news 24 April 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Uganda's Children Face Rising Porn Exposure via Smartphones, Warns Pornography Control Committee
Ugandan authorities have raised alarms over children accessing pornography at younger ages through smartphones and social media, calling for nationwide action involving families, schools, and regulators. The Pornography Control Committee highlights grooming risks and long-term harms, urging beyond mere website blocks. Source: https://observer.ug/news/phones-privacy-and-risk-the-growing-threat-of-porn-in-uganda
Smartphones, once seen as handy tools for keeping Ugandan kids entertained and connected, now pose hidden dangers. Officials report a surge in minors stumbling upon explicit content accidentally via shared devices, social media, and messaging apps.
At a Kampala press conference, Dr. Annette Kezabu, chair of the Pornography Control Committee, described this as a ‘dangerous normalisation’ of child sexual exposure. She noted that young children encounter such material early and face grooming into sharing sexual images.
The committee stresses that website blocks—over 500 sites restricted by the Uganda Communications Commission—are insufficient. Deeper issues include emotional distress, distorted relationship views, premature sexual behavior, and vulnerability to predators.
Joel Wanjala from the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity linked this to broader youth problems like indiscipline, violence, and teenage pregnancies, quoting scripture to rally collective societal action for Uganda’s 2040 prosperity goals.
Experts like Dr. Sarah Zalwango advocate starting awareness at home with open talks and supervision. Schools integrate ethical values via programs, but community-level efforts are crucial to combat addiction and exploitation risks.
Authorities emphasize that protecting children from premature adult content demands unified responses from families, institutions, and the nation.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)