HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT UGANDANS CAN NOW DO ONLINE WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE EARLIER ON

 There was a time when internet was non-existent in Uganda and people even never dreamt of such a thing. 

With the growth of the digital technology, the internet is now becoming an everyday need for Ugandans. 

With the growing use of the internet, there are very many things that Ugandans are now able to do online that was impossible earlier on those days. 

Today I will take you through some of the things that Ugandans are now able to do online.

 Here are some of the things that Ugandans can now do online in this digital age.

1. Reading news online like never before

There was a time when the information and news was only hidden within mainstream media and it was their responsibility to reveal information to people but that has drastically changed with the growth of the internet. 

Those days news papers and magazines sold on the streets dominated the news and they were the only way Ugandans got access to news around them and the world surrounding them but now the social media and search engines have taken over that job.

 Today, Ugandans can access news on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp even before the mainstream media houses like Television stations, newspapers can get a hold of the news. 

With the changing digital landscape, these traditional media houses have also decided to join the digital bandwagon and they have also launched their own news websites where they are able break news very fast online.  

Television stations like NBS have launched a website called NilePost.co.ug where they release breaking news online.

 The main newspapers around the country have all managed to launch their own version of online news websites, Monitor.co.ug is an online news website that was launched by Monitor Publications Limited, and Newvision.co.ug was launched by the government owned newspaper called the New vision. Now accessing news online for Ugandans is very easy than before.

2. Online shopping is now possible among Ugandans

There was a time when Ugandans only had to go to the nearest market or supermarket or shopping mall so that they are able to shop for the things that they want but now, it is very possible to do shopping online in Uganda. 

With the growth of the internet in Uganda as the number of internet users increase in the country, some of the online shopping start ups have entered the Ugandan market.  Jumia.ug which is being powered by Rocket internet has joined the online shopping market and it is beginning to do very well. Among other online shopping websites or e-commerce platforms are sites like Kaymu, OLX among others.  

With Jumia.ug, Ugandans are now able to order for food online without any problem and the food is delivered directly to their homes.

3.  Easy transfer of money online

With the growth of the digital technology, Ugandans are now able to send and receive money within the country and even abroad from foreign countries. 

With the invention of the mobile money technology by the telecoms, it is now very easy to send money to any part of the country.

 Those days, the only way that Ugandans send money was through the banks and some people used to give money to others who were heading to their villages so that these would be able to deliver the money to their desired destinations but now with mobile money technology, you just need to send the money to a person’s phone and that person will be able to receive the money instantly. It is also now easy to be able to send money from abroad into Uganda. 

With new technologies in money transfer like World Remit, Western Union and others, it is now every easy to receive money from abroad especially for those Ugandans who are in the Diaspora, they can easily send money to their relatives and friends who are  back at home.

4. It is now very easy to hail rides online using apps

There was a time in Uganda whereby if you wanted a ride on a taxi or on a boda boda, you had to move up to the stage and then wait for a taxi before you can be able to board it to the destination that you want. 

With the growth of the digital technology, this has changed and now all you have to do is download an app for the ride hailing service that you want and you can be able to hail a ride from the comfort of your home.  

With ride hailing services like Uber, Safeboda, Dial Jack and others, you are now able to hail a ride for a car or for a boda boda without any hustle.

5. Watching television online and also listening to radios online

There was a time when you only had to watch television when you are in your home and in the sitting room where people normally put their television sets but that has drastically changed with the advent of technology. 

Today, it is very possible to watch your favourite television programme online.  You can do online streaming of your favourite television programme on platforms like YouTube the video sharing website that is owned by Google. 

You could also still be able to stream the television programs on Facebook live and watch those interesting programmes that are being offered by your television station on your smart phone or Ipad without any hustle.

 It is now possible to listen also to radio stations online since some radio stations have decided to create websites where their listeners can also be able to listen to the programmes online.

6. Searching for jobs online

Those days before the coming of the internet, looking for a job was very tiresome and a very terrible experience, you had to walk for some good distances just to be able to get a job. 

Today, you can be able to land yourself a very good job just in the comfort of your home.   

There are websites that have been dedicated to posting job adverts daily.

 These websites are making it very easy for Ugandans to search for jobs without any hustle. Websites like brightermonday.co.ug, Fuzu.com are among some of the websites that will help you to quickly and easily land a job at the comfort of your home.