MUSEVENI | SIGNS | LAWS

KAMPALA - Sharing unwanted information through a computer will now earn you five-year imprisonment or a sh16m fine, as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed into law the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022.

The act will enhance the provisions on unauthorised access to data, and prohibit the sharing of data relating to children without authorisation from their parents or guardians.

The law further seeks to prohibit sending or sharing false, malicious and unsolicited information.

The Uganda Computer Misuse Act was enacted in 2011 to enhance safety and security in the increasingly digitised environment, including through the prevention of unlawful access, abuse or misuse of information systems including computers and securing the conduct of electronic transactions.

The Computer Misuse Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced by Kampala Central Member of Parliament, Muhammad Nsereko on July 19, 2022, and passed by Parliament on September 8, 2022.

Other Bills that were recently passed by the Parliament of Uganda and assented to by President Museveni are Kampala Capital City (Amendment) Act, 2022, the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022 and the Physical Planner’s Registration Act, 2022.

The KCCA Act ensures that the Minister has powers to determine the emoluments of the political leaders.

Meanwhile, the Physical Planner’s Registration Act penalises anyone who falsely pretends or masquerades as a physical planner. 

The law provides that such a person should earn two-year imprisonment.