Makerere University student Okema Paul Mark has emerged the overall winner of the 2026 Cyber Stars Competition, earning the title of Cyber Stars Champion at the fourth national finals held in Kampala.

Okema, from the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), beat competitors from 16 universities to claim the top position in the national competition, which seeks to nurture cybersecurity talent and equip young people with practical skills to combat growing digital threats.

The national finals were held on November 5, 2026, at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Conference Hall in Bugolobi, Kampala. The competition was organised by UCC through the Uganda Computer Emergency Response Team (UgCERT).

Okema’s achievement places Makerere University at the forefront of efforts to develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, at a time when increasing reliance on digital technologies has heightened the need to protect information systems, networks and online platforms.

The fourth edition attracted more than 180 students from 25 universities following its launch on October 13, 2026. Of these, 60 students from 16 universities qualified for the national finals, where they demonstrated their technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities through practical cybersecurity challenges.

Twenty-two students recognised for cybersecurity excellence

A total of 22 outstanding university students were recognised for their performance in the competition. The awardees received CompTIA Security+ training, MiFi devices and data bundles to support their continued learning and professional development.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, UCC Director of ICT and Research, Engineer Christine Mugimba, underscored the importance of continuous learning, ethical conduct and responsible application of cybersecurity knowledge. She encouraged the award recipients to utilise the training and professional certification opportunities to strengthen their technical expertise.

The competition exposed participants to key cybersecurity disciplines, including ethical hacking, network security, digital forensics, cryptography and web security. These competencies are essential in identifying system vulnerabilities, investigating cyber incidents and preventing unauthorised access to sensitive information.

Universities recognised for student participation