NITA Uganda Intensifies Cybercrime Awareness

The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) has launched a cybersecurity awareness campaign dubbed “Be Safe Online.” It aims at increasing public awareness and vigilance about the day-to-day cyber threats.

Officials at NITA-U say the campaign is to raise awareness on cyber-related threats and to empower citizens with the knowledge and sense of shared responsibility to practice safe and informed decisions while using the internet.
Dr Hatwib Mugasa, NITA-U’s Executive Director, said if the public remains oblivious to issues regarding cybersecurity, it will hamper the embracing of digital transformation.

“We need to remember as technology users that safeguarding the internet is a responsibility we all share. Digital technologies and the Internet have transformed our everyday lives since we can now access information, conduct business, keep in touch with family and friends, and engage online. But we need to remember cyber-attacks are becoming more common,” he said.

With increased access to the internet through the extension of affordable broadband, there is bound to be an increase in the number of internet users in the country and thus more risks of cyber threats to users who are unaware of cybersecurity mechanisms online.

Arnold Mangeni, the Director of Information at NITA-U explained that the objective is to reduce fraud, adding that the country has lost a lot of money due to cyber-related crimes. “According to the police crime report, we have lost a lot of information and lowered productivity. There are a number of times when people’s devices are compromised and rendered unproductive until they restore, “he said. Cyber threats in Africa and in Uganda have increased over the years in terms of frequency and sophistication.

The Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, 2019, reported a total of 248 cybercrime cases during that year compared to 198 cases in 2018, all which resulted in the losses of hundreds of millions of shillings.

Meanwhile, MTN Uganda in partnership with NITA-U have unveiled a new app that will be used for geofencing and tracking COVID 19 patients that are under home-based care. The app, named E-pass (Electronic pass), is intended to help the Ministry of Health track and geo-fence the movement of COVID-19 patients under home-based care thus reducing the number of non-critical patients that get admitted to hospitals.

At the height of the pandemic, many people would be rushed to health centres. Even those not in critical condition, a situation that overwhelmed health centres and also stretched the limited resources in hospitals. This situation led the Ministry of Health’s development of a home-based care policy in which non-critical patients would be cared for and monitored from their homes or other locations outside the hospitals.

Speaking at the launch of the app, MTN General Manager for MTN Business, Ibrahim Ssenyonga, said the new app will go a long way in helping the government and the country to better manage resources as non-critical patients can now be monitored remotely from their locations of isolation. “This new app will alert the Ministry of Health designated officials if in case a patient under surveillance goes outside of the planned location boundaries. That way, the ministry can minimise further spread, but also locate some of the contacts in the areas where the patient might have veered off to,” Ssenyonga said.

At the height of the pandemic in Uganda, many would storm health centres either in critical condition or out of fear resulting from normal flu or cold and they would all demand to be admitted. Dr Mugasa said that they are pleased with the solution as it will serve as a game-changer in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very proud because of the local capacity we have to quickly develop an app of this kind that will change the way we manage the pandemic in the country. This coming at a time when the vaccine is already in the country is a big boost in the government’s efforts to curb and minimise the spread of the pandemic,” Dr Mugasa said.

The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine, thanked MTN Uganda and NITA-U for this intervention saying that it takes collective effort from everyone to defeat this disease. “It is true that management of patients was quite a nightmare for the government and the health centres. We were having many people coming to hospitals that didn’t need to be there. And these were taking up space for those that needed to be there most. This solution is very welcome. It is a win for us as a country in the management of this pandemic.”

Atwine also paid special tribute to MTN who she said have really stood through thick and thin with the ministry not only in the management of the pandemic, but in many other health-related initiatives over the years. Development of the app which lasted about four months cost Ushs460 million with the package including 400 smartphone handsets which will be installed with the app and used for monitoring.