NITA-U Kahigi headed for gobal cyber security role

The National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) director for eGovernment services, Peter Kahigi is taking on a new role at the Global Center for Cyber Security.

According to NITA-U, Kahigi will be based in the United Kingdom, where he will serve as an expert consultant to the global cybersecurity body.

The ICT regulator said Kahigi's appointment was partly based on his impressive performance in guiding the country through the implementation of the National Backbone Infrastructure project and Uganda's impressive performance in the global cybersecurity index.

In 2018, Uganda was ranked the most secure cyberspace in Africa, ahead of Nigeria and South Africa, which are normally considered ICT powers in Africa.

The Global Center for Cyber Security is a platform for governments, businesses, experts and law enforcement agencies all over the world to collaborate on cybersecurity-related challenges.

It was established in 2018 by the World Economic Forum, to purposely build a safe and secure global cyberspace.

NITA's publicist, Angela Ndagano said Kahigi's appointment to the global cybersecurity body is testimony to availability of good ICT talent in Uganda.

"We have built a formidable team at NITA-U with Kahigi's help, and we are truly grateful for his input. He has been deliberate in preparing a strong team to steer both the organisation and the whole country forward," she said.

According to Ndagano, Kahigi joined NITA-U in Agust 2010, as director for technical services, charged with the resuscitation of the National Backbone Infrastructure project, which had stalled at the time.

Following the successful operationalisation of the NBI project, he was appointed director of Information Security, and later in 2015, as director for eGovernment services.