A gathering of select Uganda’s startup founders, policymakers, and regulators convened yesterday at the National ICT Innovation Hub, addressing the need for data protection and privacy in the nation’s aspirations for an active digital economy. The event, headlined by Emmanuel Mugabi, General Manager Advisory at Cente-Tech, as the keynote speaker, built upon critical survey findings conducted by Ngura Consult Limited, unveiled persistent challenges faced by founders in adhering to Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, while simultaneously affirming a compelling demand for accessible compliance tools. The insights generated from this dialogue are poised to reshape the discourse around digital trust and regulatory support for innovators.
The core of the discussion centered on a comprehensive survey revealing a striking paradox. An overwhelming 86% of startup founders surveyed understand the principles of data protection and privacy, acknowledging its impact on their startups’ trustworthiness; yet, only 32.6% have implemented compliance measures. This gap, Mugabi elaborated, is primarily driven by a dual constraint of limited financial resources and a lack of specialized knowledge, compounded by the complexity of legal regulations.
“The findings indicate that while Ugandan startups grasp the importance of safeguarding user data, the practical path to compliance remains elusive for many operating in a lean environment,” Mugabi articulated. “This scenario inadvertently amplifies privacy risk for both the startups and the consumers they serve.”
Flavia Opio, the team lead at the National ICT Innovation Hub, underscored the immediate relevance of these findings to the startup ecosystem.
“As the National ICT Innovation hub, we witness daily the entrepreneurial zeal that drives innovation. This survey provides evidence that without targeted support in privacy compliance, this very innovation is vulnerable to operational risks, undermining long-term viability and public confidence,” Opio stated. Further noting that the tangible impact on consumer behaviour, observing that an enduring preference for traditional transactions in Uganda is frequently fuelled by apprehensions regarding the security of digital transactions.
Speaking on behalf of the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), Gilbert Ssuttuuma emphasized the regulatory body’s commitment to fostering a secure digital environment. “The Data Protection and Privacy Act is not merely a legal framework; it is a shield for citizen rights and a foundation for economic growth,” he said. “The survey’s insights on challenges with compliance measures reinforce the need for collaborative approaches to ensure our startups can meet these critical obligations without undue burden.”
His remarks highlighted the regulator’s awareness of the implementation gap and a readiness to engage with interventions that streamline compliance.
A powerful consensus emerged from the discussions. An overwhelming 86% of founders expressed strong interest in a customized toolkit designed to simplify their compliance journey. This compelling demand signals a clear path forward for solutions that translate complex legal requirements into actionable, technically comprehensible guidance.
Michael Byamukama, Head TMT at Ngura Consults, mentioned that future interventions in the form of a toolkit will assist in directly addressing the knowledge and resource gaps identified, enabling founders to embed privacy-by-design principles from their product’s inception. This strategic intervention is poised to significantly minimize privacy risk and cultivate a privacy-first culture within startups.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to developing and deploying practical solutions that will improve Uganda’s position as a leader in secure and trustworthy digital innovation and also enable the realisation of the Digital Transformation Roadmap aspirations.
