Monday, 25 June 2012

Profile of BIC


Part 1. Profile of BIC
Bwera Information Centre  (BIC) was founded in 2003 as a Civil Society Project owned and run by a consortium of 45 Civil Society Organizations and CBO’s  that operate in Bukonzo County and L. Katwe Sub County in Kasese District in Western Uganda. This area has a population of over 250,000 that predominantly depends on subsistence farming. BIC was formed with a mandate of contributing to improving the quality of life of the predominantly rural farming communities (with a special focus on women and other vulnerable groups) through providing developmental information on agriculture, marketing, soil and water conservation, human rights, good governance, basic health care, HIV/AIDS, environmental protection, education, gender and peaceful conflict resolution and coexistence. Therefore, BIC is a centre where the poor meet and freely share information on the already mentioned subjects. BIC management provides this information on a demand driven basis.

BIC is fully registered as a Community Based Organization Reg. No: (CBO/028’C) of 2004 with KADDE-NET (Kasese District Development Network) and fully incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee under section 16 (1) of the companies act of The Republic of Uganda. Reg. No: 65662 of 2004.

 The Vision of BIC is: a society where information is readily available and utilized for sustainable development.
The mission of Bwera Information Centre is to generate process and disseminate timely user-friendly information to the progressive farmers, link them to other development partners and empower them to actively participate in development initiatives that improve their quality of life.

Area of Operation
The registered office of Bwera Information Centre (which is also the business centre) is Plot No. 4 Bwera Hospital Road, Bwera town in Kasese District. The clientele catchment’s area for BIC includes Kasese district, Western Uganda.

Contextual Analysis of BIC
 Important developments in the socio-economic, political and ecological context that occurred during the reporting period and how they influenced BIC’s programs

Government of Uganda and its development partners are promoting sharing of knowledge and skills through the use of ICT. Emphasis is being placed on learning and showing evidence of the learning process. Therefore, BIC found itself in a position that fit so well in the development agenda of both government and development partners. 

 Internal organization

 Major policy decisions which have been taken during the reporting period.

BIC executive committee and the Annual General Meeting reviewed the implementation of the finance, human resource, procurement, and the asset management policies which were adopted in the previous year. This has improved the internal governance and service delivery function of BIC. BIC developed a sustainability and business plan to replace the 3-year strategic plan (2008 – 2010).

 Structure of BIC
1. The Annual General Assembly- Supreme body comprising of all the members and elect the chaiperson and the committee members of the BoD
2. The BoD- Policy making body of BIC, elect the executive at the first sitting after the general assembly has elected the chairperson
3. The Secretariat- Headed by the Coordinator who reports to the BoD. The secretariat has four departments:
i) The Business wing- with secretarial services including full time internet, BIC has since its inception served the community of Bukonzo including parts of Eastern DR.Congo with fast internet service at a user fee.
ii) The training wing which aimed at passing on basic computer skills to the learners. The department opened to the computer knowledge to the grassroots people in Bukonzo and Kasese. Over 350 learners have passed out and have since started small businesses in the community 
iii). The Out Reach department- this is the community out reach of BIC that has since mobilised the community to apply ICT in Agriculture, value addition, markets linkages and pests and diseases. The out reach department has full staff that are in touch with the farmers to respond to their information needs
iv) the broadcasting department- BIC envisions to start a community radio station in future. Efforts were made with the Meteorological department to further the concepts.

Future Plan:
BIC intends to stand a community min-measum  that will be a one stop center for tourists both local and international who come to visit Uganda. Initial studies are being carried out to share this idea with the rest of the development partners in Uganda and beyond
Value addition processes- BIC has seconded a team of 20 community members to be trained by UIRI who were trained in different value addition skills and technologies. With the big number of farmers that are attached to BIC, value addition on the grains is an area that BIC will invest in the next three years

Office Location:
Bwera Hospital Road,
Kambale Mbafu House
Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council, Kasese District (Uganda)
P.O.BOX 507, Kasese
Email: bicbwera@yahoo.ca, bicbwera@gmail.com


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