The current workshop aims at building the capacities of ICT and S&T Committee Members, to interact with their constituents and the public in general, to improve the scrutiny of the executive and to contribute at regional and global levels to the debate on the knowledge economy issues.

The specific objectives of the workshop are to-:

• Familiarize Members of Parliaments (MPs) on their role in ICT, Science, Technology and Innovation (ISTI) Policy formulation, planning and monitoring;
• Expose MPs to regional and international instruments governing the development and implementation of ISTI;
• Refine the role of ICT and S&T Committees and strategies in Parliaments
• Learn and share from different best practices

The workshop duration will be three days. Participants will be Hon. Members of the ICT Committee and the Committee of S&T of the Parliament of Uganda.

List of Participants [Format: ]

Day I - Friday 15th June 2007

09:00 – 09:45

Session I: Opening Session

Chair: Hon. Edward Baliddawa, Chairperson ICT Committee, Parliament of Uganda

• Arrival of Honorable MPs and other dignitaries
• Welcoming remarks: Mr. Alex Tindimubona, ECA, Ethiopia
• Opening Remarks:
  • Speaker of Parliament of Uganda [Format: | Lang: English]
• Hon Dr Ham-Mukasa Mulira, Minister Ministry of Information and Communications, Uganda
• Hon Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of State for Industry & Technology, Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Kampala, Uganda

09:45 – 10:45

Session II: Information, Science and Technology for Development

Chair: Hon Edward Baliddawa, Chairperson ICT Committee, Parliament of Uganda

This session will focus on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in accelerating growth and promoting sustainable development leading to the eradication of poverty towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). The African Information Society Initiative (AISI), an action framework to bridge the digital divide and speed the continent's entry into the information and knowledge global economy will be outlined.

• ECA work programme, implementing the AISI at national level and regional level – National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) process, and the role of Parliament, Thierry H. Amoussougbo – ECA [Format: | Lang: English]
• ICT to accelerate PRSP, MDGs, Thierry H. Amoussougbo – ECA [Format: | Lang: English]
• ECA work programme: Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for socio-economic development, Alex Tindimubona, - ECA [Format: | Lang: English]

10:45 – 11:15

Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30

Session III: Understanding Uganda ICT, Science and Technology environment

Chair: Hon. Amuriat Oboi Patrick, Member of S&T Committee

The session will review the Uganda, ICT, Science and technology global and sectorial policies and governing Institutions.

• Overview of the Uganda ICT, e-Government and e-Health Policies Framework , Dr. Eng. Godfrey Kibuuka, Minitry Information and Communications Technology, Uganda [Format: | Lang: English]
• Overview of the Uganda Science, Technology and Innovation Policy framework, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu (MP), Minister of State in-Charge of Industry and technology [Format: | Lang: English]
• Overview of stakeholder involvement in ICT processes in Uganda, Ms. Goretti Z. Amuriat, ICT Program Manager WOUGNET [Format: | Lang: English]

Discussions on Sessions II and III

12:30 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 17:00

Session IV: Enabling environment – Information, Science and Technology for all

Chair: Hon. Joseph Mugambe, S&T Committee Chairperson, Parliament of Uganda

This session will discuss the main requirements for establishing an enabling environment for the attainment of Information, Science and Technology for all, including the legal and regulatory mechanisms, appropriate policies and strategies for universal access. The session will also examine the role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in facilitating the establishment of an enabling policy and regulatory environment supporting the use of ICTs, Science and Technology in underserved communities at affordable cost and look at possible Financing mechanisms and emerging technological and Information Society issues.

• Modalities of moving towards harmonized model ICT and STI legislation responsive to the dynamic growth of the ICT and STI sectors. Antony Mugeere CIPESA [Format: | Lang: English]
• The role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in facilitating the establishment of an enabling policy and regulatory environment supporting the use of ICTs, Science and Technology Hon. Tinkasiimire Barnabas, Member of ICT Committee, Parliament of Uganda
• The Science and technology Community of Uganda and its role in Policy Advisor, Hon. Abraham James Byandala, Member of S&T Committee, Parliament of Uganda

Day II - Saturday 16th June 2007

09:00 – 10:45

Session V: Institutionalizing, ICT, STI for Development

Chair: Hon. Najjemba Rosemary Muyinda, Vice Chair ICT Committee, Parliameht of Uganda

This session will focus on strategies for ensuring that ICTs , STI are “mainstreamed’ into the agenda of Parliament, looking particularly into the importance of ICT and STI Committees and their mandates and strategic positioning of ICTs and STI in parliaments.

• The role of Parliamentary ICT Committees – Hon Nabeta Igeme ICT Committee Uganda Parliament
• The role of Parliamentary STI Committees – Hon Byandala Abraham, STI Committee Uganda Parliament

10:45 – 11:15

Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30

Group activity on the way forward: (Facilitator)

Facilitators: Hon Edward Baliddawa Chairperson ICT Committee Uganda Parliament and Hon. Joseph Mugambe, S&T Committee Chairperson, Parliament of Uganda

• Developing the Parliament ICT Committee Plan of Action
• Developing the Parliament S&T Committee Plan of Action
• Establish within the Parliament a mechanism to promote the Parliament involvement in advancing ICT and STI Agenda in Uganda

11:15 – 12:30

Adopting the Committees Plan of Action

Chair: Hon. Ngabirano Charles, Member ICT Committee, Parliament of Uganda

• Reports of breakout session and adoption of the plans of action
• Closing remarks