On Thursday May 29th 2025, Women of Uganda Network(WOUGNET) convened 26 multistakeholders, including politicians, feminists and civil society organizations for an advocacy webinar to disseminate a policy brief titled “Enhancing Women and Girls Digital Rights and Inclusion in Uganda:Addressing the Impact of the Computer Misuse Act on Access, Use and Application of ICT on Women and Girls”
The webinar disseminated key findings, policy gaps, and recommendations from WOUGNET’s 2024 assessment titled “The Impact and Knowledge of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act 2022 on Women and Girls’ Rights, Access, Use and Application of ICTs.” The survey was to assess the knowledge of women and girls about the Computer Misuse Act and its impact on their digital access, use and application. With a focus on urban and rural women as respondents, the survey was carried out through online and physical interviews. From this survey, a policy brief was produced based on the findings to highlight key findings,challenges, policy gaps, and actionable recommendations for fostering a safer and more inclusive digital environment for women and girls in Uganda.
The study findings revealed that there is a lack of understanding of the Computer Misuse Act and its implications on their rights to access and use digital tools. Out of 46 respondents, 31.4% perceived the Act as a protective measure and 5.2% looked at it as a potential constraint on freedom of expression. The survey results also highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue and policy reform to address emerging digital challenges and ensure that laws like the Computer Misuse Act remain relevant and practical.
The Act offers safeguards against cybercrime and online harassment. However, there are concerns that it inhibits open online communication. The findings also reveal that there is demand for increased training and resources related to digital rights, online safety, and legal responsibilities to empower women and girls to use ICTs better and mitigate risks associated with online activities.
Policy gaps identified include insufficient protection against online gender-based violence (OGBV), limited digital literacy and legal awareness, social and cultural norms and limited access to digital resources restrict women’s economic opportunities in the digital sphere.There is limited knowledge of the Computer Misuse Act, no specific institutions where women and girls can learn about such Legal Acts.The content of the Act is provided in English, which limits women’s and girls’ understanding of the Act, especially less educated women. This calls for translating such Acts and disseminating them in the local language.
Reactions from the participants
Following the presentation of the policy brief, participants shared their thoughts and reactions, making statements that included;
One of the participants asked about the intersection of Jurisdiction of the Act. If someone is harassing a Ugandan from India, what happens? How is the Law, the Computer misuse act used to Judge the person in India?
A participant representing people with disabilities noted that when attending events in tech spaces, we speak to people who do not know the tech world, so, there is a need to consider the audience we speak to while disseminating such information. There is a need to break down the language. Additionally, some clauses are unclear, and these need to be supported with examples,for instance, providing examples of people who have been harassed online.
A participant from the government(Honourable) said when they pass policies, these policies are rarely reviewed, and at times there is no feedback on the policy given to the legislators (MPs) to know how it is impacting the citizens. “She recognized the work being done by WOUGNET.”
The honourable added and said she would love to see how the Computer Misuse Act is affecting their freedom of expression and participation in leadership.The law was hurriedly made and there is a need to put clauses that protect girls and young women as they access and use the internet, to change mindsets on access and use of Internet.
A representative from the media mentioned that the media community and the public do not know the law and how to use the computer. She wondered if it’s possible to access the computer when people do not know how to use it.
In villages people do not have access to smartphones, have limited access to radios, there is no electricity, and the radios do not disseminate information on policies.
One of the feminist emphasized that WOUGNET needs to find more ways of disseminating the computer misuse Act further, and find more dissemination channels of the policy brief. There is a need to sensitize the public and legislators on the impact of the computer misuse act on women and girls.
Recommendations
- The Ugandan government should review and amend the Computer Misuse Act to ensure it addresses online gender-based violence and protects women’s and girls’ online rights.
- This amendment should include clear definitions of online harassment, stalking, and violence, as well as stringent penalties for perpetrators. Additionally, law enforcement agencies should receive training on handling online gender-based.
- CSOs should also conduct awareness campaigns to address social and cultural norms restricting women’s and girls’ access to ICTs.
- Digital literacy programs should be implemented, targeting women and girls to equip them with essential digital skills, online safety knowledge, and economic empowerment.These programs should focus on building confidence, addressing social and cultural norms, and providing access to digital resources.
- Private sector companies should prioritise gender-sensitive design and development of digital services. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should advocate for policy reforms, implement digital literacy programs, and provide support services for women and girls experiencing online violence.
- Capacity-building programs should be established to train law enforcement agencies, women’s organisations, and other stakeholders on digital rights, online safety, and gender-sensitive ICT policies.
- Translation of the Computer Misuse Act into the local language will enhance women’s and girls’ understanding of it.
- Digital literacy programs, policy reforms, and online platforms should be regularly monitored and evaluated to assess effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
- Develop indicators to track digital inclusion and online safety for women and girls. These indicators should inform policy decisions, program development, and resource allocation.
In conclusion, Key takeaways include the importance of reviewing and amending the Act, implementing digital literacy programs, and promoting gender-sensitive design and development of digital services. Engaging with stakeholders is essential to adapting and improving digital policies that can help foster a safer and more inclusive online environment. By implementing these recommendations, Uganda can work towards creating a more inclusive and safe digital space for women and girls.
Compiled by:
Roseline Babirye- Program Assistant, Gender and Policy Advocacy
