Uganda has called upon the country's sectors of economy to adopt paperless communication for the good of both the country and economic transformation.

Local minister for Information Communication Technology (ICT), Ruhakana Rugunda, said adoption of the paperless communication was the only way to go towards transforming the East African nation's economy.

“We are living in an information society, where ICT tends to render paperwork redundant. However, the amount of paper that flows from the mailbox into our files and homes on a daily basis is still high,” Rugunda said.

He encouraged Ugandans to carry forward a campaign aimed at eliminating total usage of paper and adopt modern technology that reduces reliance on paper material.

"Don't let the endless stream of paperwork that our paper society keeps sending get you down. Create a secure and environmentally friendly system for managing it that works for you,” Rugunda said.

Rugunda was speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the ministry of ICT boardroom in preparation for the Africa ICT Week.

The African ICT Week was adopted by the African Union and the Organisation of Economic Integration following the invitation by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to all African governments to adapt ICT for sustainable development, while strengthening national, regional and international cooperation.

The aim of the African ICT Week is to provide a constant reflection of the gains Africa has made in harnessing ICT to realise a knowledge-based economy.

The week also aims to demonstrate the values and advantages of communicating digitally and how ICT could improve people’s quality of life.

This year’s Africa ICT Week will run under the theme: Promoting Pan Africanism and African Renaissance through ICT and is scheduled to take place from November 19-24, 2012.

The African Paperless Day shall be observed on the first day of the week, November 19, with the aim of promoting the usage of digital and electronic means in communications and consequently advocating environment-friendly approaches using ICT.

The minister expressed optimism at the degree of development in Uganda where many people in Uganda pay their bills, buy goods and services as well as take classes online. Phone books, to-do lists, greeting cards, letters and calendars have all gone digital something he says needs to be promoted and embraced by society

Rugunda noted that when the electronic signature legislation is implemented, reliance on paperwork such as cheques would be reduced, while e-mail and e-signatures would be legally recognised as ways of conducting transactions and official business.