By Mulengera Reporters
During the Safer Internet Media Webinar, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) called on journalists, content creators and internet users to play a collective role in creating a safer, more responsible and trustworthy digital environment.
Mr. Ibrahim Bbossa, UCC’s Head of Public and International Relations, emphasised the need for collective action to address emerging online challenges, particularly cyberbullying, misinformation and threats to digital privacy. He noted that as access to digital platforms continues to expand, everyone who publishes or shares content carries a responsibility for shaping the online environment.
Bbossa reminded journalists and social media creators that the fundamental commitment to truth remains essential, regardless of the speed at which information is produced and shared. He stressed that prioritising accuracy over speed is critical to restoring public trust and countering the spread of misinformation.
“In an age where everyone publishes, trust has become the rarest currency. Accuracy, not speed, is what separates responsible voices from noise,” Bbossa noted.
The webinar brought together journalists and media practitioners from across Uganda to discuss internet safety and the responsible use of digital platforms. The discussions explored the need to promote safer online spaces while safeguarding freedom of expression, privacy and access to information.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of professional and ethical conduct by media practitioners and online users as Uganda navigates an increasingly digital information environment.
Dr Abdul Sallam Waiswa, UCC’s Head of Litigation, Prosecution and Legal Advisory, addressed the legal dimensions of online communication, noting that the law does not criminalise every mistake made by a person “of the tongue or the keyboard.” Rather, he explained, it addresses deliberate harm inflicted on another person’s reputation.
He emphasised that intention is an important consideration, noting that where malicious intent is absent, justice should favour restraint rather than vengeance.
Through the webinar, UCC reinforced its commitment to promoting responsible digital participation, stronger online safety standards and greater public awareness of rights and responsibilities in the digital space.
The discussions served as a reminder that building a safer internet is a shared responsibility—one that requires accuracy, accountability, respect for privacy and a commitment to using digital platforms in ways that strengthen, rather than undermine, public trust. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
