NITA-U launches ‘Beera Ku Guard’ campaign to fight cybercrime and protect data

The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), in partnership with the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), launched Beera Ku Guard—a six-month awareness drive on Wednesday, September 3, designed to put cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy at the centre of daily life.

Unveiled at Kampala Serena Hotel, the campaign will use mass media, digital platforms, and community forums to reach at least 70% of Ugandans, equipping them to protect personal data and demand accountability from institutions handling sensitive information.

Why this campaign matters

Uganda’s rapid digitisation—from mobile money to online government services—has opened new opportunities but also new dangers. According to a recent survey cited by NITA-U, nearly half of Ugandans (48.8%) have heard of cybersecurity, but only 13.6% understand data protection and privacy. Even fewer take advanced steps such as using two-factor authentication or encryption.

“The same internet that connects us to jobs, services, and opportunities also exposes us to cyber risks that can cost us our freedom, money, and trust in technology,” said Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, NITA-U Executive Director, in remarks delivered by the Authority’s Director of Information Security, Mr. Arnold Mangeni.

“These risks are no longer distant. Cybercrime is here with us,” he warned, citing the Uganda Police Crime Report 2024, which shows crime steadily shifting from physical to digital spaces.

The campaign’s approach

Beera Ku Guard—loosely translated as “Stay on Guard”—is more than a slogan, officials stressed. It is a call for a cultural shift in how Ugandans treat digital responsibility.

The campaign will:

• Teach citizens their rights under the Data Protection and Privacy Act.
• Urge institutions to fulfil their legal obligations as data controllers and processors.
• Promote habits such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and safeguarding devices.
• Engage communities in local languages with relatable examples, from hospitals mishandling patient records to scams targeting mobile money users.

“Our people must see cybersecurity not as something technical or distant, but as a daily habit,” Dr. Mugasa said. “Every careless click, every leaked form, every unsecured device is a potential breach.”

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Paul Kakeeto from the PDPO drove the message home with a vivid example:

“What if you walk into a hospital, fill out a form, and within days you are bombarded with strange calls selling you products you never asked for? Your private information has left the hospital’s file and landed in the wrong hands. That is not just an inconvenience—it is a breach of trust and a violation of your privacy.”

He said the campaign would empower citizens—young and old, businesses and communities alike—to become their own “first line of defense” in the digital age.

Raising the stakes

The launch underscores the government’s recognition that cybersecurity is now a national security and economic survival issue. With more Ugandans transacting, studying, and working online, the gaps in awareness and institutional compliance have become glaring.

NITA-U officials pledged to continue strengthening digital infrastructure under projects such as the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, but emphasised that technology without responsibility was a national risk.

“This campaign is not just about posters and slogans. It is about building resilience. It is about ensuring that every Ugandan, from Kampala to the most remote village, can embrace the digital economy with confidence,” Dr. Mugasa said.

For the next six months, Ugandans will hear one phrase again and again: Beera Ku Guard. Behind it lies a message the government hopes will stick—that cybersecurity and data protection are not optional extras, but essential habits for every citizen, every institution, every day.