Uganda urged to build stronger digital defences as cyber threats grow

What the report says

Cybersecurity experts have urged Uganda to step up investment in digital infrastructure, technical skills, information sharing and public awareness as more services and data move online, increasing exposure to cyber threats. The call was made at the 15th Annual East Africa Information Security Conference in Kampala, held under the theme “Securing the Future Through Digital Trust,” according to Nile Post.

The conference brought together cybersecurity professionals, government officials, regulators and leaders from the telecommunications and financial sectors to discuss how to protect increasingly interconnected digital systems. Uganda Communications Commission Director of Research and Development Christine Mujimba, speaking on behalf of the executive director, said cybersecurity should go beyond buying tools and focus on building systems that can withstand, detect and recover from attacks. She said the country’s digital transformation depends on secure infrastructure, especially as mobile money, government platforms, health, education, commerce and communications expand online.

Participants also stressed the importance of faster information sharing across government, telecoms, financial institutions and other stakeholders so vulnerabilities and threats can be identified before they spread. They called for security to be built into technology from the design stage, rather than added later, and for organisations to treat cybersecurity as an ongoing governance issue.

The conference also highlighted public awareness and workforce development. ISACA Kampala Chapter President Maurice the Divine Design said ordinary users, including mobile-money customers and pensioners, must be part of the conversation. The chapter said it plans community awareness work with Rotary, reflecting a broader push to strengthen trust in Uganda’s digital economy.