UCC urges parents to monitor children’s mobile phone use

4 July 2026, 8:49 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has called on parents and guardians to take a more active role in supervising their children’s use of mobile phones and the internet, warning that unsupervised access exposes children to numerous online risks.

Speaking recently in Kampala, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo advised parents not to allow children to sleep with their mobile phones, particularly because many young people access the internet late at night without adult supervision.

According to a UCC survey, many children begin using the internet at around the age of 14, with most accessing online platforms from their bedrooms where parental guidance is limited. The commission says this exposes children to harmful online content, cyberbullying, online harassment and other digital threats.

Professional teacher and parent Aisha Nakanjako welcomed efforts to expand access to digital technology but urged parents to balance that access with proper guidance.

“I encourage fellow parents and guardians to monitor what their children download and access on their smartphones. Children should not be allowed to sleep with their phones because many inappropriate activities take place at night. Parents should set clear boundaries and guide their children instead of remaining silent in the name of giving them freedom,” she said.

Uganda’s 2024 National Population and Housing Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) shows that the country has a population of about 45.9 million people, nearly half of whom are below the age of 18.

The telecommunications sector has also experienced rapid growth, with about 38 million active mobile subscriptions and an estimated 18.2 million smartphone users in the country. Globally, about 5.9 billion people—roughly 72 percent of the world’s population—own mobile phones.

Although Uganda’s Ministry of Education restricts the use of mobile phones in schools without an approved regulatory framework, studies indicate that many learners still access phones at home or secretly in school dormitories. Research further suggests that most students use their phones mainly for social networking and messaging rather than educational purposes.

Education experts say this highlights the need for parents, guardians and school administrators to establish clear rules on responsible digital behaviour. They argue that proper supervision and digital literacy are essential to help children benefit from technology while protecting them from its potential dangers.