By Francis Lubega
16th June 2023
A section of legislators has called for a review and enactment of tougher laws to protect children on the Internet against cybercrimes in Uganda.
The lawmakers made the call while addressing journalists at Parliament ahead of the commemoration of African Child under the theme; “The rights of the child in the digital environment; on 16th June annually.
The MPs argued that the digital environment has become complex and subject to rapid evolution with the potential of exposing children to a spectrum of risks of online exploitation and abuse in various ways including child pornography, online grooming, cyber stalking, cyber bullying, and exposure to harmful and inappropriate content.
Namayingo District woman MP Margaret Makokha who also doubles as Chairperson of Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children expressed alarm over the excessive unsafe and extreme content that is easily accessible to children of all ages.
She says the Internet increases children’s vulnerability to risks and harms including misuse of their private information, access to harmful content, and cyber bullying with less supervision.
Kyegegwa District Woman MP Flavia Kabahenda called for investment in research and gathering of data, noting that there is no concrete data on the number of children in Uganda, no data on school enrollment and dropout rates, yet such information is critical for policy formulation and planning.
Meanwhile, Obongi District Woman MP Zumurah Maneno commended districts of Tororo and Soroti for leading the protection of street children by establishing facilities in their areas and called on the other districts in Uganda to emulate the same so as to ensure the street children enjoy their inherent and constitutional rights to education, health care and housing among others.
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