Omusugu wins NFSU Uganda-India maiden Cyber Security Run in Jinja

Nathan Omusugu has won the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) India-Uganda cyber security maiden run after finishing a competitive 20km race in 50 minutes.

The member of Busoga Athletics Club, based in Namayingo District, scooped a cash prize of sh500,000 and a gold medal, followed by his clubmate Sulaiman Nkuutu, who got sh300,000 and a silver medal.

Nkuutu, who hails from Bugweri, raced for 59 minutes, 31 seconds and 80 microseconds, while Uganda People's Defence Force's Francis Bukose settled for third position after an hour, which earned him sh200,000 and a bronze.

The trio were among the hundreds of runners who were jointly flagged off by the Jinja Cantonment Commander, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kanyesigye, and Prof. Arun Sharma, the Deputy Director of NFSU, at the facility over the weekend.

The participants paralysed the early morning traffic flow as they penetrated through the police roundabout into Jinja town before winding up at the university.

Others participated in a 10km run, which attracted participants from the Uganda Police Force, UPDF, students from Kampala University, YMCA Jinja branch and Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology.

The rest were corporates from the National Information Technology Authority–Uganda, Bank of Baroda and Diamond Trust, including Fitness Park Gym based in Namasuba and Uzima Water, who were the main sponsors.

Whereas the soldiers' key mandate is to keep borders secure, Kanyesigye, who was the chief runner, said the territory of information, communication and technology (ICT) needed to be guarded by having a secure cyberspace.

He noted how the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) had increased digital criminality, hence the need to create more awareness through the initiative, which was a two-in-one event as people were able to exercise their bodies and remain physically fit.

"The territory of ICT is like soldiers on borders; cyberspace has to be guarded. We must protect people in the digital world," he urged.

Kanyesigye noted how they needed a wealthy and healthy nation by having people exercise to avoid non-communicable diseases caused by lifestyles.

Arnold Rujumba, the IT officer at NFSU, observed how cyber security awareness was a preserve for corporate offices and elites, a trend they shifted to the grassroots, who didn't have ideas.

He noted how some people store their credentials and documents on the cloud, and as experts, they needed to impart knowledge among users on how to safeguard themselves to avoid others taking advantage of their ignorance.

"Many people complain how telecommunication firms don't protect their data, but you find someone has not changed their PIN number for five years. These are simple things; they should change to stronger passwords and mind what they share," Rujumba said.

Johnson Tumusiime, the Acting Director of Information Security Services with NITA, commended NFSU for this first-ever cyber run in Uganda and East Africa, which had supplemented their mandate.

Tumusiime cautioned the public to tread carefully with their identification numbers, as wrongdoers were using their details to secure loans.

"Cyber security is a big concern; hackers target without discrimination. They have attempted NITA several times without succeeding," he noted.

Meanwhile, Sharma said most fraud cases were connected to financial institutions, especially online banking systems, including mobile money and impersonation, costing Uganda $20m to fraudsters annually.

However, the Deputy Head of Forensics at the Uganda Police Force, Eric Mugabi Ziraba, said most banks were among the victims but were not reporting for fear of ruining their reputations.

Therefore, he urged the public to report all digital cases because the directorate has the capacity to probe and get justice instead of dying in silence.

Elizabeth Nyakwera from Fitness Park Gym implored participants to value their lives by exercising for their wellbeing and also be on the alert while using technology.