Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) has hit a historic milestone, becoming the first financial intelligence unit in Africa to achieve the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 international certification for information security.
The global standard recognizes the bulletproof integrity of the FIA’s Information Security Management System. At the same landmark ceremony, the authority also launched its new Client Service Charter, setting strict new benchmarks for how it interacts with banks, government bodies, and the public.
Financed under the $160 million World Bank-supported Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, the international certification validates the FIA’s ability to protect and manage highly sensitive financial data.
Alongside the certification, the FIA launched a new client service charter to streamline compliance and boost accountability for banks, government agencies, and the public. Here is a polished, punchy version of the article:
State Minister for Finance Henry Musasizi, who presided over the handover ceremony, said the achievement cements international trust in Uganda’s financial systems—a critical factor following the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2024.
“I have confidence in what you are doing,” Musasizi told the FIA leadership, challenging them to transition from leading Africa to competing on the global stage.
The FIA processes massive volumes of sensitive data, analyzing suspicious transactions and cash deposits of 20 million shillings and above to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
FIA Executive Director Samuel Were Wandera emphasized that the certification—achieved after a rigorous one-year independent audit—proves the watchdog’s data vaults are secure.
“We are trusted with very vital, private information,” Wandera said. “Acquiring this certificate demonstrates that we have put in place strong mechanisms… to protect and share information only with authorized persons.”
The certification was funded under the US$160 million Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, backed by the World Bank and implemented by the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U).
According to Johnson Tumusiime, NITA-U’s Acting Director of Information Security Services, the FIA is the second of 10 targeted public entities to fully qualify for the certification, following the PPDA. The FIA was fast-tracked due to its institutional maturity and team competence.
FIA Board Chairman Alinaffe Kalule described information as “the oxygen of our operations.” He noted that the authority will continuously upgrade its defenses to counter emerging cyber threats, including those driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Kalule added that the new Client Service Charter will tighten intelligence-sharing networks with key partners like the Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Uganda Police Force.
Both the Ministry of Finance and the FIA are already locking targets on Uganda’s next FATF mutual evaluation in 2028. To stay ahead of global crime trends, Wandera revealed that Uganda is currently updating its laws, including drafting a new bill to regulate virtual assets and cryptocurrency.
Minister Musasizi pledged unwavering financial backing for the watchdog, concluding: “The Financial Intelligence Authority is very, very, very central in protecting the integrity of the financial system.”
