By Mulengera Reporters
The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, graced the Data Protection and Privacy CEO Forum in Kampala with a pointed message to the country’s top corporate leaders, that mishandling people’s personal information is not just a legal issue, but it threatens livelihoods, reputations, and the future of Uganda’s digital economy.
Speaking at the high-level forum organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in partnership with the Personal Data Protection Office, on Thursday, Baryomunsi called on business executives to take data governance seriously.
He cautioned that as technology becomes more embedded in everyday life, the potential for abuse grows, especially where data is treated as a profit tool rather than a human right.
The minister noted that without proper safeguards, private conversations, biometric records, and financial details can easily fall into the wrong hands, undermining both individual safety and national security.
He also stressed that protecting personal data is not just about meeting legal requirements, but about building a society where trust in digital platforms can thrive.
This year’s CEO Forum was convened by UCC to bring together chief executives, tech innovators, legal experts, and regulators for an honest conversation about responsible data handling, focusing on how to balance innovation with consumer privacy, comply with the Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019), and build systems that prioritise transparency and accountability.
UCC ED, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, used the forum to reaffirm UCC’s commitment to making privacy a core part of Uganda’s digital development agenda. He said organisations must stop treating data protection as an optional add-on or an IT issue, and instead recognise it as a leadership responsibility.
Nyombi argued that privacy has become central to everyday life, and that people are increasingly aware of how their data is being used, or misused.
He warned that companies which ignore these concerns risk losing public trust, no matter how advanced their technology may be.
Throughout the event, UCC experts guided CEOs through practical approaches to embedding privacy in their operation, from staff sensitisation and secure data systems to ethical innovation and consumer consent.
The Commission also highlighted common weaknesses it has observed during audits and investigations, particularly among service providers in finance, health, telecoms, and e-commerce.
Mr. McGyver Mugamba, who leads UCC’s Data Protection and Legal Advisory department, underscored UCC’s position that data belongs to individuals, not institutions, urging companies to stop harvesting personal information without clear purpose or safeguards, noting that such practices reflect a disregard for people’s dignity and freedom.
The forum also explored how technologies like AI, digital ID systems, facial recognition, and robotics are raising fresh ethical questions, and how Uganda must remain alert to global trends while safeguarding its own citizens.
For UCC, this CEO Forum was not merely a policy dialogue, but a demonstration of leadership. By bringing corporate decision-makers into the room and confronting them with the real-world consequences of poor data practices, the Commission reinforced its role not just as a regulator, but as a champion of digital rights.
As more Ugandans connect to digital services, the pressure on institutions to behave responsibly will only grow. And if the message from June 5 was anything to go by, UCC has no intention of letting the privacy conversation fade into the background.
