The Government of Rwanda today officially launched the 2026 Tekana Online “Be Cyber Smart” campaign, the national cybersecurity and data protection awareness drive led by the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA).

The campaign was officially opened by the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire. In her remarks, she said Rwanda’s digital transformation agenda must go hand in hand with robust cybersecurity. She added that cybersecurity best practices should not be reserved for one month of the year, but become a daily habit.

NCSA CEO David Kanamugire said the month will bring different sectors together to work on cyber resilience. He stressed that protecting Rwanda’s cyberspace is a collective task in which every organisation has a part.

A panel discussion followed under the theme “Building cybersecurity resilience for organizations”, bringing together cybersecurity experts, industry leaders and tech enthusiasts.

Innocent Mudenge, Chief Operations and Strategy Officer at RISA, said awareness must reach every tier of an organisation. Technical teams need to understand threats and how to respond, and management needs to back what those teams require.

Lionel Ngendakuriyo, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at RSSB, noted that no single person secures a system, since organisations share integrations, environments and responsibilities.

Patrick Ndjientcheu, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Irembo, warned that every service moved online widens the attack surface. Those who put citizens’ data and services online, he said, must take responsibility for protecting them.

Throughout October, Tekana Online will help the public recognise online scams and protect themselves. It will also help organisations become cyber resilient, and encourage young cybersecurity enthusiasts and startups to build their skills and grow Rwanda’s cybersecurity industry.

NCSA closed the event by reaffirming that cyber hygiene takes commitment at every level, and that a secure, resilient digital ecosystem is a shared responsibility.

This part of the campaign, which aims to boost cyber resilience, continues with the Cyber Resilience in Finance workshops scheduled for Monday 12 October 2026 at the Cyber Hub. Follow the campaign at #TekanaOnline and #BeCyberSmart.