[UgaBYTES] Uganda consumers get ICT lobby

[Mwathi Francis]

Dissatisfied ICT consumers in Uganda can now seek redress from the Uganda
ICT Consumer Protection Association, in case of bad service, substandard
products and general unscrupulous practices by data and voice service
providers.

The new lobby, which starts work later this month, will particularly address
the issue of slow data speeds delivered by Internet service providers that
do not correspond with the bandwidth paid for; overpricing of services and
substandard mobile handsets sold at rock bottom prices through product
promotions.

The lobby's agenda is to ensure that consumers get value for money; act as
an arbiter between consumers and service providers; be a platform for
redress; be a proactive independent body that will set standards for service
providers and also create an avenue for educating the public on consumer
rights.

"We want to bring the different players together for the good of the
industry. Consumers will get to understand what the suppliers are giving
them and the service providers will in turn realise that they cannot get
away with poor service," said James Wire Lunghabo, chairman of the lobby and
an IT expert at Linux Solutions.

Mr Lunghabo said the lobby is not out to antagonise service providers but to
hold them accountable and make them understand that "quality of service in
the ICT sector is a right, not a favour."

The chairman of the Parliamentary ICT Committee Edward Baliddawa, said, "The
lobby is a good initiative that will create checks and balances within the
industry. It will go a long way in helping to educate consumers, most of
whom do not have the capacity to verify quality of services offered."

To Read the whole feature see the East African Newspaper Article.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/item/0/-/n8swbhz/-/index.html