The Integrated Refugee Organization (IRO) proudly joined Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) at the Cybersecurity, Data Protection & Privacy Conference hosted by National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) under the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project – Government Network (UDAP-GovNet).
Held at Next Conference Centre, the conference convened key stakeholders from government, civil society, media, and the private sector to strengthen Uganda’s conversation around cyber hygiene, cybersecurity, and personal data protection.
As Uganda’s digital ecosystem rapidly evolves, the need for proactive security practices has never been greater. This national platform emphasized practical solutions, responsible data governance, and collaborative approaches to protect citizens and institutions in an increasingly connected society.
Digital security clinic: Diagnose & Treat your devices
During the conference, IRO participated in CIPESA’s engagement by hosting a Digital Security Clinic, offering hands-on technical support to journalists, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and public officials.
Our message was simple:
#BeeraSharp : Bring your devices to be diagnosed and treated.
Participants received direct, practical assistance from trusted digital security experts on:
- Device security checks (phones & laptops)
- Software and operating system updates
- Secure communication tools
- Data protection and privacy settings
- Account security strengthening
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) setup
- Malware scanning and antivirus review
- Encryption support
- Backup and recovery guidance
The clinic demonstrated IRO’s commitment to strengthening frontline digital resilience in Uganda particularly for journalists and civil society actors who operate in sensitive information environments.
Strengthening Uganda’s cyber hygiene culture
The conference reinforced that cybersecurity is not only a technical issue, it is a governance, human rights, and public trust issue.
IRO’s Digital Security helpdesk contributes to:
- Preventing digital surveillance risks
- Protecting sensitive communications
- Reducing malware and spyware exposure
- Strengthening institutional data protection compliance
- Building confidence in Uganda’s digital transformation
Our commitment continues
IRO remains committed to advancing digital resilience through:
- Ongoing digital security clinics
- One-on-one incident response support
- Secure communication training
- Digital risk assessments
- Partnerships with national and regional stakeholders
We thank CIPESA and NITA-U for advancing this important dialogue and for creating space for practical, solution-driven engagement.
Together, we can build a safer, rights-respecting digital future for Uganda.
