick Mwesigwa the chairman EACO

So far the EACO taskforce has attained partnership with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the deployment of National Cybersecurity frameworks.

EACO member countries have also embarked on the establishment of national CERTs in their respective countries.

For instance to tackle cybersecurity, Kenya has enacted a law enshrined in the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act of 2009 which mandates the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).

However, the ‘Kenya Computer Emergency Response Team’ (KE-CERT) is in place to coordinate response to cyber security incidents at the national level.

The Government of Rwanda has also established a cybersecurity division under Rwanda Development Board (RDB) with special focus on developing the necessary cyber security policy and implementation strategy.

Allan Kabutura the head of the Strategy and Policy (RDB/IT) said the cybersecurity division has an immediate focus to develop the Government IT security master plan and to design and implement the National Public Key Infrastructure System (NPKI)

Uganda's cyber security legal framework has three sets of draft cyber laws – the Electronic Transactions Bill 2003, Computer Misuse Bill 2003 and Electronic Signatures Bill 2003. All the three pieces of legislation are in parliament due to be tabled in the main house before the end of the year.

Tanzania and Burundi also have established national CERTs to tackle cybersecurity.

Ends-

East Africa Community countries' domain critical Internet resource

2010-08-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

By Esther Nakkazi

Does the East African Community (EAC) need a ccTLD? Ideally the EAC domain name or ccTLD would be .EA, but that was taken, now the only choice left is .EAC.

This was the first session of the second day at the third East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) in Kampala from 11^th to 13^th August 2010.

Participants at the EAIGF debated the idea of establishing .EAC and ways of strengthening national ccTLDs, critical resources for EAC countries. The ccTLDs for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda are .UG, .KE, .TZ, .BI and .RW.

But now as the EA countries become integrated under the EAC, they need to not only have a common market but to find ways to promote businesses under the .EAC.

In 2004, the EAC considered establishing the .EA domain name for the region unfortunately it was not available. The .EA an ISO 3166-1 "reserved code element" was already reserved by the World Customs Organization for the free ports of Ceuta and Melilla (Spanish territories, pre-Spanish Morocco independence 1956)

However, the .EAC, which is available could be created under the new generic gTLD at the ICANN, said Adam Peake from GLOCOM at the third EAIGF.

“Ways to strengthen East Africa's ccTLDs is critical to the well being of the Internet in the region,” said Mr. Peake.

ccTLDs or domain names are an essential part of national information infrastructure and they are the identifiers denoting a country or territory on the Internet. They are a country's virtual location and brand.
Status of East Africa Community countries’ ccTLDs

Joe Kiragu, the administrative manager .KE described a country’s ccTLD as a country’s virtual real estate, therefore, ‘it should be developed for the benefit of all and governance issues are paramount.’

The Kenya .KE is a multi-stakeholder model adopted by KENIC and its efficiency has ensured increased domain names registration. Kenya also has local nodes for TLD’s root server .com and .net.

Participants at the third EAIGF in Kampala, Uganda

Charles Musisi the executive director Computer Frontiers International (CFI) also the custodian of the Uganda .UG wondered ‘if it is not broken, why even attempt to fix it’?

He described the .UG ccTLD as ‘sound and stable’ with over 1,000 domain names registered now under a proven competent and knowledgeable team for over 10 years now.

Ambrose Ruyooka commissioner ministry of ICT said a working group has already been put in place to come up with a management policy for the .UG but the government is not interested in taking it away from Mr. Musisi.

“We do not involved in domain name disputes, that could be a role for local arbitrators,” said Musisi of the possibility to involve other stakeholders in the management of the .UG ccTLD. However, the Uganda national IGF agreed that the government should be involved.

The Tanzania .TZ which is still a young organization and came a ‘little too late’ than the rest in the region as described by Sunday Richard of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) did not have much to be talked about.

Rwanda is in the final stages of deregulation of .RW ccTLD. It was originally hosted in Sweden but the government has managed to contact the private owner and take over regulation.

It will have a multi sectoral model of management and a bottom up process, but the legal fraternity will be courted to join it more because of intellectual property rights involved, said Geoffrey Kayonga the CEO RICTA at the EAIGF in Kampala.

The same private owner hosts Burundi .BI ccTLD in Sweden; the same one as with Rwanda but the country is now considering restructuring of the organization of management.

“It will not be a re-delegation but a restructuring of the organization,” said Victor Ciza from AfriRegister.

Participants at the third EAIGF in Kampala, Uganda

Does the East Africa Community (EAC) need .EAC?

“Do we understand the requirement and expectations of .EAC? Or should we look for uniformity or each country ccTLD should have a unique system even though we are in the EAC,” asked Alice Munyua, the EAIGF convener.

“If a ccTLD is not utilized what does the country miss, are these resources really critical worth going to war for in a critical sense?,” wondered Sofia Beleke of .AFRICA.

“Who wants .EAC and where shall we end up. Next will be .COMESA when we already have .AFRICA. Why don’t we just strengthen what we have,” wondered Vincent Mugaba from Uganda Christian University.

But the participants agreed that EAC needed .EAC for branding, identification and promotion of branding.

Access and Affordability to Broadband in EastAfrica.

2010-08-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

By Maureen Agena

Facilitated by Natasha primo from the Association for progressive (APC) the afternoon and last session of day 2 during the EastAfrica Internet Governace Forum focused on access and affordability to broadband in Eastafrica.

Mr. Douglas Onyango from Gidigiclear EastAfrica Limited made a presentation on the broadband status in EastAfrica. He said that according to the worldbank analysis, it was revealed that 10 % points of broadband penetration result in 1.21% increase per capita GDP growth in developed countries and 1.38% in developing countries. Mr. Onyango added that with the three fibre cables now operational, the prices of the internet have considerably reduced. However, expansion of the infrastructure is still limited to capital cities where a steady market is guaranteed.

Country Reports on Broadband status

According to Eng. Charles Lwanga the Assistant Commisioner ,Telecom and posts in the Ministry of ICT in Uganda, he says that until rescently, Uganda depended only on statellite for international access which is very expensive and has limited capacity compared to optical fibre. He said that the national backbone infrastructure is that all Ministries (28) in Uganda are connected with 2.5Gbps connectivity; 2.5Gps connectivity is available in the districts of Kampala, Mukono, Bombo, Jinja and Entebbe and also the Optical fibre has been laid to the districts of Iganga, Tororo, Malaba, Busia, Kumi, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Nimule, Luwero, Nakasongola, Masindi, Hoima, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Fortportal and Kyenjojo and currently the Ministryof ICTS is implementing Phase II (lighting the fibre). Eng. Charles said that the only way forward is that;Telecom operators should rollout Broadband infrastructure to all parts of the country regardless of profitability,eE-Government services should be rolled out through National Backbone Infrastructure for use by central and local Governments and finally that there is need for more optical fibre international links to cut costs of broadband.

Ms. Beata Mukangabo from Legal affairs/RURA presents on the access and affordability to broadband in Rwanda. She shared Rwanda ICT policy Mission of “achieving a middle income status for Rwanda by

2020 and transform its society and economy into an information-rich, knowledge-based society and economy by modernizing its key sectors using information and communication technologies” She also cited the characteristics of broadband in Rwanda as satlitte and optic cable like in the case of Uganda. Rwanda’s current broadband status is that it has experienced substantial growth in telecom services (especially mobile telephony) although broadband Access is still low and expensive and that the government subsidies to satellite bandwidth also the national Backbone is under construction and finally that there are regional initiatives connection to Submarine Cable.

In Kenya, Ms. Esther Wanjua said that the vision by 2030 is a globally competitive and prosperous nation with high quality of life by 10% p.a over 25years, equitable social development in a clean and secure environment and an issue based people-centered result-oriented and accountable democratic political system.

Conclusion

It was noted that all the countries in EastAfrican face similar challenges in access and affordability to broadband like costs, infrastructure, accessibility, governance and affordability.

Burundi Internet Governance Forum

2010-08-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

By Esther Nakkazi

Unfortunately, Burundi did not have an opportunity to hold a national Internet Governance Forum (IGF) prior to the third East African IGF taking place in Kampala 11^th to 13^th August 2010

If it did hold one, it would be the second IGF for Burundi. However, Burundi has gone ahead to address issues of Internet governance regarding infrastructure, laying legal ground for Internet growth through preparation of the law on Information society and electronic governance.

Victor Ciza of AfriRegister told the EAIG Forum on Wednesday that Burundi is also setting up a national chamber of ICT within the country’s Chamber of commerce.

Add caption

This will enable participation of the private sector in the national IGF, something that is eluding other national IGFs in the east African region.

“The original idea of national IGFs was the representation of all the sectors. Leading communication companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should participate and bring new ideas to the table,” said Ciza at the EAIGF.

Burundi has not yet connected to the fibre but hopes to be fully connected in the next 6 months. The national backbone construction also begins soon as the country awards one of the 4 bidding firms the contact. It will cost $19 million to connect the whole country through fibre.

Ends-

Contracted to Tweet and Blog at the 3rd Regional EastAfrica Internet Governace Forum (EAIGF) in Kampala.

2010-08-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

By Maureen Agena

Globally, technological development has taken the place of face-to-face interaction; with an increasing range of devices for communicating and disseminating information. It is evident that the world is changing rapidly and African Media is catching up with the technological revolution.

At the third East African Internet Governace forum which is being held in Kampala Uganda with a theme:”Strengthening East Africa’s Critical Internet resources: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally”, Twitter an interactive micro blogging platform based on open publication of 140 character messages is one of the most powerful social media tools being used to share information and Network about the event.

A citizen Journalist and a professional Journalist working together.

Together with Ms. Esther Nakkazi a Journalist with the EastAfrican Newspaper, we were contracted as official resource persons in-charge of communication during the 3^rd EAIGF. We were tasked with tweeting and blogging during the three days event. I must say that it is very interesting working with a professional Journalist. It is my very first time as a citizen Journalist to be contracted to tweet and blog at a regional workshop.

Twitter is one of the greatest inventions since the internet and one of the latest incarnations of “New Journalism”. It is an invaluable tool for both receiving and distributing News. Twitter’s I40 characters are ideal for opinion, updates and information dissemination, keeping messages short, simple and accessible. These Characters make it a fast platform, one that can be used in the field and on-the-go.

The idea of tweeting during major events is a very powerful one since very many people who would otherwise not have received such information are able to follow and contribute.

Ten Take away Tips for Twitter.

1. Think before you tweet: You can’t delete and indiscreet tweet.

2. Think carefully about what you are re-tweeeting and acknowledge if it is unsubstantiated.

3. Be an active twit: Tweet daily if you want your followers to stick

4. Determine your twitter Identity

5. Be human, Be honest, Be open, Be active.

6. Do not lock your account if you want to use twitter for reporting purposes

7. Twitter is a community, not a one way conversation or broadcast channel: Engage actively

8. Avoid racist, sexist, bigoted and otherwise offensive tweets and never abuse a follower.

9. Value add your tweets with links, Twitpic and other applications for audio and video.

10. Don’t tweet while angry or drunk

Uganda Communication Commission boss at the EA_IGF

2010-08-12T05:38:00.000-07:00

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

Lillian Nalwoga from CIPESA Shares the Country Report of Uganda Internet Governace Forum.

2010-08-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

By Maureen Agena

During the 3^rd East African Internet Governace forum that started on 11^th August 2010 in Kampala Uganda, Ms. Lillian Nalwoga from CIPESA one of the organizations sponsoring the event shared the National internet governance report for Uganda. In her introduction, she said that the Ugandan Internet Governance forum started way back in 2006 and since then, 3 national IGF forums have been held.

Ms. Lillian Nalwoga presenting the Ugandan report

Lillian said that the objectives of the forums are to; provide updates on outcomes of key issues identified in the 2009, Create awareness about Uganda’s IG issues, Redefine IG issues that may have been vaguely defined as well as Seek to define new IG issues.

In her recap of the 2009 IGF, Lillian noted that there was need to continue the IGF debate in Uganda and at the global level also to promote access and affordability while getting ready for the landing submarine cables, a call for a change management of the .UG ccTLD , to develop an IPv6 transition strategy for Uganda also calling for review of proposed cyber laws in order to address issues of cyber security and privacy without violating the constitutional rights of citizens, Need to form a national cyber security strategy, the need to have gender balanced ICT policies to address gender imbalances in IG and finally Strengthening Uganda IXPs.

It was noted that Uganda’s critical internet resources are; Administration, Application, environment and infrastructure. She also added that there is need for re-delegation of the .ug ccTLD by establishing a non-for profit organization Uganda National Information centre (.ugNIC), establishing a Board with multi-stakeholder representation, two advisory committees i.e. Technical Advisory Committee &Policy Advisory Committee. Seeking to designate UCC as the sponsor of the .UG, while the created organization/company will be the technical Manager was one of the solutions of re-delegating.

Other national reports came in from Emauel Hubemuremyi from Media High Council in Rwanda, Joe Kiragu from KENIC in Kenya and Victor Ciza from AfriRegister in Burundi. The session moderator was Dr. Waudo Siganga.

Rwanda’s Multi-Sectoral National Internet Governance Forum Ideal

2010-08-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

RWANDA-IGF

By Esther Nakkazi

For the International Internet Governance Forum to be all-inclusive, regional and national Forums like the East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EA_IGF) have to have multi-sectoral representation.

At the national level, the Rwanda Internet Governance Forum (IGF) represents such a sustainable model with representation from the private sector to academia as well as the government.

Emmanuel Hubemuremyi said Rwanda has a national IGF committee headed by Professor Zimulinda a lecturer at Kigali institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to interact with government and the general public on Internet Governance issues.

“This has ensured coordination of activities with the different stakeholders, keeping in touch with the grassroots and sustainability of Internet governance,” said Hubemuremyi.

It is a good model that should be adopted by national IGFs, said Dr. Waudo Siganga at the third EA International Governance Forum.

Third East Africa Internet Governance Forum opens in Kampala

2010-08-11T02:23:00.001-07:00

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.