The inaugural cybersecurity run organised by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) India, Uganda Campus, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), the CIO-CxO Digital Leadership Forum and other partners, has brought together information technology experts, security personnel and civil society organisations to raise awareness about cybercrime and promote safer online practices.
The event attracted representatives from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Police Force, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the digital space, who called for stronger cybersecurity systems and increased public awareness as Uganda increasingly embraces digital technologies for financial transactions, communication, business and public service delivery.
Jinja Cantonment Commander Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kanyesigye, who led the run as chief runner, said Uganda needed to strengthen its cybersecurity mechanisms to address emerging threats in an increasingly digital world.
Kanyesigye noted that as more services and transactions move online, the country must invest in effective measures to protect individuals, institutions and businesses from cyberattacks.
“The world is evolving, and everything is being done online. As a country, we need to improve our mechanisms for cybersecurity because we are heading into an era where almost every transaction is conducted online,” Kanyesigye said.
Johnson Tumusiime, the acting director of Information Security Services at NITA-U, expressed concern that many Ugandans remain unaware of basic cybersecurity practices, leaving them vulnerable to fraud and other forms of online crime.
Tumusiime said some people carelessly share their passwords or use the same passwords for years, increasing the risk of unauthorised access to their accounts.
He called for sustained public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about protecting their digital identities and sensitive information.
“Our target is to reawaken citizens because these days it is very common to hear people claiming that their WhatsApp accounts have been hacked, with many of their contacts subsequently defrauded of money,” Tumusiime said.
He urged Ugandans to safeguard their personal credentials, including passwords, personal identification information and PINs, warning that careless handling of such information could expose them to cybercriminals.
Arnold Lujjumba, an IT officer at the NFSU Uganda Campus, said proceeds from the run would be used to strengthen information technology laboratories and support the training of IT experts in selected schools across the Busoga sub-region.
The initiative, branded the Cybersafe Schools Initiative, aims to equip learners with practical digital skills and introduce them to the responsible and secure use of technology.
Lujjumba added that the university was working with the CIO-CxO Digital Leadership Forum to establish a women's boot camp aimed at strengthening women's skills and knowledge in cybersecurity and information security.
He explained that cybersecurity awareness had traditionally been concentrated among technology professionals and corporate executives, leaving many ordinary citizens with limited knowledge of the risks associated with their online activities.
“Cybersecurity as a subject has been in boardrooms, so we are trying to engage people at the grassroots to reach ordinary citizens who may have no idea what cybersecurity is. At least today, they have an idea that they need to protect their credentials and safeguard their PINs instead of leaving cybersecurity to the elites,” Lujjumba said.
He added that expanding cybersecurity education to schools and communities would help create a population better equipped to identify potential threats and take preventive measures before falling victim to online fraud.
Prof. Arun Sharimar, the acting director of the NFSU India Uganda Campus, said information technology had brought significant benefits to society but had also created new vulnerabilities that individuals and institutions needed to learn to manage.
Sharimar noted that increasing reliance on digital platforms required people to remain vigilant when conducting online transactions, sharing information or communicating through digital channels.
He cited estimates suggesting that cybercrime causes global losses exceeding USD 10.5 trillion annually, adding that Uganda was also experiencing significant financial losses from cyber-related fraud.
Sharimar further claimed that Uganda loses approximately USD 20 billion to cybersecurity fraud. However, the figure requires independent verification, including clarification of the period covered, the nature of the losses and the source of the estimate.
He also claimed that four out of every 10 Ugandans had experienced cybercrime in one form or another. This statistic likewise requires verification against a reliable source.
Sharimar urged the public to take cybersecurity precautions seriously, noting that awareness of potential threats was essential in preventing financial and other losses.
“The time has come for us to be awakened because forewarned is forearmed. We have to be cautious when making all kinds of transactions in the digital world,” Sharimar said.
Elizabeth Busingye, co-founder of Safe You Africa and a senior member of the CIO-CxO Digital Leadership Forum, said cybersecurity awareness was particularly important for women, who increasingly face online harassment, cyberbullying and violations of digital privacy.
Busingye said incidents involving hacked phones, the unauthorised publication of intimate photographs and online threats against women demonstrated the potentially devastating consequences of digital abuse.
She noted that victims of online harassment could experience emotional distress, depression and other mental health challenges, particularly when the abuse involved threats to their safety or the circulation of private information.
“We have seen several occasions where women's phones have been hacked and their nude photos published on social media, as well as cases of cyberbullying where people threaten or attack women online,” Busingye said.
She explained that the cybersecurity run was intended to raise awareness and encourage women to exercise caution when sharing personal information and content online.
Busingye called for greater efforts to promote digital safety and ensure women can use technology without fear of harassment, intimidation or exploitation.
ASP Eric Ziraba Mugabi, a forensic audit analyst in the Uganda Police Force's Directorate of Forensic Services, urged victims of cybercrime to preserve evidence and promptly report incidents to the police.
Mugabi said retaining relevant evidence was essential in helping investigators trace suspected offenders and build cases against individuals involved in cyber-related offences.
He encouraged victims to keep transaction records, messages, screenshots and other available digital evidence rather than deleting information that could assist investigations.
According to figures cited at the event from the Uganda Police Force's 2024/2025 crime report, more than Shs 72 billion was lost to cybercrime, while police recovered approximately Shs 400 million.
The figures highlight the financial implications of cybercrime and the need for stronger prevention measures, improved public awareness and timely reporting of incidents.
The organisers said the cybersecurity run formed part of broader efforts to extend digital safety education beyond technology professionals and corporate institutions to schools, communities and ordinary technology users.
They expressed hope that continued public engagement would encourage Ugandans to protect their personal information, recognise suspicious online activities and report cybercrime to the relevant authorities.
As digital technologies continue to shape everyday life, participants stressed that cybersecurity must become a shared responsibility involving government agencies, security institutions, educational establishments, businesses and individual citizens.