Government launches digital public information kiosks

KICUKIRO - People seeking service from public servants in different institutions in Rwanda will be able to check basic information online using booths that government is installing at several sites. The plan’s kick off was marked by the installation of the first public information kiosk at Kigali International Airport on Friday. The programme will equip major government institutions with public information kiosks as part of its e-government project, a plan that aims to develop using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in public service delivery. “This is the first step for e-government. Soon you will see the websites of districts, every month there will be services that could be uploaded,” said Nkubito Bakuramutsa. Bakuramutsa is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rwanda Development Board that manages Rwanda’s Information Technology Authority (RITA). He said that RITA will help public institutions to load the kiosks with information that citizens need everyday in order to help them get quicker services. The kiosks are composed of touch screens and printers that are connected to the internet to help service seekers check public information they need online, check their e-mails or surf internet normally, and eventually print information they need to keep. “We have a situation where many people looking for information line up at our service desks. This will help them to get information that they were seeking from people,” said the Director of Airports at the Civil Aviation Authority, Silas Udahemuka, as he received the new equipment. He said the new kit will be used to display flight information and all the details usually handled by the airport. The government has already spent Rwf 50 millions to purchase only ten of the equipments but it plans to make more available in more outlets in villages, cities and municipalities. RITA officials said the next institutions to equip after the airport include the Rwanda Revenue Authority, Kigali City Council, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Office of Immigration, and the National University of Rwanda. RITA’s Director of Rural and Community Access, Alphonse Zigira, said that the phase of extending the technology to communities in villages will be accompanied by trainings and raising awareness of the ordinary people on how to use the equipment managed private kiosks. Ends