Officials pose for a photo after the Monday meeting.
A cadre course for journalists is slowly taking shape.
In January, the CDF, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said he would convene a cadre course for journalists.
This is what he said then:
“I thank Hon. Balaam and Hon. Nyombi Thembo for their great work. I will meet with some of the media owners and MDs next week. The cadre course begins in June,” Muhoozi said on X.
It did not take long. UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said a similar statement:
“Journalists are key partners in national development,” Nyombi stated. “Taking them to Kyankwanzi for orientation will strengthen their understanding of our country’s priorities and promote responsible reporting that reflects patriotism.”
On Monday, the two principals met.
Monday meeting
The meeting at the SFC headquarters in Entebbe focused on UCC’s operational strategies to ensure a secure communications environment for all Ugandans. It also explored opportunities for deeper collaboration between the regulatory body and the country’s security apparatus.
Nyombi, accompanied by a team of UCC technical experts, briefed Gen. Kainerugaba—who also serves as Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations—on the Commission’s current initiatives and infrastructure protection priorities.
The UCC delegation included specialists from various departments, reflecting the wide scope of the discussion, which covered telecommunications, data communications, broadcasting, and critical infrastructure security.
Uganda’s telecom sector has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, with over 35 million mobile subscribers, 24 million internet users, and 38 million active mobile money accounts, according to UCC figures. However, this growth has been accompanied by rising threats to digital infrastructure.
In 2024, Uganda recorded more than 286,000 cybercrime incidents, with losses exceeding UGX 19 billion ($5 million). The majority of these were linked to online fraud, phishing, and mobile money scams.
Telecom vandalism has also spiked, with over 1,300 incidents reported last year, including fiber-optic cable cuts, tower destruction, and theft of power systems—resulting in significant service disruptions and repair costs.
“The Commission plays a central role in regulating Uganda’s communications sector—including postal communication, radio communication, telecommunications, and licensing of cinematography operations. Safeguarding this infrastructure is now a matter of national security,” Nyombi said.
Gen Kainerugaba reportedly welcomed UCC’s briefing and pledged the military’s support in efforts to deter infrastructure sabotage, improve coordination on enforcement, and respond to emerging digital threats.
The meeting comes as Uganda intensifies its digital transformation agenda and pushes for stronger public-private partnerships to ensure a safe, resilient, and inclusive communications ecosystem.
Although the issue of a cadre course is not out in the public, Gen. Kainerugaba and Nyombi share the same idea.
Analysts suggest that ahead of the 2026 general polls, the said cadre course could happen.
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