UCC Boss Meets CDF Gen. Muhoozi to Strengthen Security of Uganda’s Communications Infrastructure

The Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Mr. Nyombi Thembo, on Monday led a delegation of senior technical staff to the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe for a high-level meeting with the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. 

The engagement was centered on exploring ways of enhancing security measures for Uganda’s communications infrastructure, a sector that remains critical to national stability, economic growth, and citizen welfare.

Mr. Nyombi, who also serves as the chief regulator of Uganda’s communications ecosystem, briefed the CDF—who doubles as the Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations—on UCC’s current initiatives, including steps taken to safeguard networks, data systems, and broadcasting platforms. He emphasized that collaboration with the security sector was indispensable in light of emerging threats such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and disruptions to critical communications facilities.

“Our responsibility as a commission extends beyond regulation. It includes ensuring that Ugandans have a safe, reliable, and resilient communications environment. This requires working hand in hand with the defence forces and other security agencies,” Mr. Nyombi noted.

The UCC team included experts drawn from its core departments of telecommunications, data communications, broadcasting, and infrastructure security, underscoring the broad scope of issues on the table. The technical specialists highlighted both ongoing and planned projects aimed at boosting national resilience, from strengthening broadband networks to fortifying broadcasting and postal systems.

Gen. Muhoozi welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the army’s commitment to supporting UCC in protecting Uganda’s communications backbone. “Communication is a lifeline for both national security and economic development. We must ensure it is safeguarded against all forms of threat, whether physical or cyber,” the CDF remarked.

The meeting also explored potential avenues for cooperation, particularly in information-sharing, capacity building, and the integration of security protocols into Uganda’s fast-growing communications landscape.

The Uganda Communications Commission serves as the integrated regulatory body for communications in the country, overseeing telecommunications, broadcasting, radio communications, postal services, data communications, and licensing of cinematography operations. Its mandate has become increasingly important as Uganda continues to expand its digital economy, placing communications infrastructure at the center of national development.

Monday’s meeting marked a significant step towards cementing a collaborative framework between the regulator and the defence establishment, ensuring that Uganda’s communications sector remains secure, efficient, and future-ready.