UCC injects Shs182m into AI, cybersecurity research projects

Kampala — The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has awarded research grants worth Shs182.6 million to nine innovation projects selected from a highly competitive pool of 212 applications nationwide.

The projects, unveiled on Thursday under the UCC Research Support and Collaboration Framework 2022–2025, focus on practical technology-driven solutions in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, healthcare communication, smart energy systems, digital privacy, sign language innovation, and green waste recycling.

UCC said the initiative is aimed at strengthening Uganda’s digital economy by supporting local researchers to develop home-grown technologies capable of solving real societal and industrial challenges.

Speaking during the announcement, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said collaboration between academia and industry remains critical in helping Uganda navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

“Research should not remain a purely academic exercise,” Mr Thembo said. “It must translate into practical solutions that address the real challenges facing communities, businesses and the country’s digital transformation agenda.”

He noted that the overwhelming response — 212 applications from institutions across the country — reflected growing innovation capacity within Uganda’s universities and research centres.

“Out of these applications, only nine exceptional projects were selected to receive funding amounting to Shs182,630,228,” he said.

AI and cybersecurity dominate winning proposals

Among the selected projects is a cybersecurity initiative by Busitema University researcher Ignatius Balayo titled Privacy Preservation in Mobile Networks Using Machine Learning.

The project seeks to address growing concerns over user privacy in Uganda’s expanding digital ecosystem by developing a decentralized artificial intelligence framework that protects personal data from exposure to central servers.

Using technologies such as Federated Learning and Differential Privacy, the system allows AI tools to learn directly from devices without transferring sensitive user information externally.

The proposal aligns with Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act of 2019 and is expected to support the country’s transition towards secure 5G and future 6G communication systems.

Another notable project comes from Kampala International University researcher Okiria Jobbers, whose proposal focuses on AI-based real-time anomaly detection in large-scale data streams.

The technology is designed to identify suspicious financial and digital activities instantly by analysing patterns in transactions and network behaviour.

Researchers say the system can process up to one million transactions daily while detecting irregular activities such as simultaneous ATM withdrawals from different locations or unusual agent banking patterns.

UCC said the innovation could strengthen Uganda’s cybersecurity resilience, protect financial systems, and improve public trust in digital services.

Smart energy solutions

In the energy sector, researchers from Soroti University proposed the development of a credit-based electricity access system targeting households and small businesses struggling with irregular incomes and frequent disconnections.

The project by Kawuma Latiif and Balinda Roland Mujungu aims to create a flexible electricity payment model that allows consumers to access power based on affordable credit arrangements.

UCC officials said the initiative reflects the Commission’s broader strategy of supporting innovations with direct social and economic impact.

The funded projects are expected to move beyond research papers into practical industrial applications capable of creating jobs, improving digital safety, and accelerating Uganda’s transition into a knowledge-based economy.