Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo has called for greater parental responsibility in protecting children online, as the regulator concluded its 16th Communications Consumer Parliament in Fort Portal.
Thembo made the call during an engagement that brought together consumers, telecommunications industry stakeholders, UCC board members and local leaders to discuss challenges affecting communication services and the growing risks associated with children’s use of digital platforms.
“Children no longer ask for your cars, pancakes or sweets; all they ask for is data,” Thembo said, highlighting the growing importance of internet access in children’s lives and the need for parents to adapt to the changing digital environment.
He urged parents and teachers to take a more active role in guiding children’s online activities, warning that expanding digital access must be accompanied by collective responsibility for their safety.
As children increasingly enter the digital space at younger ages, Thembo emphasised that parents remain the first line of defence against online threats, while schools, service providers and regulators also have a role in promoting safer internet use.
The discussions also addressed concerns about communication service quality, infrastructure deployment and the operational realities of delivering information and communications technology services across the country.
Participants examined the need to balance network expansion with compliance with licensing requirements and tax obligations, as regulators and industry operators work to improve service delivery.
UCC said consumer feedback remains central to its regulatory work, noting that more than 26 million people rely on communication services daily. The commission said concerns raised during the engagement would inform its continued efforts to improve services and address consumer grievances.
The Consumer Parliament forms part of the regulator’s engagement with the public and industry stakeholders on issues affecting access to, and the quality of, communication services.
The event was coordinated by UCC’s consumer affairs team, led by Director Julian R. Mweheire.
Thembo called on stakeholders to sustain the discussions beyond Fort Portal and across Uganda, stressing the importance of continued cooperation in addressing consumer concerns and promoting responsible use of digital technology.
The engagement highlighted the challenge facing Uganda’s communications sector: ensuring that the expansion of connectivity is matched by reliable services, effective consumer protection and safeguards for children navigating an increasingly connected world.
