By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Uganda’s Personal Data
Protection Office (PDPO) has engaged Information Technology Officers from
government ministries, departments, agencies and referral hospitals on
strengthening data protection and privacy within public sector digital systems.
The engagement was organised
by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance at the National ICT Innovation Hub
as part of efforts to build the capacity of government ICT personnel
responsible for developing and managing systems used to deliver public services.
The session focused on key
data protection and privacy considerations that government institutions need to
incorporate into their digital systems and operational processes.
Among the areas addressed
were the development of data protection and privacy policies, management of
personal data throughout its lifecycle, privacy notices and the rights of data
subjects.
Participants also examined
data-sharing practices, information security and risk management, data
retention and disposal, as well as procedures for managing personal data
breaches.
The PDPO said strengthening
the capacity of ICT Officers is essential to ensuring that data protection
principles are embedded in government systems from design and implementation
through to the management and disposal of personal information.
The initiative forms part of
broader efforts to strengthen privacy safeguards across Uganda’s public sector
as government institutions increasingly rely on digital platforms to deliver
services to citizens.
