UCC debate series develops youth input on data privacy, ICT sector governance

KIBULI, Uganda — The Uganda Communications Commission’s acting executive director, Julian Mweheire, confirmed the commission’s resolve to enable youth to participate meaningfully and safely in the digital world, specifically by informing national policies.

Mweheire delivered the remarks at the UCC Debate Series Grand Finale, a five-day event held Dec. 2-6, 2025, at Greenhill Academy.

The UCC Debate Series serves as a national intellectual platform, engaging 17,800 students from 71 schools this year. The platform elevates youth voices on crucial topics, including data privacy, responsible digital conduct and the future of ICT sector governance.

Mweheire stressed that as Uganda undergoes rapid digital transformation, young people, being the most active digital users, face increasing online risks. The debate series was strategically designed to equip students with research skills, critical thinking and ethical digital citizenship, ensuring they move beyond being ICT consumers to become informed contributors to Uganda’s digital policy.

The grand finale brought together 245 top-performing students from 50 schools. These students qualified from four regional competitions held in July across Fort Portal, Lira, Jinja and Kampala.

Mweheire thanked partner institutions for fostering the next generation of thinkers, noting that the ideas generated during the event would directly inform national conversations on online child protection, data privacy, digital inclusion and ICT sector governance.

“It has become the equalizer,” Mweheire said, underscoring the program’s impact. “In this hall, students from various regions have stood toe-to-toe and won on the strength of research, logic and delivery.”

The competition, organized in partnership with Debate Afrika, used the World Schools debate format, demanding evidence-based argument and clear communication. The final rounds focused heavily on policy gaps and opportunities in the digital sector, with topics covering Child Online Protection, Cyberbullying, Responsible Digital Use and Data Protection.

The event closed with an awards ceremony recognizing excellence in research, presentation and teamwork, signaling the transition of young participants from passive users to active shapers of Uganda’s digital environment.