The Governance and Security Programme (GSP) Working Group Meeting on Cyber- and Technology-Facilitated Crimes.

On the 27^th of March, 2026, UNAFRI participated in the Governance and Security Programme meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting focused on the increasing prevalence of cyber and technology-enabled crimes. The session aimed to review practical case studies, improve participants’ understanding of these offenses, and strengthen institutional frameworks for response, collaboration, and coordination among key justice and regulatory stakeholders. The discussion emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the complex nature of cybercrime, involving law enforcement, the judiciary, and regulatory agencies.

Representatives from the Uganda Police delivered presentations outlining cybercrime trends in Uganda. The forensic department presented detailed statistics, including the number of reported cybercrimes, court cases, convictions, ongoing investigations, and unresolved cases. They highlighted financial losses, often amounting to billions of shillings, with only modest recoveries. The presenters discussed several challenges, such as rapidly evolving technology, limited law enforcement capacity, porous borders facilitating cross-border crimes, collusion among offenders, a lack of specialized forensic services, difficulties in retrieving and preserving digital evidence, and verifying the authenticity of evidence sources.

Additional hurdles included case backlogs, software limitations, poor inter-agency coordination, unreliable internet, and delays in forensic reporting. The importance of targeted training and capacity building for all stakeholders was emphasized. Recommendations included strengthening the national cybercrime task force, improving inter-agency cooperation, adopting best practices, and establishing dedicated cybercrime courts. The police also highlighted the significant threat of insider-assisted cyberattacks, noting that many incidents involve internal actors within organizations.

The judiciary echoed many of the challenges outlined by the police, with particular emphasis on the need for increased capacity building and better systems for collecting and presenting digital evidence in technology-enabled crimes. Difficulties in adapting traditional legal processes to new types of evidence were discussed, underscoring the importance of ongoing professional development and investment in digital forensic skills.

The Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution highlighted both achievements and ongoing challenges, particularly the lack of mutual legal assistance mechanisms and the cross-border nature of technology-enabled crimes. The shortage of technical expertise for prosecuting cyber offenses and resource limitations were identified as major obstacles to effective prosecution. The importance of international cooperation and the harmonization of legal frameworks was emphasized, along with increased investment in specialized training for prosecutors.

Stakeholders jointly proposed a series of reforms to address the identified gaps and enhance the justice system’s effectiveness in responding to cybercrime.

One of the suggestions was to reintroduce the Sexual Offences Bill in Parliament, to update punishments for new types of sexual violence and standardize sentencing guidelines. This reform aims to keep legal provisions relevant and effective as criminal behaviours change.

The amendment to the Computer Misuse Act was also recommended to better reflect technological advancements and introduce new penalties. Raising the currency points for fines was suggested to ensure penalties serve as an effective deterrent.

Simplifying extradition procedures was proposed to enable the quick transfer of suspects in cross-border cybercrime cases, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation.

Increasing resources for the police, prosecutorial agencies, and the judiciary was identified as a priority to enhance investigative and prosecutorial capabilities, facilitate the use of advanced forensic technologies, and support ongoing training programs.

Addressing regional security challenges was highlighted as essential for creating a supportive environment to combat cybercrime and ensure community safety and stability.

Proposed changes to the Electronic Transactions Act aim to keep legal systems flexible for developing and rapidly changing technologies, thereby supporting the prosecution of new cyber-enabled crimes.

Finally, stakeholders called for improved public awareness campaigns on cybercrime to help reduce the stigma around reporting these offenses. It was stressed that greater public understanding would encourage victims to come forward and support efforts to prevent and combat cybercrime.