BUGOLOBI – Uganda will on Tuesday, February 5 join the rest of the World to celebrate the Safer Internet Day (SID).
Safer Internet Day 2019 will be celebrated globally with the slogan ‘Together for a safer internet. Here at home, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the communications sector regulator in partnership with SID will be launching efforts to make the internet, a safer place for everyone including children.
The celebration world over sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
UCC will host a panel of discussion at its Bugolobi-based home that will be moderated by; Josephine Karungi the acting head of news at NTV Uganda.
According to the statement from UCC, the discussion will focus on respect, responsibility, reasoning, and resilience while drawing experiences and forging a call to action.
“We need to think through the balance between online risks and online opportunity or benefits. Otherwise, we risk restricting our children’s chances in the name of reducing online risk. Is there a tradeoff?, this a statement on UCC’s social media about the day.
While engaging social media users on the matter, the new head of public and international relations, Mr. Ibrahim Bbossa said that “This commemoration is merely reopening the discussion on online safety and drawing attention to the responsibility of all stakeholders, including government especially regulators, operators, parents, guardians, teachers, minders and children.”
UCC says that as the internet is becoming a fast trusted, reliable source of information, especially through social networking sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp, young people now have access to an almost endless supply of information and opportunity for interaction but, they face challenges in identifying, understanding and coping with dangers when accessing such platforms.
Uganda is among the 10 leading internet markets in Africa with about 18 million internet users, according to UCC statistics.
UCC has so far established ICT laboratories in over 1,000 government-aided secondary schools countrywide and with 600 schools connected to the internet.
About Safer Internet Day
The aim of Safer Internet Day is to inspire a national conversation about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively.
The celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
It is organised every February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile devices, especially among children and young people.
