The Internet Society (ISOC) Uganda Chapter marked a milestone this week with the launch of the Uganda Parliamentary Internet Governance Forum (UPIGF), signaling strengthened collaboration between digital rights advocates and lawmakers.
Speaking at the event, ISOC Uganda President, Mr. Joshua Mpairwe, emphasized the critical role of parliamentarians in shaping an “accessible, safe, and affordable internet” through informed legislation. “After several years, it’s significant that Parliament is now at the table,” he noted, addressing past gaps where lawmakers’ limited grasp of internet dynamics led to regulatory challenges. The partnership, he stressed, is timely amid escalating cybercrimes globally and domestically, requiring policies rooted in technical and social understanding of the digital space.
Central to the forum was the unveiling of ISOC’s research on internet access in schools across the Kampala Metropolitan area. Mpairwe revealed that 80% of the sampled schools, predominantly secondary institutions, had internet connectivity, though largely due to curriculum mandates rather than institutional enthusiasm. “The internet isn’t there because schools want it, but because the curriculum demands it,” Mpairwe observed, hinting at systemic inertia in embracing digital tools for broader educational innovation. The report underscores disparities in voluntary adoption and sparks calls for equitable access, particularly in underserved regions.
Mpairwe linked the research outcomes to broader policy goals, urging legislators to prioritize infrastructure investments and cybersecurity frameworks. “Lawmakers shape our digital future,” he asserted, highlighting ISOC’s push for laws that balance innovation with user protection.
ISOC Uganda Chapter co-founder Lillian Nalwoga underscored the organization’s role as a catalyst for inclusive governance. While addressing stakeholders at the launch, Nalwoga framed the forum (aligned with the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)) as a “unique space to showcase what the internet can do.” This year’s theme, “Building Uganda’s Digital Governance Together,” reflects a vision where “all stakeholders have equal footing” in steering the nation’s digital future, she asserted.
Nalwoga highlighted Uganda’s progress in internet adoption, citing rising user numbers and robust policies, albeit with “room for sharper implementation.” The forum, she noted, unites legislators, civil society, academia, and private sector leaders to tackle pressing issues—from cybersecurity gaps to infrastructure deficits—ahead of key regional and global summits. “This isn’t just a Ugandan meeting,” she emphasized. “It feeds into East African, African, and global dialogues.”
With the upcoming events, including the East Africa Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi, the Africa Internet Governance Forum in Dar es Salaam, and the Global Internet Governance Forum in Oslo, Nalwoga urged policymakers and the government to prioritize representation at these events, signaling the nation’s ambition to shape continental digital agendas.
Nalwoga also hailed the expansion of the Parliamentary Internet Governance Forum, crediting Tororo’s Member of Parliament, Hon. Sarah Opendi, for elevating its profile.
Anja Gengo, representing the United Nations Internet Governance Forum Secretariat, commended Uganda’s multistakeholder efforts in advancing inclusive digital governance. Praising this year’s theme, “Building Uganda’s Digital Governance Together,” she emphasized its alignment with global imperatives: “Inclusive, participatory, and human rights-rooted collaboration is not optional—it’s the bedrock of sustainable development.” Gengo highlighted the significance of Uganda’s Parliamentary IGF launch, noting legislators’ critical role in crafting policies that safeguard rights and harness technology for progress.
“Parliamentarians’ involvement isn’t just welcome, it’s essential,” she asserted, linking local dialogues on education tech and platform workers’ rights to universal challenges.
Closing with a call for unity, Gengo stressed transcending “borders, sectors, and communities” to preserve an open, resilient internet. “Meaningful connectivity is imperative, not optional, for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” she declared, urging collective action to ensure digital access remains affordable and inclusive.
As Uganda’s IGF feeds into broader continental and global dialogues, her remarks reinforced the urgency of transforming policy debates into tangible strides, forging a digital future where no one is left behind.
Originally slated for 2023, the forum’s debut was postponed due to legislative scheduling conflicts, but Hon. Opendi stressed its necessity ahead of the 2026 elections to ensure continuity beyond the current Parliament. Reflecting on its origins, she traced the initiative to pan-African dialogues starting in 2018, culminating in the formalization of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance. She emphasized the forum’s role as interim chair in equipping legislators to craft informed policies, stating, “We cannot effectively legislate or oversee a sector we don’t fully understand.”
Opendi highlighted critical challenges, including disinformation, AI misuse, and online harassment, warning these threats would escalate as Uganda approaches its 2026 elections. Citing rampant impersonation—including fake social media profiles using her name—she called for updated laws to address emerging issues like deepfakes while safeguarding free speech. “Our existing laws may not be comprehensive enough,” she admitted, referencing a proposed private member’s bill on AI regulation. A 2021 study revealing that 46% of female African MPs faced online sexist attacks underscored the gendered risks deterring women from digital engagement.
Hon. Opendi urged vigilance against disinformation and commitment to bridging digital divides, particularly for marginalized groups. She framed the IGF as a catalyst for equitable, rights-based digital transformation in Uganda and beyond.
Adding to Hon. Opendi’s remarks on equity, Hon. Rose Obinga, Member of Parliament for Terego District, also urged lawmakers to pursue “meaningful legislative action,” particularly for marginalized rural communities (giving examples of regions like Karamoja and Terego), women, and youth. “Our engagement must go beyond ceremony,” she asserted, positioning Uganda to lead Africa in balancing innovation with equity.
Hon. Obinga heralded the launch as a “pivotal moment” in the nation’s digital evolution. Speaking on behalf of ICT Committee Chairperson Hon. Tony Ayoo, Hon. Obinga framed the UPIGF as a critical platform to transition Uganda from “spectators to architects” of its digital future.
Acknowledging partners like the ISOC Uganda Chapter and the UN IGF Secretariat, Hon. Obinga underscored the importance of aligning Uganda’s policies with global standards. “We are not isolated; our actions must resonate internationally,” she stated, urging participation in debates on data sovereignty and ethical digital trade. She directly addressed young innovators, pledging to craft policies that “work for and with them,” and vowed collaboration across civil society, the private sector, and Parliament to institutionalize UPIGF as a “living instrument of transformation.”
Hon. Obinga demanded UPIGF’s integration into national planning frameworks, sustained funding, and measurable results.
Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, pledged full ministerial support for UPIGF, emphasizing collaboration on legislation, budgeting, and oversight. He praised Hon. Opendi’s gender advocacy and welcomed AI-focused proposals, promising alignment between parliamentary and executive efforts. “Our doors—or lack thereof—are open,” he quipped, drawing on his past leadership in continental forums. Closing with a nod to Uganda’s demographic dividend, he urged lawmakers to ensure technology bridges, rather than deepens, divides.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who was the Guest of Honor, framed the forum as a vital step toward equitable, secure digital transformation. He closed his remarks with a commitment to support the new parliamentary forum, while emphasizing balancing innovation with safeguards.
Uganda is steering through rapid digitalization, and the partnership that ISOC and Parliament have formed suggests a change towards a cooperative approach in the establishment of policies. For those advocating the bridging of gaps in the technical experts’ and legislators’ lines of communication is still the major strategy in their bid to create an inclusive digital ecosystem, i.e., a place where schools, users, and innovators do more than just follow the rules.
The forum was not only a place for people to gather and talk, but also where ISOC invited organizations and individuals to join their membership-driven initiatives.
