MUKONO — Uganda Christian University (UCU) has emerged victorious in the 5th Edition of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition, defeating top law faculties from across East Africa in a fiercely contested tournament hosted at its main campus in Mukono.
The annual event, organized by civil rights digital organization Unwanted Witness, brings together aspiring legal practitioners from universities across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda to tackle emerging digital rights and data privacy challenges in the region.
UCU secured the prestigious championship trophy after outmaneuvering competitor institutions during intense courtroom simulations. The winning team was presented with their award by the Guest of Honor, Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, alongside representatives from Unwanted Witness and the legal fraternity.
Navigating Law in the Digital Age
This year’s competition focused on the intersection of fintech, mobile financial services, and consumer privacy, challenging participants to analyze complex legal issues surrounding data protection and tech regulation in East Africa. Participating teams presented oral and written submissions for both Applicants and Respondents before panels composed of legal scholars, practicing attorneys, privacy regulators, and judicial officers.
Addressing participants and legal scholars during the awards ceremony, Hon. Kasule Lumumba emphasized the critical role of technology in modern legal practice. She urged future lawyers to build technical competence alongside their legal skills to effectively advocate for citizens’ digital rights in an increasingly automated world.
“Technology is no longer an auxiliary subject in legal education; it is now central to trade, governance, human rights, and corporate compliance,” noted speakers at the event. “Future legal minds must master how technology operates if they are to defend fundamental human rights such as data privacy.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Legal Minds
Organized under the Unwanted Witness initiative, the Privacy Moot Court Competition marks its fifth anniversary this year. The competition aims to bridge the gap between academic legal theory and practical digital rights advocacy. It provides law students with a platform to develop research capabilities, legal drafting skills, and courtroom demeanor.
In addition to the overall trophy, members of the winning UCU delegation received individual accolades and cash prizes. The champions will also represent the region at the upcoming Privacy Symposium Africa, gaining international exposure to top privacy professionals and digital rights champions.
As mobile money platforms, artificial intelligence, and digital identification systems continue to expand across East Africa, events like the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot highlight the urgent need for legal frameworks that balance innovation with robust data privacy guarantees. UCU’s decisive victory underscores the university’s growing expertise in digital rights law and technology policy.
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