STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION

RAISED BY HON. CUTHBERT ABIGABA, MP KIBALE COUNTY

DURING PRIME MINISTERS QUESTION TIME
ON UGANDAS PLANS FOR OUTER SPACE

BY
HON. FRANK K. TUMWEBAZE
MINISTER OF ICT AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE
June 04, 2017

QUESTION:
Rt. Hon. Speaker, during the Prime Ministers question time on
1st February 2017, Hon. Cuthbert Abigaba wanted to know what
plans the Government had in place to tap into the vast
opportunity provided by the Upper air space and whether there is
any policy on this matter and the implementing Agency.
Subsequently the question was forwarded to my Ministry for
appropriate response.

RESPONSE:
The Outer Space is where satellites (including the moon) are
located and operations in the Outer Space is for the benefit of
mankind and not specific to any state. The Ministries of Defence,
ICT, Air Transport, etc. have got interests and do benefit from the
Projects in the Outer Space. Space science is therefore broad and
involves Satellite Communication, weather forecasting and
defense systems among others. The component relevant to the
Ministry of ICTs mandate, is satellite communication.

There is no firm boundary where Outer Space begins. However,

the Krmn line, at an altitude of 100 km above sea level, is
conventionally used as the start of Outer Space for the purpose of
space treaties and aerospace records keeping.
The framework for international space law was established by the
Outer Space Treaty, which was passed by the United Nations in
1967. This treaty precludes any claims of national sovereignty
and permits all states to explore Outer Space freely for peaceful
purposes. In 1979, the Moon Treaty made the surfaces of objects
such as planets, as well as the orbital space around these bodies,
the jurisdiction of the international community. Additional
resolutions regarding the peaceful uses of Outer Space have been
drafted by the United Nations, but these have not precluded the
deployment of weapons into Outer Space, including the live
testing of anti-satellite weapons.

In December, 2014, the African Union organized a Validation

Workshop on the African Outer Space Policy and Strategy in
Brazzaville-Congo. At continental level, therefore, there are efforts
to discuss and evolve relevant policies on the usage of space
science. This continental forum is likely to help the AU members
understand more on the development of the Policy and Strategy
regarding the Outer Space usage.

Satellite Communication (Geostationary Orbital slots):

In the management of outer space specific mention should be

made of the geostationary orbital slots. The geostationary orbit
(approx. 36,000 KMs above sea level) is a geosynchronous orbit
which is in the same plane as the equator. This is the orbit where
communications satellites are located and makes them perfect
repeaters of radio signals because they appear stationary relative
to the earth.
Each Member of the United Nations (Uganda inclusive) is
allocated one orbital slot which it can use or in partnership with
other institutions. The governance of these orbital slots is carried
out by the International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization (ITSO). Uganda has been an active member of ITSO
and I am glad to report to Parliament that last year, Ugandan
fielded a candidate, campaigned and won for the position of
Director General of ITSO.

As mentioned above, Uganda being an active member of ITU and

ITSO benefits from outer space through satellite broadcasting,
telecommunications services (telecom operators and other ISPs
use satellite as a primary and alternative route for both backup
and emergencies for data and voice communications),
metrological services and geo mapping (location of mineral
deposits and water basins) among others.

Government of Uganda through Uganda Communications

Commission (UCC) manages and regulates the usage of airspace
in as far as Communication services are concerned. This is done
though the management of the National table of frequency
allocations derived from the International Table of Frequency
Allocations under the framework of International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) where Uganda is an active
member on the Council of Administration.
Furthermore, Uganda is allocated orbital slots (with code number
UGA 05100) under the ITU Orbital Slots Allocation table for the
development of space communication infrastructure e.g.
Development and launch of satellites.

UGANDAS POLICY AND STRATEGY ON SATELLITE

COMMUNICATION

As a country, we would wish in future to develop and launch

communication satellites because it is the most safer and reliable
means of communication, though expensive. Currently, we are
depending on optic fibre and other outsourced external satellite
service providers for connection to other Countries. Optic fibre
communication is affordable but prone to Natural and man-made
disasters which satellite communication supersedes. The
Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is currently developing a
digital vision for Uganda as an overall ICT policy framework and
it will set digital milestones for each sector of Government.
Country aspirations on Satellite development and deployment will
be part of this ICT digital framework and its implementation will
depend on the Countrys resource envelop.

Thank you Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members for listening to me

Frank K. Tumwebaze,MP
Minister of ICT & National Guidance