Kabale University Representatives Participate in Cybersecurity Summit for Africa at UCC, Hosted by International Telecommunication Union

Concerns about escalating cyber threats in Africa are growing and a team from Kabale University, including staff and a student are actively participating in the Cybersecurity Summit for Africa.

The summit, held at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) from 20^th to 23rd November 2023 is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and aims to address critical cybersecurity challenges prevalent across the continent.

According to International Telecommunication Union, this summit is dedicated to addressing security, critical infrastructure, and cyber resilience with particular attention to developing countries.

Representatives from Kabale University have joined experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from various African countries and Universities in the gathering, which seeks to foster collaboration and devise robust strategies to combat cyber threats plaguing the region.

Prof. Phelix Businge, the Dean Faculty of Computing and Information Science at Kabale University, says this summit has provided him with a platform to interact with cyber security experts and various stakeholders from the African region.

“The Cybersecurity Summit has improved our preparedness, strength, and collaboration in protecting essential infrastructure and addressing new challenges in the cybersecurity domain” added Prof. Phelix Businge

Prof. Phelix Businge continues to say that the summit will improve on his skills in delivering information security-related courses and awareness about cyber threats.

He foresees collaboration and partnerships between Kabale University and the Uganda Communications Commission, the International Telecommunication Union, and cybersecurity experts in the future.

The summit was Officiated by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance and it encompasses a wide array of topics, including Strengthening security in the digital economy, Security learning lab on Digital financial services, CyberDrill, cybersecurity framework, and emerging threats.

“It’s a valuable experience for us to be a part of this summit.  The knowledge gained here will be instrumental in my academic and professional endeavors,” remarked Denis Kassozi, an Information Technology student at Kabale University who is also attending the summit.

According to Eng. Irene Kaggwa the Executive Director Uganda Communications Commission, the Regional Cybersecurity Summit for Africa aims to foster dialogue about cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, & cyber resilience, in line with international standards & obligations.

The engagement of Kabale University representatives at the Cybersecurity Summit for Africa underscores the institution’s commitment to staying ahead of current trends and actively contributing to the discourse surrounding cybersecurity. Activities like these are key in equipping both staff and students with the requisite skills and knowledge to combat cyber threats and safeguard digital infrastructure in the region.

The summit was attended by representatives from telecommunications regulators, national cybersecurity agencies, ministries, service and solution providers and vendors, academia, R&D institutions and other organizations working on matters related to security.