DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM

Welcome to the ICT (IT& Communication) Sector
The ICT sector is a vital component of Ntoroko District Local Government, dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to enhance governance, service delivery, and community engagement. Our hub, the E-Society Resource Centre (ESRC), serves as a district ICT hub, providing citizens with access to information and opportunities for participation in local governance through but not limited to smart gadgets.
Our Team
Meet our team of dedicated ICT and communication professionals:
a. District based staff
1. Mr. Mugume Shaban Iqram: Senior IT Officer (0776102005)
2. Mr. Baluku Ibrahim Sahula: Communications Officer (0772544510)
3. Mr. Baguma Nestori: IT Officer (0773439391)
b. Town Council based Staff
4. Kwizera Linda: IT Officer- Rwebisengo TC (0780741261)
5. Businge Joseph: IT Officer-Kanara TC (0781755205)
6. Babiiha Christopher: IT Officer- Karugutu TC (0782336292)
Our Services

We offer a range of services at our E-society Centre, including:
1. ICT Technical Support: Providing technical assistance to district headquarters offices, lower local governments, primary schools, and the community.
2. Internet Services: Offering internet access to district workers and the community.
3. Computer Skills Training: Equipping district workers and the community with essential computer skills.
4. Website Management: Managing the district website and other e-platforms, including Ntoroko Online News, Ntoroko Online Discussion Groups, Ntoroko X (former twitter) handle, Online Community baraza (designated community whatsApp group like the one for PDM and other initially named ESRC now called ICT society centre) and district official emails.
5. Internship Opportunities: Providing internship opportunities to university students.
6. Capacity Building: Building capacity of local leaders in Access to Information Act 2005 and facilitating community and district leadership engagements.
7. Media Capacity Building: Bridging the gap between the district leadership and the media, and carrying out media capacity building trainings.
Online (Electronic) Government Systems
We provide technical backstopping and support to a couple of interesting and very vital E-Systems namely:
a) IFMIS-
Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) in Uganda, The Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) is a centralized, web-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform implemented by Uganda's Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to modernize public financial management (PFM). Launched in 2003 to replace fragmented manual processes, IFMS automates budgeting, procurement, accounting, payroll, revenue collection, and reporting across central and local governments. It aligns with Uganda's Public Finance Management Act (2015) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), aiming to enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and improve fiscal discipline amid historical PFM challenges like accountability gaps pre-1986. Supported by the World Bank and other donors, IFMS has processed trillions in transactions, though rollout delays and capacity issues persist. By 2025, IFMS covers all 20 Central Government entities and over 176 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (LGs), with a second-tier Microsoft Navision-based solution extending to more districts. It integrates with systems like the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for e-payments and the National IT Authority (NITA-U) for hosting. Key Features of IFMS provides real-time data access via secure portals, reducing paper-based delays and enabling audit trails.

b) PDMIS- Parish Based Data Management Information System
The Parish Development Model Information System (PDMIS) is a centralized digital platform developed by Uganda's Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (MoICT&NG) to support the Parish Development Model (PDM), a flagship government initiative launched in February 2022. PDMIS digitizes household registration, beneficiary verification, fund disbursement tracking, and performance monitoring at the parish level—the lowest planning unit—to transition 39% of subsistence households (about 3.5 million, or 17.5 million Ugandans) into the money economy. It integrates with systems like IFMS for fund transfers, Wendi for payments, and Zaidi for monitoring, addressing past inefficiencies in poverty programs through automation, fraud prevention, and data-driven decisions. As of November 2025, PDMIS has digitized over 8 million household records (79% coverage) and facilitated UGX 816 billion in disbursements to 834,790 beneficiaries. PDMIS aligns with the National Development Plan III (NDPIII) and the Constitution's emphasis on decentralized service delivery, using tools like National ID (NIN) linking and GPS for transparency. PDMIS operates via a web portal and mobile interfaces, enabling real-time data capture by parish chiefs, CDOs, and district officials. It supports PDM's seven pillars, with a focus on data management.
PDMIS emphasizes governance, with Parish Development Committees using it for planning and feedback. Rollout and Implementation Status (as of November 2025)
Launch & Expansion: Piloted in Bukedi region (Feb 2022); nationwide by 2023, covering all 10,589 parishes. Laptops handed to districts in May 2024 for enhanced access. Full integration with Wendi (Feb 2024) for direct disbursements.
Challenges Addressed: Tackles poor network in areas like Ntoroko (via UCC expansions) and capacity gaps through training. Occasional downtime noted, but uptime improved to 95% post-upgrades.

c) FIS- Financial Inclusion System
Financial Inclusion Strategy (FIS) is Uganda's National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2022/23–2026/27, led by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). It aims to reduce financial exclusion from 37% to under 5% by 2027, promoting access to affordable financial services like savings, credit, insurance, and payments for underserved groups, especially rural women, youth, and smallholder farmers. FIS emphasizes digital tools, agent networks, and consumer protection to build resilience and economic participation. In relation to the Parish Development Model (PDM)—a 2022 government initiative to transition 3.5 million subsistence households (17.5 million people) into the monetized economy—FIS serves as a foundational enabler under PDM's Financial Inclusion Pillar. This pillar allocates 30% of PDM's Parish Revolving Fund (PRF, UGX 100 million per parish annually) to community SACCOs for low-interest loans (12% p.a.), targeting enterprises in agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. FIS integrates with PDM to ensure seamless fund delivery, risk management, and inclusion, addressing barriers like low financial literacy (only 17% of adults save formally) and geographic exclusion (74% rural population).By November 2025, FIS-PDM synergy has on boarded 2.5 million+ beneficiaries via digital wallets, disbursing UGX 1.2 trillion in PRF loans, with 65% to women/youth-led groups. This has boosted parish-level savings by 18% and reduced poverty incidence by 4-6% in high-coverage areas like Eastern and Northern Uganda. Key Relations and Features of FIS in PDMFIS operationalizes PDM's financial pillar through policy alignment, digital infrastructure, and capacity building.
FIS aligns with PDM's multi-sectoral approach, complementing pillars like Agro-Industrialization (e.g., commodity loans for coffee/fish) and Infrastructure (e.g., digital hubs).Rollout and Implementation Status (as of November 2025).
How FIS Supports PDM Access: For Beneficiaries: Register in PDMIS via parish chiefs; access loans/savings through SACCOs or Wendi app. Free literacy training at parish BDS centers. For Officials/Parishes: Use PDMIS dashboards for FIS-compliant reporting; contact BoU district offices for SACCO setup. FIS-PDM integration is transforming grassroots finance, fostering inclusive growth.

d) Wendi- Mostly of the side of PRF disbursements to PDM beneficiaries
Wendi is a digital mobile wallet platform launched by Post Bank Uganda in November 2023, designed to drive financial inclusion across the country, particularly for unbanked and underserved populations. It enables secure savings, transfers, payments, and group management without needing a traditional bank account or smartphone, aligning with Uganda's National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the Parish Development Model (PDM). Licensed by the Bank of Uganda as an electronic money issuer, Wendi has surpassed 1 million users by May 2025 and has disbursed over UGX 1 trillion in PDM funds.
With only 10% of Ugandans banked but 53% using mobile money, Wendi bridges this gap by offering low-cost, accessible services to rural communities (74% of the population).
Post Bank Uganda, a government-owned institution, developed Wendi to foster prosperity, reduce cash dependency, and support sectors like agriculture (employing 60% of Ugandans). It integrates with partners like MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, Pride Microfinance, Housing Finance Bank, and Western Union for seamless operations.
Wendi is accessible via the Wendi app (Google Play/App Store) or USSD code *229# for feature phones, with no data bundle required for basic use. It supports individual and group accounts, emphasizing savings culture amid low national savings rates.

e) TELA- Education-
The Teacher Effectiveness and Learner Achievement (TELA) is a digital, smartphone-based inspection and monitoring tool developed by Uganda's Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). Launched to address chronic challenges like teacher and head teacher absenteeism, poor learning outcomes, and inadequate school oversight, TELA leverages GPS, biometrics, and real-time data capture to enhance accountability, performance tracking, and evidence-based decision-making in public and private educational institutions. It supports the Directorate of Education Standards' mandate to set, review, and assess education standards through systematic inspections, integrating with broader systems like the Education Management Information System (EMIS).TELA was piloted in 2019 across over 920 primary schools in about 10 districts in Eastern Uganda but faced delays due to funding shortages (estimated rollout cost: UGX 5.2 billion). By 2023, nationwide rollout began, with ongoing training and device distribution as of 2024–2025. It has been implemented in both government-aided and private schools. Key Features of TELA functions as a performance management platform, embedding monitoring capabilities directly into provided smartphones (or user-purchased devices compliant with Uganda Communications Commission standards). It captures attendance and activities without replacing physical inspections, TELA data serves as a guide, requiring explanations for absences before actions like penalties.
f) IRAS- Finance-
The Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) is a government-backed digital platform designed to streamline and automate local revenue (LR) collection across Uganda's local governments (LGs). It addresses challenges like manual processes, revenue leakages, low compliance, and inefficient taxpayer management by providing tools for registration, assessment, billing, payments, enforcement, reporting, and taxpayer sensitization. IRAS was developed with support from organizations such as the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the European Union (EU), the World Bank, and the Local Government Finance Commission (LGFC), aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery. IRAS consists of a web-based system and a mobile app, offering a 360-degree view of taxpayer profiles and revenue functions.
g) HCM-Human Resource
Human Capital Management (HCM) System in Uganda. The Human Capital Management (HCM) System is a comprehensive, government-wide digital platform developed and managed by Uganda's Ministry of Public Service (MoPS) to automate and streamline human resource (HR) functions across the public sector. Launched on November 17, 2021, by Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, the Minister of Public Service, HCM replaces the outdated Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) with an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. It addresses historical inefficiencies like manual processes, ghost workers on payroll, inaccurate data, and delays in recruitment/promotions, aligning with Uganda's National Development Plan III (NDP III), Vision 2040, and the e-Government Strategy for enhanced transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public service delivery. Developed as a joint venture by Sybyl Ltd, hSenid Business Solutions Ltd, and Sybyl Kenya Ltd, HCM integrates with national systems such as the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) for payroll, National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) for verification, Parish Development Model Information System (PDMIS), and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). It supports over 400,000 public officers and pensioners, reducing paperwork, enabling self-service portals, and providing real-time analytics for workforce planning. Key Features of HCMHCM automates end-to-end HR processes, with modules customized to Uganda's public service regulations. It includes mobile apps for on-the-go access and biometric integration for security. HCM is transforming Uganda's public service into a modern, efficient workforce enabler. URL- publicservice.go.ug/projects/human-capital-management

h) IG-ODS-IGG
The Inspectorate of Government Online Declaration System (IG-ODS) is a secure, web-based digital platform developed and managed by Uganda's Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to facilitate the mandatory biennial declaration of income, assets, and liabilities by public leaders and officials. Launched in 2017 as part of anti-corruption reforms under the Leadership Code Act, 2002 (amended 2021), IG-ODS replaces paper-based submissions with an efficient, online process to enhance transparency, prevent illicit enrichment, and combat maladministration. It aligns with Articles 223(2) and 234 of the Constitution, requiring declarations every two years in March for political leaders (e.g., MPs, ministers) and appointed officials (e.g., judges, civil servants) listed in the Act's Schedules. By automating data capture, validation, and audits, IG-ODS supports the IGG's mandate to promote ethical leadership and public accountability. As of November 2025, IG-ODS has processed over 50,000 declarations since its inception, with full digital adoption eliminating hard copies. It integrates with the National Identification Register (NIN) for verification and features upgrades for faster processing, including mobile-friendly interfaces and real-time support. LINK:- igdeclarations.igg.go.ug , with user manuals and video tutorials available. It ensures data privacy under the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, and includes safeguards against falsification.
i) PBS- Planning Unit
The Programme Budgeting System (PBS) is a digital platform and framework introduced by Uganda's Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) in 2017 as part of the shift to Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB). It operationalizes PBB by automating the planning, budgeting, execution, monitoring, and reporting processes across central government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Local Governments (LGs). PBS aligns resource allocation with national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan III (NDP III), enhancing transparency, accountability, and results-oriented service delivery under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2015. By linking budgets to measurable outcomes (e.g., via Programme Implementation Action Plans or PIAPs), PBS addresses pre-2017 challenges like fragmented budgeting and poor performance tracking, supporting fiscal decentralization and integration with systems like IFMS for payments and HCM for HR costs. As of November 2025, PBS is fully operational in all 176 MDAs and over 80% of LGs, processing annual budgets exceeding UGX 50 trillion. It has improved budget absorption rates from 75% (2016) to 92% in high-performing districts, though challenges like capacity gaps persist in rural areas. Key Features of PBSPBS is a web-based system (accessible at pbsmof.finance.go.ug) with user manuals for central and local governments, emphasizing multi-stage workflows. It integrates with the Uganda Budget Website for public access. PBS promotes a results-based approach, with criteria like budgeting accuracy (A), financial management (B), and accountability (C) in performance contracts. Rollout and Implementation Status (as of November 2025)
Challenges include low digital literacy in remote LGs (addressed via hybrid training) and integration delays with PDMIS. LINK: pbsmof.finance.go.ug with MoFPED credentials; download manuals from budget.finance.go.ug

Our Platforms
We facilitate information sharing through various platforms, including:
1. Ntoroko District Website: www.ntoroko.go.ug
2. Ntoroko X(formerly twitter) handle: @NtorokoD
3. Ntoroko Distirct whatsApp group -online community Baraza: ICT SOCIETY CENTRE
4. Ntoroko Online Discussion Group(WHATSAPP GROUP): Ntoroko PDM Stakeholders Platform
Our Target Groups
Our services are designed to benefit:
1. Youth in Ntoroko District: Empowering young people with ICT skills and knowledge.
2. Civil Servants and Political Leaders: Enhancing capacity and promoting good governance.
3. Community Members: Providing access to information and opportunities for participation in local governance.
4. Development Partners: Acting as a bridge to close the communication gap by swiftly and steadily improving all round information sharing /access to information.
Our Partners
We’re proud to collaborate with:
1. RIC-NET
2. RIDE-AFRICA
3. UCC
4. NITA-U

Contact Us
E-Society Resource Centre: Ntoroko District Local Government, P.O. Box 568, Fort Portal, Uganda.
Office Tel: 256 394764141
Mob: 256776102005/772544510/773439391
Email: [email protected]/[email protected]
Website: www.ntoroko.go.ug

As a sector we are committed to leveraging ICTs to promote good governance, transparency, and community engagement.
Be informed that with the evolution of AI life is getting better and more interesting.
Let’s all embrace ICT and the sky will not be the limit anymore but just another tourism and honeymoon site.