Proof that Uganda has finally succumbed to M$. Complete with the usual carrots
and final vendor lock-in (read the Minister's submission, just below the
marketeer's). To think that they are doing this to our higher institutions of
learning!!!
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: Affordable Laptop Computer for Students, Lectureres on Hire Purchse
Program
Date: Friday 28 September 2007 13:41
From: Godfrey Mitch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: *********** University
ICT Department
From: Godfrey Sseruwagi
ICT Consultant, Ministry of Education and Sports
Date:
Greetings from the Ministry of Education and Sports and from USA,
I'm currently in USA with Hon Alintuma Nsambu, Minister of State for ICT,
following a visit by the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to various
technology companies in USA.
One of the outcome of this visit is access to an affordable laptop computer
particularly for all our university students, lecturers and civil society to
popularize the use of ICT. Please find below the communication from Hon
Nsambu to cabinet members and Members of Parliament in this regard.
We have started working on some legal documents to see which procedures we
can be best used to implement this program. Our thinking is that the
University will be part of this whole project in terms of 1) Determining
whether one is a bonafied student of that particular university to benefit
the hire purchse program 2) Distribution of the computers to interested
students and lecturers etc 3) How to collect the installments paid every
month
This ofcourse must attract administrative fees for doing all this and the
University should be paid for such services, I'm sure we can agree on that
fee Meanwhile, we are of the view that a memo should be posted on the
University boards and lecturer board to announce this and all those that
will be interested sign up his or her name. This will assist to give us an
idea of how many laptops should be imported in the country.(this message is
going to all Universities and institutions of higher learning in the
country) The price will not exceed $650 but paying in instalments within
two/three semesters. (I request for your suggestions on this particular
issue) This price includes University administration fees for this project.
I would appreciate if it is posssible to have a riough idea of what
percentage of the students are likely to afford these laptops. I want to
think that you have wireless internet at the university. This is a great
feature every University student wants, freedom to to his/her research and
surf the internet anywhere at campus- With a laptop this is possible, well
atleast in all the develope world- what is wrong with doing this at our
Universities.
We return to the country in a few days to follow up. Please reach me on
the below office numbers or mostly on below mobile phones. I'm very mobile.
Let me hear your thoughts
Regards
Godfrey Sseruwagi
ICT Consultant,
Department of Planning
Ministry of Education and Sports
6th Floor, Embassy House
Tel: 256-41 234451/2/3
Mobile: 0753192202,0782673347
john nsambu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:50:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: john nsambu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: A laptop for every Ugandan Student:what a revolution!!!
Dear Colleagues:
As you may all be aware, two weeks have passed since I
have been away from station. His Excellency the Vice
President and myself have been negotiating with
various Technology firms to join us in Uganda's battle
towards eGovernance. At Microsoft in Redmond, His
Excellency the Vice President and I had a wonderful
private visit with Mr. Bill Gates Executives. We all
agreed that work still needs to be done in teaching
citizens how to use the keyboard and how to hold the
mause.
For the start,I have good news to share with you:
Microsoft and Intel have joined forces to make a
state-of-the-art technology specifically for Ugandan
university students and professors. A student now will
be obtaining a brand new laptop at a cost of $ 400
fully installed with microsoft educational materials
and wireless internet reception. CISCO will also join
us in having all campuses of Ugandan Universities
fully networked with Wi Fi technology for internet.
In this regard, an American personal friend has
offered $ 15,000,000 to fund this scheme. He needs his
money back (free of interest) from the laptop
recipients in six months. In other words, the
students, faculty (and where necessary parents) have
the option of repaying the $ 400 in six months!!
The technology deployed in this project will protect
the Laptop from thefty and will automtically shut down
every 30 days. The laptop owner will require a code
from a local coordinator before it works again.
The Manifacturer is going into production next week
and 100,000 (hundred thousand) Laptops will be
delivered and ready for deployment in Uganda on
December 1,2007.
For all of you who know the magic of a computer in
your hands, I pray, you will find this great news!
Thank you!
Yours
John Nsambu, MP
State Minister of ICT
---------------------------------
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