The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, has called for increased investment in cybersecurity to protect Uganda’s financial system, strengthen national security and boost investor confidence.
Minister Musasizi said safeguarding sensitive financial information is critical to maintaining the integrity of the country’s financial system and sustaining international confidence in Uganda’s efforts to combat money laundering and other financial crimes.
He made the remarks on Thursday during the official handover of the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification to the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and the launch of the Authority’s Client Charter at its offices in Kampala.
The minister commended the FIA for attaining the internationally recognised information security certification, describing it as a significant milestone in protecting sensitive financial intelligence and strengthening the country’s security systems.
He also applauded the FIA Board, management and staff, the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), the World Bank and other stakeholders for their contribution towards achieving the certification.
Musasizi emphasised that maintaining Uganda’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List requires sustained investment in cybersecurity, stronger coordination among government agencies and strict compliance with international standards.
He said these measures are particularly important as Uganda prepares for its 2028 mutual evaluation, which will assess the country’s systems for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crimes.
Musasizi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the FIA and urged public institutions and private sector players to treat information security as a strategic priority rather than merely a technical requirement.
The FIA Board Chairperson, Alinaffe Kalule, said information security is essential to protecting sensitive intelligence, preserving institutional credibility and safeguarding the integrity of Uganda’s financial system.
She underscored the importance of maintaining strong security measures to ensure that the Authority continues to discharge its mandate effectively and retain the confidence of its stakeholders.
The FIA Executive Director, Samuel Were Wandera, said attaining the certification demonstrates the Authority’s compliance with internationally recognised information security standards but does not mark the end of its efforts.
He noted that the certification requires continuous improvement, vigilance and investment in stronger systems to respond to emerging cyber threats, including those associated with artificial intelligence.
Wandera said the Authority must remain adaptive as technology evolves and cybercriminals develop increasingly sophisticated methods of targeting sensitive information.
The launch of the FIA Client Charter also reinforces the Authority’s commitment to transparency, accountability, responsive service delivery and meaningful engagement with its stakeholders.
The charter is intended to strengthen the relationship between the Authority and its clients by setting out its service commitments and promoting accountability in the execution of its mandate.
