Cybersecurity Is Now a National Security Threat, Warns Bank of Uganda Governor

The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, sounded an urgent warning on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, cautioning that computer security threats have grown beyond simple technical problems.

Speaking at the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference hosted at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, the central bank chief declared that protecting digital systems is now a top national security priority.

He explained that as more people use mobile phones, internet banking, and electronic money transfers, the entire nation’s financial system becomes vulnerable to dangerous digital thieves and cybercriminals who can disrupt everyday life.

The high-level meeting brought together government leaders, financial regulators, police and security officials, telephone companies, commercial banks, tech innovators, and university researchers.

The main purpose of the gathering was to address how rapidly advancing technology can be made safe for ordinary citizens.

While modern digital tools have made sending money and doing business much faster across the country, they have also created new entry points for criminals seeking to steal money or freeze critical public services.

Explaining the risks facing the country’s financial system, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego stated that Uganda’s rapid digital transformation had created “significant opportunities for economic growth while exposing the economy to new and interconnected risks.”

He emphasized that when bank computers or telephone networks suffer major cyberattacks, ordinary citizens can lose access to their savings, businesses can be forced to stop operating, and international investors can lose trust in the country’s economy.

For a long time, many businesses and institutions treated computer safety as a minor chore left solely to technical staff and computer technicians working in back offices. However, the central bank governor argued that this outdated mindset must change immediately.

Highlighting the shift in how digital dangers affect the whole nation, he warned that cybersecurity has evolved from a technical concern into “a national economic security issue that could threaten financial stability, investor confidence and continuity of essential services.”

To protect the country from massive financial losses and network shutdowns, the Bank of Uganda chief urged leaders from both the government and private sector to invest heavily in strong digital shields, modern software protections, and regular employee safety training.

He pointed out that every institution handling public funds or sensitive community data must treat computer protection as a central pillar of its daily business operations. Urging all organizations to change their approach, he stressed that cybersecurity should be treated as “a foundation of a resilient digital economy rather than an issue left to information technology departments.”

The conference concluded with a collective call for stronger laws, better cooperation among law enforcement agencies, and continuous public education on how to spot digital scams. For the average person, the central bank’s message is simple: technology brings great convenience, but keeping digital money and government records safe requires total vigilance from everyone.

By building stronger digital defenses and treating cyber safety as a matter of national survival, the nation aims to protect its growing digital economy so that citizens can save, trade, and communicate securely without fear of online threats.