EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — The Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA) is set to establish a number of Information Communication Technology (ICT) programmes in rural areas. The programmes are meant to increase access to information.

The targeted areas include the districts of Bugesera, Rwamagana, Kirehe, Ngoma, Gatsibo and Nyagatare.

This was revealed by RITA Deputy Executive Director, Patrick Nyirishema during half-day workshop with Eastern Province Mayors on Friday.

The projects to be introduced Nyirishema said, include, Multi-Purpose Community Telecentres (MCTs) and Public Information Kiosks. The facilities would be established at major sectors, education and health centers. Other projects include the Agro bus-project and Citizen’s Guide to Road and Transport Information under what he called the Rural and Community Access (RCA) programme.

The meeting was also attended by district executive secretaries, District ICT officers and ICT students of Umutara Polytechnic at the polytechnic main hall in Nyagatare.

According to Nyirishema the meeting aimed at finding out the challenges undermining the implementation of ICT projects in rural areas.

"Our aim was to have a discussion with these leaders and ICT officers and know their problems in implementing ICT projects in their respective districts. We want our projects and ICT policies to be understood by every one in the country," he said.

Similar workshops would be held countrywide, according to Nyirishema.

"More than 94 percent of the population lives in rural areas, in order to achieve the Vision 2020 ICT for development we have to focus on rural areas," Nyirishema explained.

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