By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has urged top executives and business leaders to take cybersecurity more seriously, describing it as a critical part of business leadership in the digital era.
The call was made during the 5th Annual CEO Cybersecurity Breakfast held on July 2nd, in Kampala.
The event, organised by UCC, brought together CEOs and industry leaders from the telecommunications, ICT, banking, and related sectors to discuss how companies can strengthen their digital defences.
The discussions focused on the rising risks of cybercrime and the importance of implementing long-term strategies that protect businesses, customer data, and Uganda’s digital infrastructure.
The Executive Director of UCC, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, explained that the event’s theme, “The CEO’s Strategic Edge: Bridging Past Wins with Future Cyber Visions,” was chosen to encourage business leaders to reflect on past efforts and apply those lessons to future cybersecurity planning.
Thembo said that in today’s digital world, cybersecurity is not just a technical concern for IT departments, but a strategic issue that CEOs must lead, noting that cybercrime is rapidly increasing worldwide and warned that starting this year, cybercrime is expected to cost the global economy over $10.5 trillion annually.
According to international reports, one business is affected by a ransomware attack every 11 seconds, showing just how frequent and damaging these attacks have become.
He urged Ugandan companies to prepare for these growing risks by embracing the Minimum Cybersecurity Guidelines developed by UCC, designed to help businesses protect their data, systems, and operations from potential cyberattacks.
Thembo emphasized that cybersecurity should be viewed not just as a requirement for regulatory compliance, but as a key part of building trust with customers. He explained that digital services like mobile money, e-commerce platforms, and online banking all depend on public confidence, which can be easily destroyed by security breaches.
He further explained that as Uganda continues to promote digital transformation under its National Development Plan III, businesses must create secure digital environments to support that growth.
UCC believes that cybersecurity will play a key role in enabling safe and sustainable digital services in Uganda.
The keynote speaker at the event was Ms. Audrey Mnisi Mireku, a board member of the global cybersecurity organization FIRST.org.
Her presentation focused on international experiences in cybersecurity and how Ugandan firms can learn from those models. She also highlighted the need for coordination between governments, regulators, and private sector players to address the complex and evolving nature of cyber threats.
Hon. Thembo noted that cybersecurity is not only about installing software or preventing hacking incidents. It also involves creating a culture of awareness, regular staff training, responsible data handling, and having clear response procedures in case of a breach.
He encouraged CEOs to treat cybersecurity as a priority at boardroom level and to include it in strategic decision-making, rather than seeing it as a back-office concern.
He also reaffirmed UCC’s commitment to helping organizations comply with cybersecurity guidelines through capacity-building, workshops, and access to relevant information.
The Commission has been working with various government agencies and international partners to improve the country’s cybersecurity readiness.
According to UCC, there has been growing concern over the rise in cyber fraud, identity theft, data leaks, and online scams in Uganda. The regulator believes that strengthening digital security is essential if Uganda is to continue benefiting from the rapid adoption of internet and mobile technologies.
As digital financial services grow and more Ugandans embrace mobile payments, online trading, and remote working, the risks of cyberattacks are also rising. The Commission is therefore calling on all organisations, whether in banking, telecom, healthcare, education, or government, to take immediate steps to improve their systems.
During the breakfast meeting, various CEOs acknowledged the importance of cybersecurity and agreed that more investment is needed to stay ahead of emerging threats.
The event also provided a platform for companies to share their challenges and suggestions for how to work with UCC to ensure that digital progress in Uganda remains safe and secure.
UCC has reiterated that it will continue monitoring developments in the cybersecurity space and will offer regular updates, advisories, and training to support companies. It is also working on enhancing Uganda’s national cyber response mechanisms in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT, Uganda Police Cybercrime Unit, and other security agencies. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
