By George Aine
The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in partnership with the Chinese government has launched the distribution of free Digital Television sets in Kibale East constituency, Kamwenge district.
In 2015, while attending Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Johannesburg -South Africa Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a donation of free Digital Television sets among 10,000 villages in 47 African countries.
In Uganda, the project was launched last month in Wakiso district by First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni as 500 villages in Uganda will benefit from the initiative.
Under the project, a free digital satellite decoder is given to three lucky households in addition to a free digital satellite projector is given to each village for public viewing.
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In Kibale East, one hundred households and 15 public areas will receive the Digital Television sets. While launching the project on Monday in Bisozi parish, Nkoma Sub County, Mr. Frank Tumwebaze, the ICT minister who is also the area MP, said the Television sets will help the general public to access information.
StarTimes, a Chinese company has been contracted to implement the project. Satellite television equipment will be installed in homes and village halls, among others.
Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said the 12 million US dollars project is funded by the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund.
Zheng said the fund was announced in 2015 by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote South-South cooperation and help developing countries implement the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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