news 5 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kampala Court Fines Three Mobile Money Agents for Data Breach
A Kampala court has fined three Easy Pesa agents Shs120,000 each or three months in jail for unlawfully obtaining and sharing a client's personal data from his national ID. The case underscores ongoing data protection challenges in Uganda's digital sector. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-fines-mobile-money-agents-over-data-breach-5447526
A Kampala court convicted three mobile money agents on charges of unlawfully accessing and disclosing personal data. Peter Mawande (25), Lydia Kanyesigye (34), and Hussein Sadam (20), who operate for Easy Pesa, faced the ruling from Makindye Chief Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza.
The agents, based in Kitintale, Bugolobi, and Nansana, admitted to the offense in July 2025 involving Max Ntambazi’s national identity card details without authorization. They entered a plea bargain, pleading guilty under Section 35 of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, and Regulation 34, plus failing to register with the Personal Data Protection Office per Section 29(3).
Each was fined Shs120,000, with a three-month prison term as an alternative. The magistrate confirmed the conviction based on their guilty plea, which led to a lighter sentence.
This incident highlights persistent data protection issues amid Uganda’s digital growth, including weak enforcement and low awareness. A Unwanted Witness survey from 2023 showed Uganda trailing regional peers, with Kenya at 47.3% compliance and Zimbabwe at 23.1%. Digital lending scored 44.9%, while e-government was lowest at 11.1%.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)