By Ugandans have been urged to take an interest in how their data is protected from individuals and entities attempting to use it without their consent.
According to Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, personal information collected from individuals should only be used for the purpose for which it has been obtained, with any misuse tantamount to a breach of the law.
The minister was launching the 2024 Data Privacy campaign meant to sensitize Ugandans on how they can protect their data.
While speaking at the launch of this year’s campaign ahead of the International Data Privacy Day. the executive director of National Personal Data Protection under the Ministry of Information, Technology and National Guidance, Stella Alibateese said that most Ugandans rush and sign on to various social media platforms and end up losing their privacy when the said platforms release their private information.
She thus advised Ugandans to embrace the Data Protection and Privacy Act, which the government enacted in 2019, and among the terms provided under the Act urges Ugandans to protect their data by regulating the collection and processing of personal information.
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, emphasizes that personal information received from people should only be utilized for that reason; any other use would be considered illegal.
In November last year, The Government through the ministries of Works and Transport and Security officially launched the digital number plates project. Dubbed the Intelligent Transport Management Systems Program (ITMS), however, this raised a lot of criticism from a section of the public regarding the protection of their data, The Minister emphasizes that the purpose is not to follow up on people’s private lives.
On 26 April 2006, the Council of Europe decided to launch an annual Data Protection Day to be observed every 28 January. This date marks the day when the Council of Europe’s “Convention 108” was first available for signing. While it’s known as Data Protection Day in Europe, it’s recognized as Privacy Day worldwide.
