All is set for the 3rd National Conference on Communications (NCC) scheduled to take place at Ndejje University in Luwero District from September 29-30, 2014.

The conference, whose theme is“ICT Strategic Opportunities and Challenges for National Development”, seeks to foster the linkage between academia, researchers and industry practitioners.

NCC was established in 2010 by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – Makerere University with the aim of:

• providing an avenue to build capacity and strengthen the academic and industry communities in communications;
• Promoting local research and development (R&D) into communication technology advances within the country, and;
• fostering a synergistic relationship amongst stakeholders in the sector such as the academia, government and industry.

The Minister for ICT, Eng. John Nasasira, will officially open this year’s conference that is expected to attract ICT students and lecturers, researchers, communications operators, government representatives and other stakeholders in the ICT sector.

The elements of the conference include an exhibition of ICT productsand research opportunities.During the conference, various academia and industry scholars will also share their outputs of ICT research in poster and oral presentations.

The two-day conference will be crowned with an industry summit in which representatives of the various ICT industries get to share their perspectives and experiences.

Further information can be obtained atwww.ucc.co.ug/ncc or via telephone 077-3148692 and email ncc2014@googlegroups.com

Speaking ahead of preparations for this year’s NCC, UCC Executive Director Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi said the conference would give impetus to the development of the communications sector.

“As a regulator of the communications sector in Uganda, UCC is keen to work with various stakeholders to ensure accelerated development of our country through ICT research and innovation,” Mutabazi said, adding, “We call upon every stakeholder to embrace this annual event.”

This is the first time this conference is being held outside of Kampala. The previous two conferences were organised by Makerere University with sponsorship from the Uganda Communications Commission at the Imperial Royale Hotel from September 5-6, 2011 and at Kampala Serena Hotel from September 11-12, 2012 respectively.

  ICT, Ndejje university, Uganda Communications Commission