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Call for Comments on the Draft Data Protection and Privacy Bill – 2014

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in conjunction with Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA) and National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (NITA-U) have developed a Draft Data Protection and Privacy Bill – 2014. The Bill aims at protecting the privacy of the individual and personal data. The Bill is hinged on principles of Data Protection which are:-
  • Use the data for the purpose that it was collected;
  • Ensure transparency and participation of the person whose data is being collected;
  • Keep the information accurate and up to date;
  • Keep the data safe and not disclosed to other people
  • Retain information only as long as required;
  • Provide access to the person whom the data refers, on request

The purpose of the Bill is to regulate the collection and processing of personal data. The Bill applies to any person, institution or public body which collects, processes, holds or uses personal data. It applies to both paper-based and electronic records. It provides for the rights of persons whose data is collected; sets out the obligations of persons who collect and process personal data; regulates its lawful use; provides for mechanisms for access and disclosure of personal data; and the requirement for security for the data to guard against breaches of individual privacy that may arise during the collecting, processing, transmission, storage and use of personal data.

As part of the process of developing this legislation, government is requesting for comments and feedback on this draft Bill. Please submit your comments to policy@ict.go.ug or legal@nita.go.ug by 12th December 2014. The Draft Bill can be accessed via: http://goo.gl/RXCPZX