Milima Cyber Academy, European Cybersecurity Initiative, Launch Training to Fortify Uganda’s Digital Future

Milima Cyber Academy (MCA) in partnership with the European Cyber Security Initiative (ECSI) and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) have launched an Executive Cybersecurity Management Training program. 

The initiative aims to equip over 60 senior leaders from more than 30 Ugandan institutions with the strategic insight and practical tools needed to defend against evolving cyber threats.

Target participants include top executives from government ministries, banks, telecoms, energy agencies, and other critical sectors.

Emmanuel Chagara, CEO of Milima Cyber Academy, emphasized the urgency of executive preparedness.

“Uganda’s critical information infrastructure remains vulnerable. Despite progress in policy and awareness, many institutions still lack well-coordinated cybersecurity controls,” he said.

Adding  “This exposes national systems to serious operational, financial, and reputational risks.”

Markus Münzer, Project Lead at ECSI, emphasized the gap in Uganda’s cybersecurity landscape.

“Uganda, like many countries globally, is experiencing a surge in cyber threats especially in finance, healthcare, energy, and government services,,” Münzer stated.

Drawing parallels to Europe’s own journey, Münzer underlined the role of leadership in driving lasting impact.

“Europe still grapples with these same threats. But through executive leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained investment in cyber capacity-building, we’ve made meaningful progress. Uganda now stands at a similar turning point.”

According to the Uganda Police Force, cybercrime led to losses of UGX 19.2 billion in 2022, skyrocketing to UGX 72 billion by 2024—a staggering four-fold increase.

Training

Scheduled for August 2025 at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, the training will go beyond the classroom. Through ECSI’s STRATEX platform, participants will engage in high-impact, real-world cyberattack simulations, building decision-making skills, crisis management readiness, and inter-agency collaboration.

This initiative, made possible with support from ESTDEV, is designed to empower senior leaders to champion cybersecurity through strategic oversight, informed investment, and culture transformation.