Young leaders, government officials, and digital safety advocates have called for heightened efforts to combat the rising cases of online violence, particularly targeting young women and girls.
The appeal was made during a youth engagement session focusing on the role of young people in creating safer digital spaces.
The Executive Secretary of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), Osbon Turyasingura, urged youth to avoid using online platforms to attack or demean others.
He challenged young people to leverage their numbers and influence to promote positive societal change, pursue self-education, and curb ambitions that could lead to conflict.
“Digital violence affects everyone. I have seen young women harassing young men online, and vice versa,” Turyasingura noted.
He highlighted that Uganda has well-established frameworks to address gender-based violence (GBV), including the National Policy on the Elimination of GBV and its action plan.
However, he observed that many still misunderstand GBV as solely physical harm in domestic settings, overlooking psychological, economic, and digital forms of abuse.
Recent national statistics underline the severity of the issue. The 2024 Police Crime Report recorded 14,000 domestic violence cases, with cultural norms discouraging reporting, especially among men. In 2023, of 15,184 reported cases, 10,702 victims were adult women, 3,243 were adult men, while juvenile victims included 600 girls and 505 boys.
“We have the laws. The problem is not the laws,” Turyasingura said, citing the Cyber Protection Ordinance 125, the Data Protection and Privacy Act, and the National ICT Policy. “The real challenges are enforcement, lack of awareness, and the exclusion of marginalized voices.”
Digital safety advocate Dr. Peter Kirabira echoed these concerns, warning that online violence is growing rapidly and requires urgent mass sensitization.
He emphasized that the emotional and psychological impact of cyber harassment is as real as physical violence.
A representative from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development confirmed that the government is working with multiple stakeholders to address the escalating problem, particularly among vulnerable groups such as young women, girls, and persons with disabilities.
Members of Parliament, including Moses Kabuusu (Kyamuswa) and Tusiime Karuhanga (Rwampara), called on Ugandans—especially the youth—to champion the fight against digital violence and promote respectful online communication.
Speakers encouraged young people to act as peer educators, policy advocates, and champions of digital inclusion, participate in national consultations, advocate for policies addressing intersectional vulnerabilities, and collaborate with civil society organizations to bridge resource gaps.
“The government may not provide all the funding needed, but civil society groups and development partners are ready to support youth-led efforts,” Turyasingura said. “We must seize these partnerships to reach areas we cannot reach alone.”
Leaders concluded that combating digital violence requires collective responsibility, proactive youth engagement, and sustained investment in online safety and digital literacy across the country.