6/13/08

Uganda green computers firm opens for business

Uganda green computers firm opens for business

By Brenda Zulu , IDG News Service , 06/13/2008

The first 300 computers to be refurbished at the newly opened Uganda Green Computers Company (UGCCL) have already been sold to the eight District Business Information Centers (DBIC) in rural Uganda that had outstanding orders. 

UGCCL will monitor PCs from the time they are brought into the country to the time they are disposed of, and will make computers available to entrepreneurs in less-developed countries.

UGCCL Chairman Patrick Bitature said the target for local refurbishment will be 10,000 PCs per annum. "The price per PC is $175, which also demands stringent quality criteria warranty and after-sales services," said Bitature.

He also pointed out that one challenge is the state of Uganda's roads. About 20 to 30 computers transported in a container were broken. He observed that sources for the computers in Europe need to pack them carefully.

Bitature explained that the UGCCL will also offer a full lifecycle model, which includes the return of the refurbished PCs to the center at the end of their useful life, and responsibly disassembling the hardware. The center will reuse the working hardware components like memory sticks and resell high value material like copper and circuit boards. It will locally recycle simple materials such as steel and plastics. For the proper disposal of substances such as lead glass, the center will work with regional or global recyclers.

Will Poole, Microsoft corporate vice president for the Unlimited Potential Group Computer Refurbishment Program, said the company has been working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to develop a model for responsible computer refurbishment in Africa.

"We aimed to develop a business model for quality-refurbished computers for SMEs [small and medium-size enterprises] here in Uganda, with the ultimate objective of developing a refurbishment center of excellence that could provide a sustainable supply of quality refurbished PCs to local entrepreneurs and support the UNIDO programs in the country," said Poole.

UNIDO Director General Kandeh Yumkella said the agency is looking at how it will use Uganda as a training ground as they are many African countries that have expressed interest in setting up refurbishment centers.

Meanwhile, Uganda ICT Minister Ham Murila said that computer refurbishment could help SMEs adopt computer use.






--
Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
Gsm: +250-08470205
Home: +250-55104140
P.O. Box 3867
Kigali-Rwanda
East Africa
Blog: http://www.cepgl.blogspot.com
Skype ID : Kayisa66

No comments:

Post a Comment