Centenary Bank recently concluded its inaugural University Cybersecurity Hackathon, recognizing outstanding university students for their technical skills and innovative approaches to addressing digital security challenges. The hackathon, held throughout October, was part of the Bank's Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities and carried the theme "Building a Secure Digital Future." The event aimed to nurture young cybersecurity talent, strengthen practical skills, and promote responsible technology innovation among university students.
The competition attracted 26 university teams during the qualification round, with four teams progressing to the grand finale. The finalists represented Victoria University, Kyambogo University, and ISBAT University, with Victoria University presenting two teams. The teams that made it to the finale showcased their skills in application security, vulnerability analysis, secure software development, and incident response.
ISBAT University's team, ISBAT1, emerged as the overall winner, followed by Tarus X from Victoria University in second place and Fraud Hunters, also from Victoria University, in third place. Crack Team from Kyambogo University finished fourth. Sseruwooza Uthman from ISBAT University received the Best Individual Student Award in recognition of his performance.
The winning team members received vouchers worth $1,500 for eJPT Certification, while the second team won $75 for HTB vouchers. All finalists also received vouchers for CodeRed, providing access to free cybersecurity courses for a year. Michael Opira, Executive Director Operations at Centenary Bank, stated that the initiative aimed to introduce students to the importance of integrating security into technology development.
Opira emphasized that cybersecurity remains central to the Bank's operations due to the trust customers place in the institution to safeguard their money and information. He noted that the Bank has invested millions of dollars in technology and security systems but recognizes that technology alone is not enough, and the human aspect is equally important.
Rodney Hood Adriko, Head of Information Security Assurance at Centenary Bank, said the hackathon provided an opportunity to assess students' practical cybersecurity capabilities and identify young talent that could contribute to the country's growing digital security needs. Adriko added that the Bank intends to make the hackathon an annual initiative, expanding participation and strengthening collaboration with universities and other tertiary institutions.
The hackathon challenged students to apply their knowledge to practical cybersecurity scenarios, providing an opportunity to examine the resilience of digital innovations in a controlled and responsible environment. Through the initiative, Centenary Bank seeks to contribute to Uganda's cybersecurity talent pipeline while strengthening awareness of the shared responsibility involved in protecting digital financial services.
Key points
- ISBAT University's team won the top prize in Centenary Bank's inaugural University Cybersecurity Hackathon.
- The hackathon aimed to nurture young cybersecurity talent and promote responsible technology innovation among university students.
- Centenary Bank plans to make the hackathon an annual initiative, expanding participation and collaboration with universities.
