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Internet4Change
Magazine
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Internet use in Ugandan webcafes |
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i4c Survey - July 2004 |
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Click here for a 1
page summary to print |
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Survey Objective |
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We wanted to analyze Ugandan webcafe usage patterns
and assess our suspected demand for information about development resources
online. |
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Survey Sample |
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100 webcafe customers were surveyed. 75 of those
were surveyed on the premises of Kampala webcafes before starting paid surfing
sessions; another 25 self-confirmed webcafe users were surveyed on the street.
Among the 100 webcafe customers surveyed, 62% were between the ages of 18-25;
64% were male. |
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Survey Method |
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The Survey Team collected self-filled responses
offline on paper survey forms. The team then entered the responses for analysis
into an online form using the free survey tool at
www.surveymonkey.com. Skipped or faulty responses were not entered. |
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Survey Team |
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Monica Nankoma, Joseph Kitagenda, Christina Jordan |
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Analysis |
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The team was surprised to note a high number of
users reporting daily visits to a webcafe. This, and the high number
reporting academic research could partially be explained by end of term
at the University. Most students had already finished the term, however, when
the survey was conducted. Nonetheless, 62% of the users surveyed were between 18
and 25 years old, which is consistent with the Team's general experience.
Uganda's webcafes are filled with young people.
The high number of daily users contrasts with the
view held by 48.5% of respondents, that cheaper connectivity rates would have
the greatest impact on increasing internet use in Uganda. The response
ranking second showed 29.3% believing that more offline information for Ugandans
about what the Internet can do would have the greatest impact. Only 17.2%
thought more connectivity points and webcafes would have the greatest impact,
and just 5% thought more websites created for Ugandans were needed.
These results call into question
global discussions about the need for appropriate content for Africa, and
aid for infrastructure requested by African leaders at the Digital Divide
Summit in Dec. 2003. Policy makers and funders of Digital Divide projects should
begin to require an offline information strategy for every project, to ensure
that the intended beneficiaries of Internet-related investments are aware of the
resources they gain.
While the survey did confirm an obvious demand
for local development resources online, we failed to capture what kind of
resources they were succeeding or failing to find. 38% held the view that is is
"difficult" or "nearly impossible" to find and access resources for local
development online; yet 32.6% reported that it is "moderately easy" or "simple."
The unknown factors behind this dichotomy lead to the obvious need for another
study.
Apart from Search Engines, the "African
drumbeat" is still the best advertising available in Uganda. 49%
reported visiting sites they heard about from friends offline. |
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Conclusions & Recommendations |
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Suspected demand
among Ugandan webcafe users for development resources online, as well as for
offline information about the Internet is confirmed.
Future i4c surveys
will analyze the specific kinds of website building, businesses and other
opportunities Ugandans are using webcafe services to participate in. The kinds
of local development resources Ugandans seek, as well as the factors behind
failure or success in finding them will also be the subject of further research.
Website owners who
target the African market and Digital Divide policy makers should include
offline information & promotion strategies in project planning. |
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i4c wishes to thank
the following Kampala
webcafes
for participating in this i4c survey: |
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Pearl, Lotus, Morning
Star,
NetLink, Surfing City, BSC |
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Click here for a 1
page summary to print |
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