The Ministry of ICT Permanent Secretary, Dr.Aminah Zawedde has cautioned students, especially girls on irresponsible use of internet .
Speaking during this year’s celebration of the International Girls in ICT Day held at the Uganda ICT Institute in Nakawa, Dr.Zawedde said whereas internet is good , its irresponsible use might have disastrous effects, especially to students.
“As we promote and active participation in ICT, we must also prioritize safety and responsibility in the digital space. While the online world is full of opportunities, it can also present through dangers, and these dangers include cyber bullying, child trafficking, identity and exposure to harmful content,” Zawedde said.
“ I urge you, our girls and young women to be vigilant and responsible in the use of the Internet. Stay informed, stay safe, and use ICT as a tool to uplift you, but not to bully others.”
The Ministry of ICT Permanent Secretary drew comparisons with the past where bullying in schools was physical for new comers, noting that this has now turned online.
“when you go home, you have in holidays and what happens is that you people have started to create WhatsApp groups and start using them to bully friends. Now many people go create these WhatsApp groups and start bullying the colleagues, intimidating them, abusing them, calling them eggs. That is not a good thing for you. Be mindful of whatever you say online.”
Girls in ICT
Dr.Zawedde urged girls not to shy away from actively participating in the ICT sector, noting that they can ably help in solving challenges in society using ICT.
“Regardless of whether you're male or female, old, young woman, man, location or economic status, there's an opportunity for you to live in ICT and benefit from it. I think we should be educating these households and communities that we can all do these things together, alike, boys and girls, and take this country forward. Because imagine if a household has only girls and no boy who will do all this work that boys are supposed to do, and the other way,” Zawedde said.
“It is about changing our mindset and the way we think about who is supposed to do what. Our generation assignment is to destroy the stereotype. We must therefore talk about the digital divide not only between men and women, but also between the rural and urban communities and between the privileged and the underserved communities. This is not just a national priority, as outlined in our national development plan for but also a global commitment that is aligned with our sustainable development goals.”
She however assured that government remains fully committed to creating an environment where every girl has the confidence, the skills, and the support to thrive in STEM and ICT.
The Uganda Communication Commission Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo said whereas as Uganda celebrates the International Girls in ICT Day and science and ICT are driving the global and digital economy, statistics show there is still have a long way to go for girls and women.
“ According to ITU data, women make up less than 30% of STEM professionals worldwide. In universities and colleges, for every two boys studying STEM subjects, there’s only one girl. And in many countries, women and girls are significantly less likely than their male counterparts to use the internet or even own a mobile phone,” Thembo said.
“This disparity has real consequences. In today’s world, where access to the internet can open doors to education, employment, and entrepreneurship, this digital gap translates into fewer opportunities for girls and young women—and a reinforcement of long-standing gender inequalities.”
He said there is need for everyone to be reminded that they can do something to close this digital gap.