Be a Cyber Hero Campaign Launched to Promote Safer Digital Spaces

KAMPALA, August 13, 2026 – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), in partnership with Next Media, launched the Be a Cyber Hero campaign, a three-year national initiative promoting safer and more responsible use of digital platforms, particularly among children and young people.

Launched at Next Media Park, Naguru, the campaign calls for collective responsibility in protecting children online. Minister of State for ICT, Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, urged parents, schools, media, technology providers, civil society and young people to play an active role in creating safer digital spaces. She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to digital safety through appropriate policies, legal frameworks and strategic partnerships.

Representing the UCC Executive Director, Director of Corporate Affairs Mr. Fred Otunnu said the initiative builds on UCC’s ongoing work in child online protection and cybersecurity, including awareness campaigns in different parts of the country, research, the CyberSTARS programme and stakeholder engagements such as the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference.

The Commission’s Consumer Affairs Unit has also taken child online protection awareness into schools, where UCC teams engage students to assess their knowledge and experiences online while promoting responsible digital behaviour. Head of Consumer Affairs Mr. Joseph Kizito highlighted the UCC Debate Series as another avenue through which the Commission explored peer-to-peer learning on digital safety.

The launch also featured Joan Marinah Ndagire, a Digital Security Ambassador and student at Taibah International School, who shared her experience with bullying and called for greater openness between parents and children about their online experiences and wellbeing.

The campaign seeks to encourage Ugandans to identify, prevent and respond to online harm, including cyberbullying, online grooming, scams and misuse of personal information. Hon. Ssebugwawo officially launched the campaign and called on stakeholders to ensure that technology remains a tool for empowerment rather than harm.