The Opposition has urged the government to increase investment in cybersecurity following a sharp rise in cybercrimes, which surged by 93.5% in 2024, resulting in losses amounting to Shs 72.125 billion, with only Shs 420 million recovered.
Shadow Minister of ICT Hellen Nakimuli raised these concerns in her Alternative Ministerial Statement, emphasising the low levels of digital skills among Ugandans as a significant factor contributing to the country’s vulnerability to cyber threats.
According to available data, only 20% of Ugandans were digitally skilled by 2021, and while 1.5 million people received digital training by 2023, Nakimuli noted that this still accounts for a small fraction of the population.
“This speaks to the fact that personal data and networks are insecure and susceptible to cybercrime. The ubiquity of cyber incidents could both increase the impact of incidents and considerably damage trust in ICT and the digital economy among consumers,” Nakimuli said.
She warned that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which often handle sensitive information, are at high risk due to weak cybersecurity measures.
To address these challenges, Nakimuli proposed stronger legal and regulatory frameworks that formalize stakeholder responsibilities in preventing cyber threats.
“Increasing connectivity across the country, enhancing support systems for digital entrepreneurship, increasing uptake of end-user devices and digital services, fostering digital skills and literacy, and promoting cybersecurity and data protection are crucial steps to harness the full potential of digital transformation,” she added.
The Opposition also decried the high cost of internet services, which they argue is slowing down Uganda’s digital transformation.
The price for one megabyte per second (Mbps) of internet for commercial service providers stands at US$85 (Shs312,290) per month, while the cost for individual users is US$35 (Shs128,590) per Mbps, making it difficult for many Ugandans to afford stable internet.
Additionally, entry-level smartphones in Uganda cost between Shs200,000 and Shs500,000, further limiting internet penetration, particularly in rural areas.
Nakimuli stressed that these high costs negatively impact e-government services and overall internet usage in the country.
“Many Ugandans are unable to access the internet due to these high costs, which in turn affects the rollout of digital government services,” she said.
She also criticized the slow implementation of the government’s digital skilling program, which aims to promote digital literacy in underserved communities.
While some progress has been made, she argued that the current level of digital literacy remains too low to support a secure and thriving digital economy.
The Opposition is calling for urgent government intervention to address these issues, warning that failure to act could further expose Uganda’s digital infrastructure to cyber threats and hinder the country’s technological growth.