Uganda’s digital transformation must prioritise human rights, experts warn

Civil society stakeholders have called for stronger human rights safeguards in Uganda’s digital transformation journey, warning of potential exclusion and privacy risks.

Speaking at a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Kampala organised by Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), Elizabeth Atori, Program Manager at ISER, stressed the need for inclusivity in Uganda’s digital ID system and other government technologies.

“Uganda has a digital ID system and a UG Hub platform where government agencies access digital data to provide services. But as we adopt these technologies, we must ensure they are human rights-centered, inclusive, and accessible to all, including persons with disabilities, older persons, and those from resource-poor communities,” Atori said.

She noted that while 60% of Ugandans are enrolled in the digital ID system, 40% or about a third of the population remain excluded. This gap, she warned, could hinder the country’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize universal access to legal identity by 2030.

The dialogue, convened by ISER in partnership with the Safeguards Initiative and under the stewardship of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together government agencies, civil society, and private sector players to discuss ways of embedding human rights protections in Uganda’s digital policies.

Atori emphasized that without robust safeguards, digital transformation efforts could lead to privacy violations and security risks.

She called on all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and private actors, to collaborate in ensuring data protection and cybersecurity measures are prioritized.

The discussions come amid growing concerns over the impact of digital exclusion on marginalized communities and calls for reforms to make Uganda’s digital systems more accessible and equitable.

However ,the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) reassured Ugandans of the security of their personal data, citing the country’s legal framework as sufficient to mitigate risks associated with digital identity management.

Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue in Kampala, NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo emphasized that Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act provides clear guidelines on how personal data should be collected, processed, stored, and safeguarded.

"Uganda has an adequate legal framework to deal with the risks associated with personal data. The Data Protection Act articulates how such data should be handled at all stages, and we are working closely with the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) to ensure compliance with these guidelines,” Kisembo said.

She also addressed concerns about individuals who face challenges registering for national IDs due to missing fingerprints.

Kisembo dismissed claims that such individuals are excluded from the system.

"I want to debunk the myth that when you don't have fingerprints, you cannot be registered. That is a lie from hell. We currently have 1.4 million people registered without fingerprints, and we use facial biometrics for identification," she stated.

To further strengthen biometric identification, Kisembo announced that NIRA is integrating iris recognition technology into Uganda’s digital ID system.

The dialogue, which brought together government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector players, focused on ensuring human rights safeguards in Uganda’s digital transformation journey.