British Council Urges Collaborative Child Safeguarding Amid Rising Digital Threats

The British Council Uganda has underscored the urgent need for enhanced safeguarding measures to protect students from abuse, bullying, and modern digital threats. Emphasizing that child protection goes far beyond school gates, officials noted that a safe environment requires active collaboration among educators, families, and local communities.

Speaking during an institutional visit to Scoris International School in Kibuli, Kampala, British Council Uganda Country Director Millicent Mugabi stressed that safeguarding is a collective obligation. She pointed out that accountability spans from the moment a child steps onto school grounds to their journey home and their domestic environment, requiring consistent awareness and adherence to safety protocols.

Fiona Bukirwa, the British Council Uganda Safeguarding Manager, highlighted how rapid technological advancements and artificial intelligence have transformed the nature of risks children face. Unlike past generations, today’s learners encounter complex online hazards such as cyberbullying and digital image misuse. To combat this, the British Council developed a practical safeguarding toolkit in collaboration with UNICEF. This resource helps institutions continuously evaluate their policies, spot gaps, and know how to properly respond if a child discloses abuse.

School administrators have welcomed the initiative. Eric Okello, the headmaster of Scoris International School, noted that the toolkit helped identify blind spots within their previous systems. Atwif Kanyike, the school’s Dean of Operations, added that the framework broadened their approach from merely preventing physical harm to prioritizing emotional security and mental well-being in a digital age. Read more about the initiative on Nile Post.