Uganda’s efforts to protect sensitive financial information and strengthen its fight against financial crimes have received a boost after the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) became the first institution of its kind in Africa to obtain the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification.

The internationally recognised certification demonstrates that FIA has established systems and security controls to protect financial intelligence and other sensitive information against unauthorised access, cyberattacks, loss and misuse.

In practical terms, the certification strengthens the security of financial information submitted to the authority by banks and other reporting institutions, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring that information used to detect and investigate suspicious financial transactions remains confidential, accurate and accessible to authorised personnel.

It also requires FIA to regularly assess security risks, address potential vulnerabilities and continuously improve its information security management systems.

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi described the achievement as a significant milestone in safeguarding sensitive financial intelligence, strengthening national security and building international confidence in Uganda’s financial system.

The certification comes alongside the launch of FIA’s Customer Service Charter, which is intended to improve service delivery and strengthen compliance with financial reporting requirements.

Musasizi, however, cautioned the authority against complacency, noting that Uganda is scheduled for another international assessment in 2028, which will be critical in determining the country’s continued compliance with global standards.

He warned FIA Executive Director Samuel Were Wandera and the senior management team that failure to maintain the required standards could have consequences for their positions.

The certification is expected to reinforce trust among domestic and international partners who share financial intelligence with Uganda, while strengthening the authority’s capacity to handle sensitive information in an increasingly complex digital environment.