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Aperture Technologies Limited (ATL) is pleased to announce the successful renewal of its Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) certificate ? issued under Uganda's Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019. This renewal confirms that ATL continues to meet the legal requirements for the collection, processing, storage, and protection of personal data in Uganda.

Data protection is not a checkbox for ATL ? it is a core operating principle. As a company that processes personal data on behalf of clients across financial services, healthcare, and enterprise sectors, we take seriously the trust our clients and their customers place in us every time data passes through our systems.

What the PDPO Certificate Means

The Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) is Uganda's data protection regulator, established under the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019. The Act governs how organisations collect, use, store, and transfer personal data belonging to Ugandan citizens and residents.

To maintain PDPO registration, organisations must demonstrate compliance with the Act's key principles, including:

• Lawfulness and transparency: personal data is only collected with a lawful basis and individuals are informed of how their data will be used
• Purpose limitation: data is collected for specified, explicit purposes and not processed in ways incompatible with those purposes
• Data minimisation: only data that is necessary for the stated purpose is collected
• Accuracy: personal data is kept accurate and up to date
• Storage limitation: data is retained only for as long as necessary
• Security: appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or destruction

ATL's Data Protection Practices

Renewing the PDPO certificate is a reflection of the sustained investment ATL has made in data governance across our operations. This includes maintaining a documented data protection policy, appointing a Data Protection Officer responsible for ensuring compliance, and conducting regular internal audits to identify and address any gaps.

Our technical teams implement data protection by design ? embedding privacy-preserving measures into our systems and processes from the outset, rather than treating compliance as an afterthought. This includes encryption of personal data in transit and at rest, strict access controls, and incident response procedures for the unlikely event of a data breach.

What This Means for Our Clients

For clients who entrust ATL with personal data ? whether through our Synergic Payments platform, our managed IT services, or our ICT infrastructure projects ? PDPO certification provides an important assurance. It confirms that ATL operates within a regulatory framework, is accountable to an independent regulator, and is committed to handling data responsibly.

As data volumes grow and regulatory scrutiny of data handling practices increases across East Africa, working with certified, compliant technology partners is increasingly important. PDPO certification is one of the ways ATL demonstrates that commitment publicly and verifiably.

Our Commitment Going Forward

Data protection is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time exercise. As Uganda's regulatory framework continues to evolve, and as we expand the range of services we offer to clients, ATL will continue to invest in the people, processes, and technology needed to maintain the highest standards of data protection and privacy.

We thank the Personal Data Protection Office for their continued work in building a culture of data responsibility across Uganda's private and public sectors, and we look forward to continued compliance with the standards they uphold.

For questions about ATL's data protection practices, please contact our team.