Uganda’s Parliament has urged the country’s representatives in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to press East African Community (EAC) partner states that have not yet signed and ratified the Protocol on ICT Networks to do so without further delay.
The call was made by members of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs during a meeting with the Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Alioni Yorke Odria, and the Minister of State for EAC Affairs, James Magode Ikuya. The committee, chaired by Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, who is also the MP for Ora County, is examining Uganda’s implementation of the protocol, focusing on regional compliance, cross-border connectivity and efforts to lower the cost of communication across partner states.
The legislators raised concern that only Uganda and Rwanda have both signed and ratified the protocol, while other partner states have yet to sign it — a situation the committee says undermines the region’s collective push toward integration. Members sought clarity on Uganda’s compliance with its regional obligations during the interface with the two ministers.
Odria backed the committee’s call, urging EALA members to expedite the process so that citizens of partner states can benefit from regional integration. He emphasised that the protocol’s benefits — including improved access, affordability and quality of service — can only be realised if all partner states commit to it.
Kwiyucwiny asked the EAC Council of Ministers to ensure that partner states that have not ratified the protocol do so, so that the region moves forward together.
The protocol, adopted in 2013, provides a framework for infrastructure sharing, cross-border connectivity, cybersecurity and harmonised ICT policies. Its stated aim is to improve access, affordability and quality of service across the region.
The committee’s concerns come amid growing pressure to reduce communication costs within the EAC, where cross-border calls and data services remain comparatively expensive. Proponents argue that full ratification of the protocol would accelerate the harmonisation of ICT policies and enable infrastructure sharing, ultimately lowering costs for consumers and businesses alike.
The meeting also examined Uganda’s progress in meeting its obligations under the protocol, with legislators seeking assurances that the country’s ratification translates into tangible implementation on the ground. The ministers were tasked with explaining how Uganda is aligning its national ICT policies with regional frameworks.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is expected to continue its scrutiny of the protocol’s implementation, with a report likely to inform Parliament’s position on regional ICT integration. The push for EALA intervention reflects a broader effort by Ugandan lawmakers to hold partner states accountable to commitments made under the EAC treaty framework.
