The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) was established as a statutory body under the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Act, 2009, as one of the key players in the Information and Communications Technology Sector. It’s mandated to coordinate, promote, and monitor IT development within the context of national social and economic development, with a vision of “Lives transformed through e-service delivery”. 

2.  APPOINTMENTS

Applications are invited from suitably qualified Ugandans with a dream of building their professional careers in a dynamic and fast-growing sector. The successful candidates will fill the positions of;

• Research and Innovations Officer (01) 

3. EMPLOYMENT TERMS

As a responsible and equal-opportunity employer, NITA-U is committed to providing competitive employment terms to successful candidates with the right qualifications, skills, competencies, and experiences. The job specifications, descriptions, and other details are found on the NITA-U official website (www.nita.go.ug)

4. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants who meet the job requirements/specifications and with the right personal attributes are invited to complete and submit their application form (which can be downloaded from the NITA-U official website  https://www.nita.go.ug/job-applications/job-application-form),  with a cover letter, supported by curriculum vitae, copies of certificates and testimonials, and must specify day time telephone contact, postal and email addresses of both the applicant and three referees, to the address below. 

The Executive Director,

National Information Technology

Authority – UGANDA (NITA-U),

Palm Courts, Plot 7A, Rotary Avenue (former Lugogo bypass)

P.O. Box 33151, Kampala-Uganda

Tel: 0417 801 038

  Via email: hr@nita.go.ug 

The deadline for applications for the positions is 29^th May 2026 (Not later than 1700 hrs. Local Time). Only Soft copy applications will be accepted, and no application will be considered without a duly completed and signed standard application form (referred to above).

5. FEEDBACK

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Any form of solicitation, influence peddling, or any other “backdoor” attempt, of whatsoever nature, to influence the selection process in one’s favour, will automatically lead to the disqualification of a candidate without any recourse.

6. Privacy Notice 

Your privacy matters to us. NITA–U will use the information you provide only to process your job application, keep it secure, and retain it for no longer than necessary. You can ask to access, correct, or erase your data at any time by writing to hr@nita.go.ug. See the full privacy notice on our website at https://www.nita.go.ug/data-protection-privacy-notice

Research and Innovations Officer

• Directorate: Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO)
• Department: Strategy and Planning
• Reports to: Policy and Planning Specialist
• Salary Grade: N5
• Duty Station: Head Office, Kampala

Job Purpose

Primary Purpose:

• The Research and Innovations Officer is responsible for leading and coordinating the research, statistics, and innovations function of the Personal Data Protection Office.
• The Officer generates evidence-based insights on data protection and privacy issues, drives regulatory innovation through mechanisms such as a sandbox, maintains the national data protection and privacy statistics framework, and supports policy and enforcement decisions with rigorous data analysis.

Key Accountabilities

• Conduct research on emerging data protection and privacy issues, including the impact of emerging technologies on personal data, and produce evidence-based reports to inform policy and enforcement work of the Office.
• Coordinate the development, operationalisation, and piloting of a data protection and privacy regulatory sandbox to test innovative compliance approaches by organisations operating within the Act.
• Design and implement a statistical and research framework for data protection and privacy, including systems and tools for data collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination of findings.
• Plan, design, and conduct national data protection and privacy surveys, related needs assessments, and other studies in line with PDPO’s mandate and the Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD).
• Prepare and present survey and research reports to stakeholders, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and strategic relevance of findings and recommendations.
• Establish and maintain research partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, research bodies, and other relevant organisations to advance the data protection and privacy knowledge base.
• Lead the development and maintenance of a national data protection and privacy database to provide centralised access to reliable, up-to-date information in support of PDPO’s mandate.
• Compile periodic statistical reports on data protection and privacy trends, complaints, breaches, and enforcement outcomes, in line with PDPO’s reporting requirements and obligations.
• Review, implement, monitor, and evaluate PDPO’s strategy for statistics and research, ensuring alignment with the Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD) and PDPO’s broader Strategic Plan.
• Coordinate responses to external research inquiries from Parliament, the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, civil society, academia, and industry, and provide technical support to these stakeholders on data protection and privacy research and evidence.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, or a related field from a recognised institution.
• A Postgraduate qualification and/or professional certification in statistics, data science, research methods, or a related discipline is an added advantage.
• Membership of the Uganda Statistical Society or a comparable professional body is an added advantage.

Experience

• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant working experience in statistical analysis, policy research, data management, or a related function in a reputable public or private sector organisation.

Technical Expertise

• Proficient in analytical thinking and problem-solving in social, technical, and policy research contexts.
• Skilled in using statistical software tools (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, Python) and data visualisation applications (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau) for data analysis, modelling, and reporting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research design methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities, with experience engaging both internal and external partners to align research outputs with organisational objectives.
• Excellent documentation and report-writing skills, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and strategic relevance of outputs.

Nature and Scope

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex findings to non-technical audiences.
• Organised and methodical approach to tasks, with strong project management and delivery skills.
• Proficiency in using various research, statistical, and data management systems and applications.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Integrity, attention to detail, and ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and research findings.