Uganda Christian University (UCU) has won the regional rounds of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition after defeating the University of Dar es Salaam in the final, earning a US$1,500 cash prize and a fully funded trip to Accra, Ghana, for the 2026 Africa Privacy Symposium.
The victory capped a competition that brought together university law students from across East Africa to test their understanding of privacy, data protection, digital financial services and emerging technologies.
The final, which took place at UCU on Tuesday, was presided over by Justice Duncan Gaswaga of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire and lawyer Brian Kalule.
Their observations went beyond the outcome of the competition, with the judges challenging the participants to prepare for a legal profession increasingly shaped by technology and cross-border disputes.
Justice Gaswaga said the quality of arguments presented by the students demonstrated the importance of preparing lawyers and judges who can understand emerging areas of law.
He warned that it would be frustrating for lawyers to appear before courts where judges lack sufficient knowledge of the technological issues involved in their cases.
He pointed to training at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on artificial intelligence and the rule of law as part of efforts to prepare the judiciary for emerging legal challenges.
Justice Kiryabwire, meanwhile, urged the students to understand that regional and international litigation requires a different approach from ordinary domestic court practice.
He emphasised jurisdiction as a critical issue and observed that advocates now have increasingly limited time to present their cases. Drawing from football, he told the participants that preparation and persuasive arguments matter, but advocates must ultimately ensure that their arguments achieve the objective of their case.
The judges also commended the students for their preparation, mastery of the issues, eloquence and ability to analyse the facts and legal questions before them.
Minister for Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, congratulated the finalists and said the competition had come at a time when East Africa is undergoing rapid technological transformation.
She said digital platforms are increasingly central to communication, business, public services and financial transactions, creating both opportunities and responsibilities.
She urged the students to embrace technology while ensuring that innovation does not undermine privacy, data protection and other fundamental rights.
Lumumba also challenged the participants to think beyond immediate technological solutions, arguing that policies, laws and regulatory systems should anticipate future developments in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital identity and cybersecurity.
Baker Birikujja, the National Personal Data Protection Director at the Ministry of ICT, said the growing collection and sharing of personal information makes data protection an increasingly important area for lawyers and regulators.
He noted that digital services often operate across national borders, meaning the next generation of lawyers must understand how law, technology, commerce and data protection interact across jurisdictions.
Anthony Asiimwe, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, said the expansion of digital financial services raises fundamental questions about what personal information is collected, why it is collected, who accesses it, how it is used and what remedies are available when people’s data is misused.
He urged lawyers to understand both legal protections and the realities of technology, noting that innovation often moves faster than legislation.
Dorothy Mukasa, Executive Director of Unwanted Witness Uganda, said the competition was established five years ago to build a generation of lawyers capable of understanding and litigating privacy and data protection issues.
She said the initiative now brings together students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, with the long-term ambition of expanding beyond East Africa. Mukasa said technology and data are borderless, making regional cooperation essential in addressing privacy breaches and emerging digital threats.
For UCU, the victory provides more than a trophy. The university’s winning team will travel to Ghana for the Africa Privacy Symposium, where it will interact with international experts in privacy and data protection.
The competition also provides participants with training in legal research, memorial writing, oral advocacy and court etiquette.
ENDS.
English 