Multinational firms partner to improve ICT in Uganda

Monday January 31, 2011

TECHNOLOGY firms, Computer Point and IBM, have signed an agreement aimed at improving Uganda’s information and communication technology (ICT) to transform the country’s business operations.

“This partnership is a positive step in closing the ICT gap, especially among businesses operating in the East African Community. The move will speed up economic development across the region through our enhanced services,” said Anil Kuruvilla, the Computer Point managing director.

He was addressing investors after announcing the partnership at Kabira Country Club in Kampala.

The partnership mandates Computer Point, an IT systems integrator, to offer IT solutions including infrastructure, application maintenance and development to willing financial institutions, the Government, telecoms and other corporate companies in Uganda on behalf of IBM.

Tony Mwai, the IBM country general manager for East Africa, said the alliance will leverage the firm’s IT expertise to support Ugandan businesses.

On September 2010, IBM and Bharti Airtel signed a 10 year contract, where IBM will consolidate and transform the 16 different IT environments across Airtel’s African operations into an integrated system.

Mwai says IBM’s cutting edge technology can unite business and IT, offering seamless access to IT services and resources, and cohesively integrating and managing the exploding volume of information.

“IBM’s goal is all about making businesses and IT environments ready to be part of a planet that is becoming smarter. It will do this by helping with unique technologies and services for virtualisation, energy efficiency, data management and business resiliency,” he added.

By David Ssempijja: The New Vision Newspaper