Why every Ugandan parish needs 'Digital Askari'

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OPINION

By Marvin Blessed Kashaija

As Uganda aggressively pivots toward a digital-first economy, the frontline of our national security has shifted. It is no longer just about the physical boundaries of our sub-counties; it is about the “digital borders” of our mobile phones. With the Parish Development Model (PDM) moving billions of shillings through digital systems, the Ugandan parish is now the target of high-tech thieves.

We are witnessing a new type of “night dancer”— the cyber-criminal who steals without ever entering your compound. It is time for a strategic shift: Every Ugandan parish now needs a dedicated “digital askari”— a parish cyber defence representative.

The “digital watchman” of the parish

The logic is simple: when we build a new market or a school, we hire a watchman. As we build our digital economy through PDM and e-government services, why are we leaving the “digital gate” wide open?

A parish cyber defence representative is not just a computer technician; they are the village’s first line of defence against the “mufere” (scammers) currently threatening our rural economy:

Protecting PDM funds

These digital askaris would ensure that savings and credit co-operative society leaders and farmers are not tricked into giving away their PINs or passwords to fraudsters pretending to be from the ministry.

The “digital VHT”: Just as village health teams (VHTs) check on the physical health of our families, these representatives check the “health” of the devices used to access government money, ensuring they are not infected with viruses that steal data.

A Local Voice: Many of our elders in the villages are afraid of technology because they do not understand it. A local representative provides a trusted face who can say: “Don’t click that link; it’s a trap.”

Building the “cyber defence army”

This is not a call for more expensive government offices. This is a call for specialised youth leaders. By training “digital askaris” at the parish level, we empower our tech-savvy youth to protect their own communities.

We must move beyond just “giving out tablets” and start “providing security”. We cannot wait for a massive theft of PDM funds to realise that our digital walls are too thin. The digital askari is a necessity for the farmer in Kanungu, the trader in Gulu and the fisherman in Kalangala.

Let us secure the parish gate, and by doing so, we secure the nation.

The writer is a cybersecurity and forensic expert and the director of the Cybersecurity and Forensic Association of Uganda.