SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.5 (2012 = n/a; 2010 = n/a; 2007 = n/a) 2.11 The country has a coherent ICT policy and/or the government implements promotional measures, which aim to meet the information needs of all citizens, including marginalised communities. Uganda has an ICT Policy that is “coherent, progressive and revolutionary in many ways”. However, there is a “gap between policy and implementation”, and “the laws are not reflected in what the government actually does.” Under the Uganda Communications Act, there are a host of other laws that deal with ICTs. The National Information Technology Authority (NITA) regulates the IT space, and there is a Ministry dedicated to ICT matters. That said, the government could do much more to roll out the ICT policies more effectively. “The authorities set up for the ICT policy are not very strong. While the policy is good, it was written by consultants and the implementation is slow”. “Government functions are outsourced to consultants,” thereby hindering the process. NITA, for example, has a strong policy in place, but the authority still lacks the necessary infrastructure to operate effectively. Furthermore, panellists noted that government does not have a clear understanding of what ICTs are, and what it means to be ICT compliant, “They all have websites and they think that this is what ICT compliant means. Not to mention that most of these websites are outdated.” The cost of data remains expensive; the best quality for voice and data is not being maintained as “the regulator is in bed with the telecoms company”, and there are, “no deliberate efforts” to fully roll out the set policies. 46 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2016