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OpenCon 2014 has ended
JB

Joachim Bibuli

Center for Information Policy in Africa
Coordinator
Kampala,Uganda
Open access implies unrestricted external visibility of publications. The Hague Statement on Open Access to scholarly literature and research documentation commits to ensuring the widest possible access to information for all people and acknowledges that the discovery, contention, elaboration and application of research in all fields will enhance progress, sustainability and human wellbeing. This statement takes cognizance of the fact that access to knowledge is fundamental to education and research, the improvement of lives and the creation of human capital upon which the development of societies depends.
My encounter with open access came through a workshop organized by Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) and Consortium of Uganda University Libraries. Through this workshop I came to the realization that without access to high quality information and resources, developing countries like Uganda would be severely disadvantage in terms of sustainable socioeconomic, political and cultural provision of information and services to people in a wide range of fields from health care to engineering, from agriculture to education among others.
Furthermore internal acceptance of open access in institutions is one of the obstacles to adoption. Government agencies like the Uganda Industrial Research Institute and National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda National Health Research Organization invest lots of taxpayer money into scientific research every year. Innovations, new inventions that often result from these researches are seldom shared with citizens and taxpayers can't access any of the results of this research unless they pay thousands of dollars to buy academic journals and publications in which the research resides and yet if these new innovations and inventions are shared widely improved productivity in agriculture (high yields) could result. It could also spur youth entrepreneurship which could create employment and reduce the rates of youth unemployment that are at their highest.
As a sequel to OpenCon i will advocate for open access to tax funded research commissioned by public research institutions in Uganda by addressing the obstacles identified. Emphasis will be placed on engaging the policy makers on the Science and Technology Committee of Parliament, Government Ministries, Researchers and Research users in academic institutions, and the Public Research Bodies. The following activities will be carried out namely; development of a policy brief on open access, sensitisation meetings/workshops, lobby meetings with policy makers, public dialogues ,mobilise communities to sign petitions calling on government to make open access a reality, a press briefing to raise awareness on open access and a public procession among others.
I believe these activities will go a long way in raising awareness on Open Access, Open Education, and Open Data especially among the policy makers and general public.