UCU Dominates Regional Privacy Moot, Minister Urges Tech-Savvy Legal Professionals

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has once again emerged victorious at the regional Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition, triumphing over the University of Dar es Salaam in the finals. This win secures UCU a US$1,500 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2026 Africa Privacy Symposium in Accra, Ghana.

The competition saw law students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda engaging in rigorous debate on critical issues surrounding privacy, data protection, digital financial services, and emerging technologies.

Minister for Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, addressed the participants, highlighting the swift technological transformation across East Africa. She urged aspiring lawyers to not only keep pace with current innovations but also to anticipate future developments that could profoundly impact society and the legal landscape. Lumumba stressed the necessity for laws and regulations to evolve to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence, digital identity, and cybersecurity.

The final rounds were judged by esteemed legal figures, including Justice Duncan Gaswaga of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The judges underscored the growing importance of technological understanding in legal practice, noting that effective advocacy in cross-border and digitally-driven cases requires lawyers and judges to be well-versed in these complex areas.

Speakers also pointed to the increasing significance of data protection due to the vast collection and sharing of personal information in the digital age. They emphasized that future lawyers must grasp the intricacies of data collection, usage, access, and the legal remedies available for misuse, particularly in the context of trans-border digital services.

This annual moot court, now in its fifth year, aims to cultivate a generation of legal professionals equipped to handle the evolving challenges of privacy and data protection in an increasingly digital world. The event’s growth and the participation of multiple East African nations underscore the regional dimension of these legal and technological issues.

This competition serves as a vital training ground, honing students’ skills in legal research, argumentation, and courtroom etiquette, preparing them for the demands of a legal profession being reshaped by technology. For UCU, this victory offers a valuable platform to connect with international experts on privacy and data protection.