UCC cautions creators on ethics as Stanbic bank rallies support for Uganda’s digital economy

December 13, 2025 in Companies by Editor

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has urged digital content creators to uphold professionalism and ethical conduct, even as Stanbic Bank pushes forward with major investments aimed at strengthening Uganda’s fast-growing creator economy. The message came during the inaugural Stanbic Ongea Digital Creators Summit held Thursday at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo commended Stanbic Bank for championing the creative sector but warned that creators will only benefit from government-backed opportunities if they avoid practices that undermine the industry’s credibility.

“You have UCC’s support through our Universal Access Fund. But you can only benefit if you are organized and creating meaningful content—not engaging in blackmail, fraud, or breaking the law,” Nyombi said. He encouraged creators to take advantage of the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), which finances communication services in underserved areas.

The summit, held under the theme Empowering Uganda’s Digital Creators: From Policy to Prosperity, brought together influencers, innovators, policymakers, and digital economy players to discuss the sector’s rapid evolution and emerging opportunities.

Stanbic Bank Uganda Chief Executive Mumba Kalifungwa said the Ongea initiative seeks to build an ecosystem where creators can thrive sustainably.

“You are not ‘just making videos.’ You are building audiences many organizations can only dream of. You are shaping conversations and redefining what work looks like,” he said. “Content creators are the future of Uganda’s creative and digital economy, and Stanbic is here to walk with you.”

While celebrating the growth of the creator community, participants raised ongoing concerns about high data costs, limited monetization channels, regulatory uncertainty, and online safety risks. These challenges, they said, continue to limit the earning potential of young digital entrepreneurs.

Stanbic’s leadership emphasised that its backing of the Ongea Summit aligns with its broader Positive Impact agenda, which promotes financial inclusion, digital literacy, and youth employment. Under the recently announced Women, Youth and Farmer (WYF) initiative, the bank plans to invest UGX 1 trillion over three years to support these priority groups.

As part of its commitment to advancing professional standards in the sector, the bank unveiled a new series of creator awards and pledged paid professional training for outstanding digital talent. Stanbic also confirmed the Ongea Summit will become an annual flagship event aimed at shaping policy dialogue and industry development.

Uganda’s growing youth population and rising digital penetration remain key drivers of the sector’s potential. John Ssenkeezi, President of the Uganda Digital Society, noted that the country now has 19 million smartphones in circulation, giving creators enormous untapped monetization opportunities.

He said creators already play a critical role in digital entrepreneurship and national visibility despite challenges related to intellectual property and internet affordability.

The summit concluded with a call for deeper collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, and creators to build a sustainable, ethical, and competitive digital content ecosystem capable of transforming Uganda’s broader digital economy.