By Hillary Turyansingura

The state Minister for Information, Communications, Technology and National Guidance Peter Ogwang has revealed that Government is committed to ensuring that citizens get to access to timely and authentic information.

Minister Ogwang made the remarks yesterday while officiating at the launch of the Access to information Act guidelines, in a speech that was read on his behalf by the director of Information and National Guidance directorate at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

The guidelines were compiled by Twaweza Uganda in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National guidance.

The function was held at Golf course Hotel in Kampala.

Minister Ogwang noted that it is significant for citizens to get access to information so they are able to appreciate the role of Government in making decisions on their behalf.

He also noted that meaningful participation in democratic processes requires an informed populace therefore, access to information would help to address most grievances that arise due to limited access to full information.

While speaking at the same launch the executive director of Twaweza-Uganda Aidan Eyakuze noted that there is not much that can be done without bringing the citizens on board while Susan Juliet Agwang who represented Africa for Information Centre stressed that it is a constitutional right for citizens to request for and get access to information.

The Access to information Act guidelines were drafted following a number surveys by Twaweza-Uganda and other organizations on public opinion and interviews of civil servants conducted that found significant challenges in the practice of access to information in Uganda.