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Makerere University’s School of Law lecturer, Mr Robert Kirunda, has been appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), becoming only the second Ugandan to serve on the prestigious international body.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement released by the Law School on Thursday.

“Congratulations to Mr Robert Kirunda, Lecturer @MakerereLaw, he was appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). He is the second Ugandan to receive this appointment,” the statement reads. The PCA, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 1899 to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between states.

Over the years, it has developed into a modern, multi-faceted institution addressing disputes involving states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties.

Mr Kirunda, who teaches at Makerere Law School and also practices as an advocate, will contribute to the court’s mandate, which includes handling disputes related to territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, foreign investment, and international trade.

Uganda’s representation at the PCA is seen as significant in strengthening the country’s profile in international law and arbitration.

Makerere University School of Law emphasised that Kirunda’s appointment was a reflection of his expertise and contribution to legal scholarship.

“This appointment highlights the growing impact of Ugandan legal professionals on the global stage,” the School noted.

His appointment comes at a time when international arbitration continues to play a critical role in resolving complex disputes between nations and global entities.

The PCA currently has 122 contracting parties, including Uganda, and operates as one of the world’s oldest institutions for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

As the political campaign season gains momentum with the various presidential candidates embarking on their campaign trails in different parts of the country, in Alebtong District, little-known youth are embarking on a campaign trail of their own. One to sensitise and teach locals about the dangers of climate change. In the Daily Monitor of Wednesday, October 1, a story titled, ‘Youth in flood, drought-prone areas rise to climate challenge’, highlighted how hundreds of youth trained by a local non-governmental organisation, Change Lead Agency Social Support, educate their community on the impacts of climate change.

Climate change, for many in rural areas, sounds like a distant, irrelevant issue that they need not bother themselves with or that is a preserve of non-governmental organisations and a topic for intellectual discourse at global conferences. In fact, according to Moses Omara, executive director of Change Lead Agency Social Support, there are some members of the community who still believe that climate change is a result of God’s anger and not man’s activities. This is why the youth engaged in this noble project should be commended and supported by the various stakeholders.

The youth who walk through villages from about 10am to 6pm, engaged in door-to-door campaigns in Amugo and Abako sub-counties in Alebtong District sensitise people on the dangers of wetland encroachment, bush burning, which explains rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events affecting crops, livestock, and overall livelihoods, among other aspects. Alebtong District, like many other parts of the country, has suffered climate challenges such as floods, which destroy acres of food crops and homes.

The climate challenges in the area are said to be mainly a result of unregulated charcoal burning, which reduces the land’s ability to absorb water, increase surface run-off, and increases flood risk. There’s also a problem of poor agricultural practices, such as over-grazing and cultivation on steep slopes, leading to soil erosion and increased runoff and silting of River Moroto. Omara says they have come up with mitigation and adaptation approaches to fight climate change.

Climate challenges are real and dealing with them should not be relegated to just a few in society. Societies should be helped to understand the consequences of their personal day-to day actions and choices on the environment. Such sensitisation and awareness drives as is being carried out by the aforementioned youth brings the concern down to the grassroots and encourage informed behavioural change. This is why looking out for and supporting such initiatives is key. It is a plus that the main participants are young people. They, after all, are the future and are bound to suffer the effects of a misused Mother Earth more.

President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to re-elect him in the 2026 General Election, citing his remarkable achievement in building a professional army as one of the key reasons. While campaigning in Alebtong District on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Mr Museveni said throughout his 39-year presidency, he has transformed Uganda’s military into a disciplined and effective force.

“We work for kuc (peace), and we are able to achieve it because we have got a disciplined professional army and the army is built professionally,” said Mr Museveni. “We don’t look at tribes in the army or religion. We look at, are you a good soldier or not? That’s why when we are recruiting, we recruit from every district. Every district has a quota. That’s how we have peace now.”

The President emphasised that his administration has ensured that the military is accountable to the civilian population, and its primary focus is on protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He believes that a strong and disciplined military is essential for maintaining peace and order, not only within the country but also in the region.

Economic infrastructure and oil discovery

Mr. Museveni also highlighted his government’s achievements in economic infrastructure, including roads, electricity, telephones, and piped water. “We worked on the road from Tororo-Mbale-Soroti-Dokolo-Lira-Kamdini, and then now we have just almost finished the road from Rwenkunye-Masindi Port-Apac-Lira-Puranga,” he said.

The President also touted the discovery of oil, which he said was not discovered by the British despite their efforts from the 1920s to 1956. “The British were here. They looked for the oil from 1920s up to 1956. They gave up and they wrote a report… but when we came, we discovered it, and we are now laying the pipeline to pump it out of the ground.”

Call to vote for Museveni

Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua pleaded with the people of Lango to vote for President Museveni in the forthcoming 2026 elections. “Why Lango and Alebtong should vote for you (Museveni) is the fact that the National Resistance Movement, under your leadership in the post-independent history of Uganda is the first political party in power to introduce wealth creation initiatives,” said Mr. Obua.

He added, “It is only the NRM that has brought Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the youth fund, the women’s fund, the special grant for PWDs, and special grants for older persons, among others. Our people of Alebtong, we know where we are from, we know where we are, and we know where we want to go. I want to earnestly ask you that do not waste your votes to any presidential candidate.”

Poverty situation in Alebtong

A 2018 survey study found that locals in Alebtong were “so satisfied with life but they are very poor.” The study, conducted by Global Health Network (U), discovered that 86.5% of participants felt satisfied with life, but the majority were actually very poor.

In the 2021 presidential election, Alebtong District gave Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert 16,794 votes, while Yoweri Kaguta Museveni got 42,832 votes.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Tribunal is today expected to convene to look into election matters, including the fate of three women who were sued after declaring their intentions to contest against the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in the forthcoming elections.

Ms Zipporah Akol sued Ms Hellen Odeke Akol, Ms Susan Norma Otai, and Ms Marion Mercy Alupo, asking the court to block their nomination on the grounds that the three aspirants are not legitimately registered as voters in Bukedea District and should, therefore, be disqualified.

The Electoral Commission was also listed as a respondent in the suit, with all four parties required to file their defence. However, by Monday, only Ms Alupo had filed her response, while the EC requested for more time to prepare its defence. The court pushed the matter to Monday next week.

A source told Monitor yesterday that the Commission is slated to sit today to decide whether to back the three women or remove them from the register. The source added that the chances of the Commission declining to support the trio are very high.

EC speaks out

In an interview, the EC’s Manager for Public Relations, Mr Julius Mucunguzi, explained that petitions are a core part of the Commission’s work.

Mr Mucunguzi further said the complaints are normally lodged by parties themselves, but did not confirm if the case of the three petitioned aspirants will come up in the meeting. ‘The Commission is currently hearing many petitions. I have not checked which one is on the agenda, but it is true that the Commission will be meeting tomorrow (today). The Commission always meets on Tuesday and Thursday.’

According to documents filed in the High Court’s Civil Division in Kampala, Ms Akol claims the Electoral Commission did not followed due procedure in publishing the voters’ roll in May 2025, and that in the 10 days allowed for objections, complaints were raised that Ms Odeke did not originate from or reside in Malera Parish, Ms Otai was not from Kopeta Parish, and Ms Alupo was not a resident of Kotolut Parish.

In her petition, Ms Akol wants the court to declare the three women unregistered voters, bar the EC from nominating them, and rule them ineligible to stand.

The respondents have dismissed the claims. Ms Alupo insists she has proof she is a registered voter in Bukedea, Ms Odeke has described the case as ‘machinations,’ while Ms Otai is demanding an explanation from the EC on how her name was deleted.

The EC has not publicly confirmed the details. Meanwhile, the NRM party, which earlier nominated Ms Among unopposed for the Woman MP slot after Ms Odeke was disqualified, maintains that the case is part of local political manoeuvring.

What law says

Under Uganda’s Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, a valid candidate for Parliament must be a Ugandan citizen, a registered voter, and meet the minimum educational requirement. Disqualifications include non-voter registration or failure to meet residence and origin requirements.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has urged residents of Iganga District to vote him, promising to lead a corruption-free government with a focus on grassroots development.

While speaking to residents in Nkaatu Igamba, Northern Division, Iganga Municipality yesterday, Mr Mafabi emphasised that tackling corruption at the local government level would be his top priority if elected president.

Mr Nadanala argued that many of the challenges affecting service delivery and development in Uganda originate from mismanagement and embezzlement within local councils and district offices.

According to Mr Nandala, funds meant for roads, health centre, schools, and community projects are often stolen or misused before reaching the intended beneficiaries.

By cleaning up corruption at the grassroots, Mr Nandala believes national development will become more efficient, transparent, and impactful.

‘Each year, government officials steal Shs10 trillion. If elected President, I will recover that money and redirect it to real development, starting with the villages,” Mr Nandala said.

He further pledged to upgrade Nakavule Hospital into a referral facility, citing its strategic location in the Busoga Sub-region, which also serves Bukedi and the surrounding areas.

Mr Nandala also said he will replace the Parish Development Model development Saccos, allocating Shs100 million to each village annually.

‘In my government, I will start by developing villages, then parishes, because true development begins at the grassroots,’ he added. He promised to establish an industrial park in Iganga to boost employment and economic growth.

On healthcare, he committed to ending ‘medical tourism,’ stating that no government official, including Members of Parliament and ministers, would seek treatment abroad.

Mr Nandala also said he will revive cooperatives across the country, abolishing university tuition fees to enable more students to access higher education, construct staff housing for civil servants, provide free electricity connections, reduce power tariffs, and tarmac all roads across Uganda

‘The people will be connected to the power grid without paying connection fees, and electricity will be affordable,’ he said.

Local leaders in Iganga welcomed his message but stressed the urgent need for a president who can tackle unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery, and the lack of security in urban areas.

Mr Lubega Yusufu, an aspiring district councillor for Iganga Central Ward, called for improved street lighting, noting that darkness in the municipality had become a security risk.

In Uganda’s West Nile region, women play a crucial role in agriculture, but cultural norms restrict their ability to own land and other properties. The Lugbara and Alur communities cherish deep-seated cultural values that limit women’s rights, leading to gender-based violence and disputes over land ownership.

“Culture has dictated that women simply enjoy the land user rights but not the right to own land,” says Paska Aliru, a resident of Polota parish in Logiri village, Arua District. “The customary certificate ownership that includes women is a big achievement for West Nile women.”

Elizabeth Minala, a widow and resident of Polota village, knows firsthand the struggles of women in her community. After her husband’s death in 2019, she was thrown out of her marital home and denied ownership of the land.

“I believe one of the reasons why I was thrown out of my late husband’s home is because of the greed for property, including land,” she says.

Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender. However, in the West Nile region, women are often unaware of their rights. Esther Kisembo, Programs Coordinator at ActionAid Uganda, notes that the land awareness camp is a sensitization platform to empower communities about their land rights and customary land registration process.

“Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender,” Kisembo says. “It’s unfortunate that in this particular sub-region, the women that form the majority of the population under the farming sector know that they have the land user rights but not the ownership rights.”

Local leaders are taking steps to address the issue. John Bosco Odama, the Logiri LC3 Subcounty Chief, acknowledges that land-related wrangles are a major source of community disputes in the region. “The women use the land but have no ownership rights,” he says. “But both the cultural leaders and the community are now realizing the importance of customary certificate registration where women are allowed to register ownership.”

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is working with partners, including ActionAid Uganda, FIDA Uganda, and Eastern and Southern Small Scale Farmers Forum, to promote customary certificates registration and land awareness. Denis Obbo, the Communication and Information Officer at the Ministry of Lands, notes that the initiative aims to formalize land ownership and empower communities, especially women, to claim their rights.

The Lugbara Kari Pronouncement, a document detailing several interventions aimed at empowering the Lugbara people, clarifies the right of the girl child to education, property inheritance, and women’s land-related rights. As the government and partners work to address the issue, women in West Nile are hopeful that their struggles will soon be a thing of the past.

Lango Sub-region presents both wider concerns and district-specific issues that are likely to influence the 2026 general election outcomes. Recent aerial surveys in Lango Sub-region revealed deposits of minerals, including gold in Aboke and Alito sub-counties, Kole District.

The leaders argue that the government should update and publish a mineral map and provide clear plans for their exploration. Failure to harness these resources for socio-economic growth could become a major campaign issue in 2026, as residents demand jobs, revenue, and infrastructure from mining activities.

Compensation, historical injustices

In Kole District, the community is still waiting for the government to fulfil President Museveni’s 2017 directive to compensate Aculbanya Secondary School with a bus, after the NRA confiscated a school lorry during the insurgency in 1987. Unresolved historical grievances such as this may fuel voter dissatisfaction if not addressed before the elections due in January 2026.

Health services

The state of healthcare remains a top concern, with the communities demanding that Aboke Health Centre IV in Kole and Anyeke Health Centre IV in Oyam be upgraded to general hospitals to serve growing populations. Limited access to quality health facilities is likely to be a key campaign theme in the 2026 General Election.

Infrastructure and connectivity

The leaders demand adjustments to the Aboke-Bobi road design to link Aboke Market to Anekapiri Market, Ogur, and connect the district headquarters of Lira, Kole, and Apac by tarmac. Roads remain a visible development yardstick, and poor connectivity could influence voting patterns.

Access to electricity

Access to electricity in Lango is just 8.4 percent, which is far below the national average of 18.9 percent (Uganda National Household Survey). Calls for expanded rural electrification are urgent. Politicians will face pressure to show tangible progress on energy access, especially for households, businesses, and schools across the sub-region.

Agriculture and livelihoods

The communities are also demanding government investment in agro-processing plants, livestock farming with improved breeds, veterinary services, market access, and affordable irrigation technologies. With the majority of the voters in the area depending on agriculture, these demands will heavily shape the 2026 electoral debate.

Administrative and land issues in Oyam

The residents of Oyam District are calling for the creation of Aber District, citing a population of 572,000 with 1,169 villages, and 578 kilometres of district roads. There is also the unresolved dispute over 1,000 acres of land occupied by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Loro. The land was originally given during the insurgency, but remains a sore point. These grievances could drive political mobilisation and voter sentiments in 2026.

Industrialisation and jobs

The leaders in Oyam are also lobbying for the establishment of an industrial park to boost employment. Given the high youth unemployment across Lango, this issue is likely to resonate strongly with the voters during campaigns.

Lira City

The city residents are calling for the construction of an airport in Lira Cit, and for this, land measuring about 1.8km by 4km has already been secured in Anai, Lira City, West Division. The locals also demand support for an agro-industrial park and the establishment of a sub-regional driving permit centre. These projects are seen as critical for business growth, trade, and employment, making them potential election issues.

Dokolo County North and South

The communities in Dokolo District want the Dokolo Health Centre IV that currently acts as a district hospital, upgraded to a general hospital. The Lango sub-region has the lowest paved road coverage in Uganda (3 percent), despite the ongoing work on the 191-km Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira road. The residents are also calling for the expedited tarmacking of the 88km Dokolo-Ochero-Namasale road and support for the development of an industrial park. Infrastructure and healthcare deficits remain major voter concerns.

Amolatar District (Kioga County and Kioga North)

The voters in Amolatar District demand a resolution of the conflicts between the fishing community and the UPDF on Lake Kyoga and the River Nile. There is a pressing need to improve electricity access that currently stands at 8.4 percent in Lango, compared to 18.9 percent nationally. The residents also demand investments in agro-processing plants, livestock development, veterinary services, markets, and irrigation technologies. These economic and service delivery issues could influence electoral support.

Alebtong District (Moroto County)

The residents are calling for the upgrading of Alebtong Health Centre IV to a general hospital. Similarly, with the Lango Sub-region’s paved road network standing at below 3 percent, the residents are also demanding the expedited tarmacking of the 120km-long Lira-Aloi-Kotido-Abim road. Likewise, healthcare and transport remain top voter priorities.

Kwania District (Kwania County and Kwania North)

The residents in Kwania are also calling for the upgrade of Aduku Health Centre IV to a general hospital. They also demand a ferry from Nambieso to Kwania, a critical transport link connecting the area to Amolatar. Lack of connectivity and limited healthcare services could shape voter preferences in 2026.

Lira District (Erute North and South)

The leaders in the district are advocating the creation of Erute District from Lira District due to administrative challenges caused by the carving of Lira City divisions from the parent Lira District. Currently, travel between the northern and southern parts of Lira District requires passing through Lira City, highlighting governance and administrative inefficiencies as potential election issues.

Association of allied health professionals’ council of Uganda has closed six privately owned health facilities over safety concerns and non-compliance to standards.

Some of the laboratories in the clinics were found to be operated by medical students while others with qualified but without operating licenses from their professions bodies.

But patients found at one of the clinics protested the closure saying their lives have saved since Arua regional referral hospital and Ediofe health centre which they are supposed to go to are far away from them.

‘My baby would have died had it not been this clinic near to us, Arua regional hospital is far away and the bridge to Ediofe health centre is broken. In times of emergency, especially at night, boda-bodas are too expensive and so, these clinics near us do help,’ Ms Brenda Asianzu, a resident of Ezova cell, Ayivu West said on Thursday.

But Mr Michael Mubiru Kayizzi, the Quality Assurance Manager at Allied Health Professionals said they were carrying out the exercise to protect the public.

‘We are here because we are protecting the public, it is the command of the law, to get regulated service,’ he said.

Mr Fred Alionzi, the proprietor of one of the closed health facilities appealed for leniency saying he was the sole breadwinner and could not sit at home.

‘When I completed my studies at school of health, I left huge school balances so I could not sit to get my transcript. And I am working here in order to get money to offset the balances and attain a licence. I could also not sit at home, I had to look for ways of making ends meet,’ Alionzi stated.

An imaging centre was also closed for using unqualified staff, and patients who had been referred for scanning from Arua regional referral were told to leave and their money refunded.

What is demanded?

For one to operate smoothly, requires a clinical officer who works under a supervisor for at least 4 years after school, and pays at least Shs300,000 to get a practicing license.

Schools in Kibaale, Kagadi, and Kakumiro districts in Bunyoro Sub-region are grappling with acute staffing shortages.

District leaders and education stakeholders attribute the gaps in UNEB performance to the government’s failure to provide adequate funding for teacher recruitment.

According to education officials, the number of teachers is far below what is required to serve the growing student population, making it difficult to deliver quality education.

The Kibaale District Education Officer, Mr John Talagaboine, said some schools have survived by diverting part of the Capitation Grant to pay private teachers.

‘Some schools use the grant to pay private teachers, leaving other activities unfunded. The grant is meant for daily operations, not salaries. Few teachers cannot match the required teacher-to-learner ratio, which affects results,’ he said.

The district is supposed to have 125 secondary school teachers but has only 88 after two retired. At the primary level, the district has 445 teachers instead of the required 556, with 12 retiring this year.

The Kibaale District Chairperson, Mr Godfrey Muhonge Kasanga, said the district has 82 primary schools, with 362 teachers instead of the required 960.

‘Without enough staff, we cannot perform well academically. The workload is too heavy for the few teachers available,’ he said, adding that some learners miss lessons and eventually drop out. At Bubamba Primary School, head teacher Peter Kwemara said six teachers handle all seven classes, forcing the school to hire a private teacher.

‘The same staff also hold offices and other responsibilities, which makes balancing roles difficult. When a teacher is absent, pupils miss lessons, syllabus coverage is delayed, and results are affected,’ he said.

The 2024 UBOS report shows Kibaale has high numbers of out-of-school children. Among children aged 6 to 12, at least 11,902 out of 50,239 were not in school, while 11,009 out of 27,963 aged 13 to 17 were not attending school.

The Kakumiro District chairperson, Mr Joseph Sentahi Senkusu, said many schools have fewer than seven teachers despite high enrolment.

‘The government has restricted the recruitment of private teachers, saying it exploits parents. But without enough teachers, performance will continue to decline,’ he warned.

At Kiriika Primary School in Kakumiro, the head teacher, Mr Augustine Ssekisasi, said the school has more than 900 pupils and only eight teachers. ‘There is a need to stream classes for proper learning, but the structures cannot handle the large numbers. Work overload also affects how we assess learners,’ he said.

Kagadi wage bill

In Kagadi, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) chairperson, Mr Solomon Musinguzi, said the district’s wage bill is too low to support adequate staffing.

‘This has escalated early retirement applications-50 staff have already applied, which is worrying,’ he said. Kagadi District chairperson Ndibwami B Yosia admitted that the district has a deficit of 523 teachers across all government schools.

‘School heads are forced to hire private teachers, yet education is supposed to be free. Parents end up paying because schools must operate. The government should revise the teacher-to-pupil ratio and recruit to full capacity,’ he said.

The Kabukanga Primary School head teacher, Mr Enock Matee, said the school’s enrolment has dropped from 500 pupils in previous years to about 150.

‘We were forced to scrap primary seven after losing teachers who were transferred and never replaced. Of the five teachers, only two are on payroll, while three are privately paid by parents. The Capitation Grant is being used for salaries instead of school activities,’ Mr Matee said.

He added that the school also faces infrastructure challenges, with only two permanent blocks and three temporary structures in poor condition.

At a glance

* Kibaale District should have 125 secondary school teachers but has only 88.

* At the primary level, Kibaale has 445 teachers instead of the required 556.

* Kagadi District faces a deficit of 523 teachers across all government schools.

* Kabukanga Primary School has only two government teachers, with three others privately paid by parents.

Right now, Uganda is experiencing a digital revolution. As internet penetration steadily rises, so does the use of e-commerce, online government services, mobile banking and payment platforms. However all this progress is not without risk, and cyber crime is gradually increasing – especially in rural areas where awareness is low.

To address this issue, grassroot campaigns are stepping in with the goal of empowering rural communities and building stronger awareness among the population. Some have developed innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide and reach out to rural areas so even remote villagers are able to navigate the internet safely.

Cybersecurity Challenges in Rural Uganda

Rural Uganda faces significant barriers to effective cybersecurity education and awareness. It isn’t just that awareness about cyber threats, cybersecurity best practices, or tools like VPN providers is scarce – the problem is reaching people in rural regions that have underdeveloped digital infrastructure, limited electricity, and high data costs.

Many rural dwellers do not own their own devices, and rely on communal device sharing as well as intermediaries for charging. Not only does this increase the risk of unauthorized access, but it also means that information is often passed along second-hand instead of being accessed directly – which causes misinformation to flourish and leads to poor cybersecurity practices.

As things stand there is a rapid adoption of digital tools in rural areas, spurred by initiatives like the UN Capital Development Fund’s program for inclusive digital economies. However that in itself is a double-edged sword as it has outpaced education efforts – leaving rural communities vulnerable and targets for cybercriminals.

Grassroot Campaigns to Promote Cybersecurity

To reach rural communities more effectively, Uganda has turned to grassroot cybersecurity campaigns that meet people where they are, and use more accessible methods. Its National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-26 got the ball rolling by emphasizing the need to embed cybersecurity in school curricula and build a solid foundation for long-term digital resilience.

The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) has also stepped up with several campaigns that have a rural focus. One of them was its ‘Be Safe Online’ initiative that engaged schools and community leaders to deliver cybersecurity education to communities with low digital literacy.

Additionally, NITA-U has built community-based tech centers in rural areas under the Digital Uganda Vision to bridge the digital divide, and provide tailored programs on cybersecurity awareness. However its biggest push to enhance rural cybersecurity to date is the freshly launched Beera Ku Guard campaign.

As a collaboration between NITA-U and the Personal Data Protection Offer (PDPO), Beera Ku Guard is a six-month, nationwide public awareness campaign to promote cybersecurity. It intends to target rural communities by using local language messaging as well as rural-friendly communication channels such as radio, television, SMS, community forums and in-person workshops.

Complementing NITA-U’s work, the PDPO will focus on avoiding technical jargon, and translating rights and responsibilities into simple, relatable language. It intends to integrate storytelling, infographics, and interactive quizzes into the Beera KU Guard campaign to make complex concepts relatable and engaging for rural audiences.

Overall this campaign aims to reach at least 70% of Uganda’s population and is the largest grassroots cybersecurity education campaign so far. By instilling basic cybersecurity best practices among rural communities, it plans to educate them on how to safeguard mobile money PINs, avoid malicious links, identify suspicious emails, and secure personal data.

Other organizations have also been reaching out to rural communities. Some have partnered up in building mobile labs with solar-powered computers to reach areas that have low internet penetration and limited electricity supply. Others, such as Unwanted Witness and Civil Rights Defenders, train human rights defenders in rural areas on cybersecurity basics.

What’s Next?

Empowering rural Uganda isn’t something a one-off grassroots campaign can solve, but the Beera Ku Guard initiative is a good start and showcases the government’s commitment to delivering cybersecurity education to its most vulnerable, rural communities. By prioritizing accessibility, cultural relevance, and collaboration with local communities, it is not only lighting the way but laying a solid foundation that future campaigns can build on.

As new and disruptive technologies such as AI are set to enhance cyberthreats by enabling better deepfake videos, more convincing phishing emails, and automated cyber attacks – the need to empower rural Uganda and ensure they can protect themselves is greater than ever before. The grassroots campaigns that are being run are not only essential, but prove that with the right approach it is possible to empower rural communities with the knowledge and skills they need.