Child Online Safety Takes Centre Stage at UCC’s 16th Communications Consumer Parliament

FORT PORTAL, October 15, 2026 – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, parents, schools, communications service providers and communities to protect children from online threats, as internet access grows and more children come online.

The call was made during the 16th Communications Consumer Parliament, held at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal under the theme, “A Safer Digital Future,” with a particular focus on child online protection.

The Communications Consumer Parliament is designed to promote accountability and transparency in Uganda’s communications sector by providing a platform where regulators and licensed service providers engage directly with consumers, listen to their concerns, explain service delivery challenges and account for gaps in performance.

Local government leaders also participated in the discussions, including Kabarole District LC-V Chairperson Ruben Kimome Araali, Fort Portal Deputy Mayor Maggie Kabajwara and Deputy Resident City Commissioner Henry Kitambula, alongside other regional stakeholders.

Held annually in different parts of the country, the forum seeks to educate consumers on key issues, provide an avenue for concerns to be raised and addressed, strengthen engagement between consumers and industry stakeholders, and respond to feedback gathered through surveys, outreach activities and call centres.

The Parliament also provides an opportunity for regulators and communications service providers to reflect on the sector’s performance, including its achievements, shortcomings and emerging challenges.

The discussions highlighted the need to match Uganda’s growing digital connectivity with stronger awareness, guidance and safeguards for children. Julianne R. Mweheire, UCC’s Director of Economic Regulation, Content and Consumer Affairs, presented survey findings showing that 69.7% of children surveyed reported knowing how to use the internet, while only 23.6% of parents were aware that their children used it.

The findings also showed that 52.9% of children surveyed had experienced cyberbullying, while 24.1% had never disclosed the online challenges they faced. These findings underscored the need for stronger collaboration among parents, schools, communities, communications service providers and other stakeholders to improve digital safety awareness and child online protection. Mweheire reaffirmed UCC’s commitment, citing  the recent launch of a nationwide Child Online Protection Campaign and highlighting the Consumer Parliament’s role in providing a platform for consumers to raise concerns and engage stakeholders on issues concerning the communications sector.

Speaking at the event, UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo thanked the local leadership in Kabarole and neighbouring districts for the warm reception extended to the Commission’s team.

He emphasised that while digital technologies offer children significant opportunities for learning, communication, creativity and access to information, these benefits must be matched by appropriate safeguards.

“As parents and caregivers, we would not allow our children to wander into unfamiliar places without considering their safety. We must exercise the same vigilance in the digital world. Just as we watch over our children in the physical world, we must also protect and guide them in the online world,” Nyombi Thembo said.

Petitions presented during the Parliament called for practical measures to strengthen child online protection. Representing the Uganda Police, SSP Jackson Mucunguzi called for a stronger national framework for child online protection, the integration of digital safety education into school curricula, enhanced law enforcement capacity, greater public awareness of existing child protection mechanisms, and more active involvement of parents and guardians.

Dr. Byamah B. Mutamba, Deputy Executive Director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, led a team that petitioned for coordinated national action, including stronger oversight of digital platforms, accessible child-sensitive reporting and support services, improved digital safety awareness among parents and educators, and continued research into emerging online threats, including those associated with Artificial Intelligence.

Throughout the session, which was chaired by celebrated journalist Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi as speaker, participants shared experiences, raised consumer concerns and considered practical measures to make online spaces safer for children.

Participants called for child online safety to be integrated into the school curriculum and for the development of e-learning content through collaboration among the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and UCC. They also proposed that the Commission strengthen child online safety rules and guidance and consider measures to limit children’s exposure to age-inappropriate broadcast content.

Telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, Lyca Mobile and UTel and internet service providers were urged to strengthen harmful-content filtering, expand parental controls and anti-spam tools, and explore education-focused internet packages. Participants also called for the nationwide expansion of the Sauti child helpline, supported by additional staffing to improve response.

Parents and guardians were encouraged to monitor children’s online activities, use appropriate parental controls and model responsible digital behaviour, while children were urged to make responsible choices online and communicate openly with trusted adults about their digital experiences.

The Parliament was the culmination of a week-long series of consumer awareness and engagement activities across the sub-region, including visits to markets and schools, as well as radio talk shows aimed at raising awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities and promoting child online safety.