Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – In a display of legal brilliance, Uganda Christian University (UCU) clinched the title at the fourth Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition, held on September 24 at the University of Dar es Salaam. The regional showdown, focused on data privacy in national digital ID systems, saw UCU’s Sandra Ajambo and Heather Stacey Kutamba outshine Strathmore University from Kenya in a gripping final, capping a week of intense debates among top law students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
The competition, organized by Unwanted Witness—a Ugandan civil society group championing digital rights—has grown into a premier platform for tackling the complex interplay of technology and privacy. This year’s theme, “Safeguarding Personal Data in National Digital ID Systems,” spotlighted the risks and opportunities of digital governance, with teams arguing cases involving biometric data misuse and state surveillance. UCU’s victory earned them a $1,500 prize and a fully funded trip to the Privacy Symposium Africa in Nigeria, while Strathmore secured $500 as runners-up. Individual honors included Best Overall Oralist to Strathmore’s Megan Wanjiru, Best Written Submissions (Applicant) to UCU, and Best Written Submissions (Respondent) to the Islamic University in Uganda.
Ms. Dorothy Mukasa, Executive Director of Unwanted Witness, delivered an impassioned speech at the awards ceremony, underscoring the event’s significance. “We wouldn’t have made it without the networks and collaborations. Thank you so much to all of you that have hosted us in your different universities. We are still coming,” Mukasa declared, her voice carrying the weight of a decade-long fight for digital rights. She added, :
The final was judged by a formidable panel: Hon. Justice Duncan Gaswaga, Professor John Eudes Ruhangisa, and Mr. Louis Gitonga. Justice Gaswaga lauded the teams’ mastery of legal nuances, stating, “UCU’s arguments were incisive, blending global data protection principles with local realities. They showed how to balance security with individual rights—a critical skill in today’s digital age.” Professor Ruhangisa added, “Strathmore pushed hard, but UCU’s clarity on consent mechanisms and data minimization won the day. These students are ready to shape policy.” Gitonga echoed, “The energy in the room was electric. Both teams reminded us why privacy law matters now more than ever.”
UCU’s path to victory began with their national win in Uganda’s qualifiers earlier this month, a feat that followed their success in the International Humanitarian Law Moot. Ajambo, reflecting on the win, told reporters, “This is for every Ugandan whose data is at risk. We argued not just for points but for a future where privacy is protected.” Kutamba credited their coaches, noting, “Our faculty drilled us to think like policymakers, not just lawyers.”
Unwanted Witness has run this moot since 2020, evolving it into a regional beacon for data protection advocacy. With digital ID systems—like Uganda’s Ndaga Muntu—expanding rapidly, the need for legal safeguards is urgent. Mukasa, in an earlier statement, framed the stakes: “Technology must serve people, not control them. These students are our hope for that balance.”
As the ceremony closed amid the vibrant University of Dar es Salaam campus, attendees left inspired. UCU’s triumph signals a new generation of East African lawyers ready to tackle the digital frontier, ensuring privacy remains a right, not a privilege.
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