54.2% of Rukungiri Telecom Users Targeted by Fraud — UCC Survey

Rukungiri: According to findings from a Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) survey, a staggering 54.2% of telecom consumers in Rukungiri District have experienced fraud attempts, with 60% of these incidents occurring via phone calls.

The results were released on August 15, during the closing of a Regional Telecommunication Consumer Dialogue at Hotel Riverside in Rukungiri Municipality. The event brought together telecom companies, service providers, and community leaders to address consumer challenges and promote digital safety.

The Consumer Awareness Digital Safety Survey, conducted from August 13–14, 2025, gathered insights from 1,235 respondents across Nyamayenje, Nyakibare, Nyakatoma, Kikona, Masheku Ward, and other areas. Results show that 98% of respondents use communication services, yet 58.3% do not know how to verify if their phone is genuine, leaving many vulnerable to counterfeit devices.

The study also revealed a strong youth presence among participants, with 80% aged between 21–40 years, and gender representation of 66.6% male and 33.4% female.

UCC’s Customer Care Officer Kenneth Tweheyo and Western Regional Manager Jude Murindwa advised the public to avoid clicking suspicious links on social media and refrain from using public Wi-Fi when accessing sensitive information such as bank accounts.

Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Wilberforce Ahimbisibwe Ongom urged parents to closely monitor their children’s internet use to protect them from harmful online content, warning that unregulated access encourages the creation and sharing of inappropriate material among youth.

CUE IN….AHIMBISIBWE…RR

Rukungiri LC5 Chairperson Geoffrey Kyomukama emphasized technology’s role in advancing education and business but called for stronger UCC interventions to curb fraud and immorality in the telecommunications sector.

CUE IN….KYOMUKAMA…RR