Human rights defenders and journalists in Karamoja have been trained in digital literacy and safety, with 30 participants urged to strengthen their digital security and keep pace with emerging technologies.
The training, held on September 16, 2026, at Discovery Hotel in Kotido, brought together 30 participants comprising human rights defenders, journalists and content creators from across the sub-region.
Organised by the Imagined Spaces Initiative, the training focused on digital rights, cybersecurity, safer communication and the use of digital platforms for reporting, information sharing and community engagement.
As part of the initiative, feature phones were distributed to selected participants to enable access to the MOBIMOCC platform for continued digital learning, information access, dissemination and referrals. The platform also enables participants to share vital information within their communities.
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Digital security trainer Lindsey Kukunda said human rights defenders and journalists should treat the protection of digital information as part of their everyday professional responsibilities, particularly because their phones and computers often contain confidential source information, unpublished stories, photographs, recordings and documents.
Kukunda explained encryption as a way of protecting information from unauthorised access, while warning participants about phishing messages and suspicious links that can be used to obtain passwords and other sensitive information.
Participants were encouraged to use antivirus protection, secure their accounts and devices, carefully examine links before opening them and pay attention to the security of websites they visit.
Kukunda explained that HTTPS provides an encrypted connection between a browser and a website, while HTTP does not provide the same encryption and can expose information exchanged with the site to interception. She, however, cautioned that HTTPS alone does not guarantee that a website is legitimate or trustworthy, urging participants to check website addresses and other security indicators before sharing sensitive information.
For journalists, such precautions are important not only for protecting personal information but also for safeguarding confidential sources and unpublished reporting.
The training also addressed digital wellbeing, with participants encouraged to reduce unnecessary notifications, take periodic breaks from digital devices and develop a more intentional approach to technology use.
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Apeso Damali Emenyu of Eko FM said the training had changed how she views suspicious links and information shared through her phone.
"Before this training, I did not pay much attention to suspicious links and the information I share through my phone. I now understand that protecting my sources also means protecting my digital devices. As journalists, we handle information that can be sensitive, so digital security should be part of our everyday work."
Apailem Aka Kcee of ETOIL FM said the digital wellbeing session highlighted the effect of constant notifications on journalists' concentration.
"The session on digital wellbeing made me realise how much notifications can distract us from our work. We need to be more intentional about how we use our phones, especially when we are working or communicating with sources."
The practical nature of the training was demonstrated when participants encrypted their phones after learning how encryption can protect information from unauthorised access.
Ivan Pinno, Team Leader at the Imagined Spaces Initiative, urged human rights defenders to stay updated on emerging technology trends so they can participate safely and meaningfully in digital spaces.
Pinno said keeping rural defenders equipped with relevant digital skills is important as technology increasingly shapes communication, access to information, reporting and civic participation.
