FITSPA at the Inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference 2026: Strengthening Trust in Uganda’s Digital Financial Ecosystem

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as Uganda’s digital financial ecosystem continues to grow. Protecting customers, financial institutions and the systems that enable digital transactions is essential to maintaining trust and supporting responsible innovation.

At the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference 2026, FITSPA Director Kenneth Kwesiga represented the Association on a high-level panel titled “Preparing for a More Secure Digital Future by Protecting Digital Financial Services: Addressing Social Engineering, SIM Swap, and Account Takeover.”

Kenneth joined Diana Tukundane Agaba, CISO, Stanbic Bank Uganda; Dr. Abudu-Sallam Waiswa, Head of Litigation, Prosecution & Legal Advisory, UCC; and Japhet Aritho, Managing Director, Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited. The session was moderated by Joseph Kizito, Head of Consumer Affairs, UCC.

Balancing Security and Innovation

The discussion highlighted the need to strengthen cybersecurity without creating compliance requirements that become difficult for smaller and emerging fintechs to manage.

Kenneth noted that many fintechs operate with limited resources and may not be able to invest in expensive infrastructure. Shared USSD infrastructure, for example, provides an affordable way to reach customers but also presents security challenges that require practical solutions.

He emphasised that cybersecurity is not only about technology. People are equally critical. Staff training, access controls, data protection policies and responsible use of company and customer information are essential to reducing organisational risk.

Fintechs can also leverage existing, affordable technologies such as SIM-swap, device-swap, number-recycling and identity-verification APIs, rather than building every security capability from scratch.

Building a Trusted Digital Future

The panel reinforced the importance of collaboration between fintechs, banks, telecommunications companies, regulators and other stakeholders.

For Uganda’s digital financial sector to continue growing, cybersecurity must enable innovation rather than become a barrier to it. A risk-based and practical approach can help businesses strengthen security while keeping digital financial services accessible and inclusive.

FITSPA remains committed to supporting its members in strengthening their technology, people and risk-management capabilities and contributing to a secure, resilient and trusted digital financial ecosystem.