The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has launched the fourth Cyber Stars Competition, bringing together more than 180 university students from 25 universities to develop practical skills in identifying and tackling cyber threats.
The competition, launched Tuesday through the Uganda Computer Emergency Response Team (UgCERT) at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Nakawa, Kampala, will run until November 6, 2026.
UCC said the initiative is designed to equip students with hands-on cybersecurity skills in areas including ethical hacking, network security and digital forensics as Uganda seeks to strengthen its capacity to protect digital systems.
Sixty finalists are expected to compete in scenario-based challenges during the national finale, with 22 participants set to emerge as Cyber Stars 2026.
The competition comes as cybersecurity risks feature prominently in Uganda’s expanding digital economy, with the growth of online services raising concerns about the security of networks, personal data and digital infrastructure.
On Tuesday, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo also announced a seven-day ultimatum for unlicensed public Wi-Fi operators to stop providing services and remove unauthorised equipment before a nationwide enforcement campaign.
Thembo said more than 4,000 unlicensed operators were reselling commercial and residential broadband services without the required authorisation.
He said the practice undermined licensed internet providers and cost the government an estimated Shs148 billion in annual tax revenue.
“Beyond the financial impact, these unauthorised networks pose serious cybersecurity, data privacy, and consumer protection risks to everyday users, while mounting unapproved equipment on public utility poles creates physical safety hazards,” Thembo said.
He added that the commission was giving operators seven days to halt their services and remove illegal equipment before enforcement begins.
The planned operation will involve identifying and dismantling unauthorised installations and seizing routers and related equipment, UCC said.
The commission cited the Uganda Communications Act, 2013, which requires anyone providing telecommunications services to the public to obtain a licence from UCC.
The announcement followed consultations with MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, the Uganda Revenue Authority and members of the Wi-Fi Hotspot Association.
UCC said it would hold guidance sessions from Friday, October 16, to help operators interested in regularising their businesses understand the applicable licensing requirements.
The commission urged consumers to use licensed internet service providers, although the enforcement measures could affect people who depend on low-cost Wi-Fi resellers.
The Cyber Stars Competition and the planned Wi-Fi enforcement exercise reflect two aspects of Uganda’s digital agenda: building local expertise to identify and counter cyber threats while strengthening oversight of the networks through which people access online services.