MTN Uganda has joined forces with Milima Security as platinum partners to launch the 6th edition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Uganda, marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its digital resilience.
The campaign, officially unveiled in Kampala, is spearheaded by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and brings together a coalition of stakeholders including Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Echotel Uganda, Lira City Council Authority, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Livingstone International University, and Cavendish University.
Observed globally every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is dedicated to building public knowledge, encouraging collective responsibility, and driving stronger collaboration in the fight against cybercrime.
Uganda’s 2025 theme, “Securing the Future; The Rise of AI,” emphasizes the double-edged role of artificial intelligence, which is simultaneously opening up new possibilities while creating new vulnerabilities such as deepfakes, advanced phishing schemes, and digital fraud.
Uganda’s digital landscape has faced growing challenges in recent years. According to the Uganda Police Annual Cyber Crime Report, the country lost approximately UGX 72.1 billion to cyber incidents in 2024, with digital fraud accounting for nearly a third of all reported fraud cases. Small and medium-sized enterprises have been disproportionately affected, with four in ten reporting attacks last year.
Speaking at the launch, MTN Uganda’s Chief Technical Information Officer, Thomas Motlepa, underlined the importance of joint action to secure the country’s digital economy.
“As Uganda’s leading digital solutions provider, we believe security is the foundation of trust in every digital interaction,” he said. “Our partnership with Milima Security in Cybersecurity Awareness Month demonstrates our responsibility to empower Ugandans with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely. Together, our security is unstoppable.
By working collectively across the public and private sector, we can safeguard individuals, businesses, and communities against evolving cyber threats while enabling them to fully embrace the opportunities of a digital economy.”
Milima Security’s Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Chagara, noted that while technology offers tremendous benefits, it also amplifies risks. He explained that artificial intelligence enhances cybersecurity defenses but equally empowers fraudsters to craft sophisticated scams.
“Due to massive public awareness campaigns, we have already seen progress—people are more conscious, better able to recognize phishing attempts, and quicker to act. But AI raises the stakes, and that is why awareness and preparedness are more urgent than ever,” he said.
Uganda has made notable progress in building a stronger cybersecurity framework, from enacting the Data Protection and Privacy Act to implementing the National Cybersecurity Strategy and partnering with regional and international organizations such as the ITU and the EAC Cybersecurity Committee. The private sector has also played a key role, expanding training programs, upgrading infrastructure, and investing in awareness campaigns.
This year’s month-long awareness drive will be marked with activities across Kampala, Mbarara, Lira, and Mbale. Weekly themes include School Cybershield, which targets students with digital safety training; Dark Side of AI, a focus on the risks of emerging technologies; Fraudcon, tackling digital fraud; and the EastCon Symposium.
The campaign will conclude with the EastCon Cybersecurity Conference on October 27–28 at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, where experts, policymakers, and innovators will gather to shape the country’s future cybersecurity agenda.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 underscores Uganda’s recognition that a safe digital environment cannot be achieved in isolation but demands coordinated efforts from both the public and private sector.
With rising threats fueled by rapid digitalization, the partnership between MTN Uganda, Milima Security, and other stakeholders signals a renewed commitment to protecting citizens and businesses as the nation embraces the opportunities of the digital age.