SECURING UGANDA’S DIGITAL FUTURE: INAUGURAL NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE SETS THE AGENDA FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION

KAMPALA, August 11, 2026 – Uganda’s digital economy grows, so does the responsibility to ensure that citizens can use digital services safely and with confidence.

This was the central message at the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference 2026, hosted by the Uganda Communications Commission through the Uganda Computer Emergency Response Team (UgCERT) on 11–12 August 2026 at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

The two-day Conference placed cybersecurity firmly within Uganda’s development agenda not simply as a technology issue, but as a matter of public trust, economic stability, national security and the safety of citizens.

Opening the Conference, UCC Executive Director Hon. George William Nyombi Thembo emphasised that expanding access to communications services must go hand in hand with building trust and safety.

Connectivity by itself is not the destination. Connectivity must be meaningful. It must be safe. It must be resilient. Above all, it must be trusted.

UCC’s latest Communications Sector Cybersecurity Posture Report shows some progress. Reported malware infections declined from approximately 1.59 million in 2024 to 1.41 million in 2025. However, the sector’s overall security rating remained within the basic security category, highlighting the need for continued investment and vigilance.

Hon. Joyce Juliet Nabbosa Ssebugwawo who presided as the Guest of Honor, highlighted the need to protect citizens, institutions and services as Uganda becomes increasingly digital. Cybersecurity must therefore be understood in the wider context of national security, economic security, service delivery, public trust and national development. She called for greater responsibility at leadership level, with Boards, Chief Executive Officers, Accounting Officers and senior managers expected to understand the risks facing their institutions and ensure that adequate attention and resources are committed to protecting their systems and information.

This includes continuous staff awareness, timely response to vulnerabilities and ensuring that organisations are adequately prepared to respond when incidents occur.

Collaboration at the Heart of Cybersecurity

The Conference also emphasized the importance of collaboration and information sharing. Uganda’s digital ecosystem is increasingly interconnected. An attack affecting a telecommunications network can disrupt financial services, while a breach affecting Government systems can interrupt essential public services and undermine public confidence.

No single institution can therefore secure Uganda’s digital environment on its own. As Hon. Nyombi Thembo observed:

A cybercriminal does not stop to consider which Government agency has jurisdiction before launching an attack.

The participation of Bank of Uganda Governor Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego as Keynote Speaker further highlighted the relationship between cybersecurity and financial stability. As more Ugandans embrace mobile and digital financial services, maintaining the security of these platforms is critical to protecting consumers and sustaining confidence in Uganda’s growing digital economy.

Keeping the Consumer at the Centre

Beyond institutions and infrastructure, cybersecurity is ultimately about people. Behind every mobile money transaction is someone’s hard-earned money. Behind every online account is an individual or organisation, and behind every piece of personal information is someone who expects that information to be protected.

For this reason, consumer protection and awareness were central to the Conference discussions. As cybercriminals adopt increasingly sophisticated methods of deception and impersonation, citizens must be empowered to recognise risks and take greater responsibility for their safety online.

UCC continues to strengthen cybersecurity in the communications sector through UgCERT, established in 2013. UgCERT supports the sector through cyber-threat information, incident response, cybersecurity awareness, digital forensics, and cyber drills and simulation exercises.

The Commission has also developed Minimum Cybersecurity Guidelines for licensed operators and continues to invest in local skills through initiatives such as the Cyber Stars programme, which is helping nurture the next generation of cybersecurity talent.

From Dialogue to Action

As the inaugural Conference concluded, attention turned to translating the discussions into practical action.

Five priorities emerged from UCC’s call to action: faster sharing of information on cyber threats; stronger coordination during major incidents; greater leadership and accountability; investment in local skills and capabilities; and keeping consumers at the centre of cybersecurity efforts.

These priorities will require sustained collaboration beyond the Conference and a shift from responding to cyber incidents after they occur to building stronger preparedness across institutions.