NITA-U cuts certification fees, pushes local content

Startups within the information technology space will now pay less for certification of their services, following changes in regulations, National Information and Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), has said.
“Today, information technology (IT) startups pay Shs70,000 for application fee. Who is catering for the audit fees they were supposed to pay? The contribution from bigger companies pays for the certification for the smaller companies,” Mr Fredrick Kitoogo, the director planning, research and development NITA-U, said during an ICT stakeholders’ roundtable meeting in Kampala.
The meeting seeks to establish how players can drive growth in the sector and take advantage of opportunities offered by the ‘Buy Uganda Build Uganda’ policy.
Part of NITA-U’s strategy is to encourage local IT firms to develop standard processes, personnel and technology to compete.
“Most projects are given to foreign companies because they are the ones that can provide the IT services,” Mr Kitoogo said, noting that the new certification structure will build capacity as well as create an avenue through which foreign firms can partner with local companies. The certification will allow consumers to trace credible companies as well as seek redress in case of breach of contract.
Mr Rajeev Argawal, the Techno Brain Country Director, said some companies have had challenges in serving customers because of the cost of service due to tax-related matters.