Conservation ICT Kiosk in Buhoma Village - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)
Gorilla Journal, Albertine Youth Resource Centre (AYRC), Makerere University’s Gender and Technology Outreach Program, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), DataFundi, Uganda Telecom Limited, I-Network Uganda, WOUGNET, Bwindi Community Health Centre

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), World Bank
UCC’s Rural Communications Development Fund, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

WYSE 3125 “Thin Client” Terminals, 15” TFT Benq monitors, Intel Pentium 4b 2.8Ghz processor server, Shell solar panels, Gilat Skystar VSAT equipment for equipping the Conservation ICT Kiosk with high-speed Internet access, Stemsat dish for equipping the kiosk with DSTV, PDA Sony Clie UX-50 and Sony NX-70 PDA

Uganda Communications Commission/World Bank – awarded CTPH grant subsidy funds to jumpstart the ICT project; UNIDO/UltraTec – providing/installation of Shell solar system; DataFundi – in kind support in design of network infrastructure; Bushnet – in kind support for configuration of WYSE terminals; Computer Facilities – configuration of Intel processor server; ICVolunteers – cyber-volunteers to intern at the Conservation ICT Kiosk; SAS Institute; USA – software research and development for rural area community Internet portals and interactive educational CD-ROMs; Impalasoft - in kind support in programming of dynamic kiosk website with e-commerce applications

CTPH’s Protected Areas Initiative on ICT for Development is designed to build capacity in the use of ICT applications, develop local content, facilitate research on human and animal disease and improve access to information in local communities surrounding protected areas including, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries with a potential to provide economic and social benefits as well as an incentive to conserve wildlife and improve public health.

Experience to date highlighted the need to incorporate our ICT work into other complimentary sectors such as, community education and ecotourism. Through this, CTPH believes it can have a greater impact in tackling health issues associated with transmission of diseases such as, TB, brucellosis, scabies and rabies between people and animals including, endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, buffalo and cattle.

• To set up the first computer training and multipurpose telecentre in the protected area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda using renewable energy – solar,  high-speed Internet access via VSAT technologies;
• To develop and share conservation, public health, education and livelihoods information using interactive multimedia CD-ROMs and video broadcasting, handheld computers, databases and local content and knowledge;
• To promote the use of community Internet portals for e-commerce, ecotourism, marketing, research and education outreach programs.

To build capacity in the use of ICT while providing a source of sustainable income through multimedia,  local content and Internet services used by the youth, the local community, tourists, farmers, schools and women’s groups in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The project also intends to use ICT to promote gender equality and empower women in the use of ICT.

• Benefits the local community surrounding Bwindi by providing basic ICT training, local content on computer information portals and services, far from existing ICT services;
• Expects to reach 3,000 community members in the first three years;
• Gives instant high-speed Internet access;
• Generates funds back into the community through a scholarship fund for students to go to higher education institutions of learning; and
• Provides capacity building and basic ICT certification for the local community (affiliated with Gender and Technology Outreach Program, Makerere University) in a proper classroom environment.

• The Conservation ICT Kiosk offers a highly replicable model that, while in this case is being used to benefit local communities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, can be applied to any village/town located within national parks in Uganda and the Africa region.
• The Conservation ICT Kiosk has begun with a pilot phase and has already received financial support of $8,000 in installments from the UCC, RCDF and the World Bank and in-kind support from Gorilla Journal, Data Fundi and Bwindi Community Health Centre to undertake the project. CTPH has formed strategic partnerships with a local progressive community based organization – Albertine Youth Resource Centre, and governmental organizations including, Uganda Wildlife Authority, International Gorilla Conservation Programme, and the Department of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University.
• Public awareness campaigns have been launched. Some solar panels and computers to set up a Local Area Network (LAN) are being purchased to run the ICT kiosk project. Basic ICT skills training courses for the local community in partnership with the Gender and Technology Outreach Program are being designed.
• However, a significant barrier to completing the project is lack of funds for Internet connectivity, preventing the community from accessing the community Internet portals and email.
• CTPH is kindly requesting telecom operators and Internet service providers for in-kind support towards VSAT equipment and one-time installation fee for equipping the Conservation ICT Kiosk with high-speed Internet access. The ICT project is expected to break even after two years.

Expenses often increase due to:
• Lack of electricity in remote conservation areas hampering implementation of the ICT project;
• Lack of fixed landline services necessitating the use of VSAT satellite equipment for connectivity to provide high-speed Internet services;
• Community sensitization and market survey is needed to project the sustainability for the ICT project, through fee for service business model;
• Getting other non-profits and NGOs, government, educational networks, foundations and private sector corporations worldwide to bridge the digital divide and close the local content development gap in and around protected  areas in Africa;
• Developing and exchanging interrelated conservation and health information in local languages is has not yet gained momentum.

The benefits of the ICT project include:
• Improve access to information through local content and knowledge, multimedia interactive CD-ROMs with a focus on conservation, health, education in rural and remote areas including, schools and women’s groups; and
• Contribution to Internet access and extend ICT services to accommodate BINP underserved areas and visitors.

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