Critics of the project also have asked why the National Backbone Infrastructure has never been connected to privately run fiber networks as part of efforts to boost capacity in the country. Legislators also concluded that there may not be enough bandwidth provision for future upgrades of the fiber cable.

Other problems involve the lack of a disaster recovery center and a Network Operating Center for the first phase of the projects.

The Ugandan government secured a $106 million loan, with a 2 percent interest rate payable over 20 years and a grace period of five years, from China's Exim Bank in 2006 to undertake the projects.

The backbone plan entails the laying of 2,500 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, while the e-government project aims to connect government ministries, departments and local governments.

Last year, the Ugandan Parliament complained of irregularities in the designation of the contractor by the ministry of ICT, but the project was allowed to move ahead. Legislators raised questions after realizing that the project in Uganda is very expensive compared to the same project in Rwanda. Rwanda is carrying out a similar project and laying 2,300 kilometers and has only spent US$38 million. That project is on schedule to be completed in just a year.