About USAF
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After the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/ Army (SPLM/A), South Sudan was granted semi autonomy and was governed by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS). GoSS created its structures including the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services (MoT&PS) among others. Under the MoT&PS, the Universal Service and Access unit existed as a department for rural communications within the directorate of Telecommunications. The major function of the department was to offer a balance between the provision of Universal Service to all unserved areas, including the rural and remote areas.
Though the communication sector policy 2008 – 2013 mentioned the need for the Universal Service and Access, the description was not thorough.
In 2012, the President of the Republic assented to the National Communication Act, No. 24. The Act provides for the establishment of the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) or the Fund, which shall be a body corporate with its own seal and shall have powers to sue and be sued in its own name.
In 2016, the Transitional Government of National Unity merged the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting; and Telecommunications and Postal Services to be the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services (MICT&PS).
In June 2019, the Director General of National Communication Authority
Dr. Lado Wani Kenyi instituted the Fund under his office. A manager was appointed to assist with the set up.
Pursuant to the provisions of the National Communication Act, 2012, in October, 2019, Hon. Justice. Machael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of ICT and Postal Services issued a Ministerial Order for the operationalization of the Fund. Subsequently, a Secretary General was also appointed as per the Act.
The Fund Secretariat is fully operational with its headquarters in Juba, Block No. EV, Plot 1-6 Juba Market Street.
In December 2020, the Minister of ICT and Postal Services issued another Ministerial Order No. 8/ 2020 for the alignment of the Fund as a Secretariat under the National Communication Authority