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
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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