EAC: Uganda to host 11th East Africa internet governance forum

ARUSHA, Tanzania | Xinhua | Uganda will host the 11th East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) to address crucial issues that enhance internet development and governance in the region, the East African Community (EAC) said in a statement on Monday.

The statement issued by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha said the EAC, in partnership with Uganda’s chapter of the Internet Society, will host the forum “Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future for East Africa” in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Sept. 11-12.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth called on the region’s information and communication technology industry players and other stakeholders to use the forum to shape the digital integration agenda for the region.

“In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, effective internet governance is crucial for fostering innovation, ensuring security, and promoting inclusivity,” said Malueth.

The statement said that since its inception in 2008, the EAIGF has been a pivotal platform for dialogue on Internet governance issues in East Africa.

According to the statement, the forum will foster a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together representatives from government, media, private sector, civil society, and academia to shape the future of the Internet in the region.

The EAIGF is part of the global UN Internet Governance Forum that provides an environment to continue dialogue on public policy issues around with the goal of ensuring the sustainability, robustness, security, stability, and development of the Internet. ■