Kampala, Uganda – Wednesday 5th March, 2025, Unwanted Witness, in collaboration with esteemed partners, proudly announces the launch of the 4th Edition of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition 2025 under the theme: “Safeguarding Personal Data in National Digital ID Systems.” This year, the competition expands beyond Uganda and Kenya to include Tanzania and Rwanda, making it a fully regional East African competition. The University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will host the final rounds of the competition.

The competition, a premier platform for advancing legal scholarship in privacy and data protection, is organized in partnership with Hewlett Foundation, Civil Rights Defenders, Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), KIGALI ATTORNEYS LEGAL CONSULTANTS & PARTNERS (LLP), University of Dar es Salaam, Uganda Christian University Mukono, INES-Institute of Applied Sciences, Daystar University, Personal Data Protection Commission of Tanzania, Data Protection and Privacy Office of Rwanda, and the Personal Data Protection Office of Uganda.

Competition Format and Roadmap

The 4th Edition of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition follows a two-phase structure:

1. Written Rounds (Memorials): All registered teams will submit memorials arguing for both the Applicant and the Respondent.
2. Oral Rounds: The oral rounds will be conducted in three stages:
   a. National Rounds (Preliminary Rounds and Quarter-Finals)
   b. Semi-Final Rounds (Hosted in Tanzania)
   c. Final Round (Hosted in Tanzania)

National Rounds Schedule

• Kenya: Thursday, 11th September 2025 at Daystar University, Athi River
• Uganda: Monday, 15th September 2025 at Uganda Christian University, Mukono
• Rwanda: Thursday, 18th September 2025 at INES – Institute of Applied Sciences
• Tanzania: Monday, 22nd September 2025 at University of Dar es Salaam

Each participating country will hold national rounds, where teams will compete to determine the top university that will advance to the Semi-Finals and Finals in Dar es Salaam. Qualification to the National Rounds will be based on written memorial performance, with the top four teams per country progressing to the oral rounds.

Awards and Grand Prize

The Champion Team (winning duo) will receive:

• USD 1500 in cash
• A fully paid trip to attend the 7th Privacy Symposium Africa in November 2025

The 1st Runner-Up will receive USD 500.

Registration Details

To participate, interested university teams must:

1. Visit the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition website to download:
   a) Registration Form
   b) Consent Form
   c) 2025 Moot Rules
2. Fill out the forms, obtain the necessary signatures and official stamp from their Dean of Faculty of Law, and submit them in PDF format to info@unwantedwitness.com.

Dorothy Mukasa, Executive Director of Unwanted Witness, emphasized the importance of the competition in shaping future legal leaders in data protection:
“The expansion of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition into a fully regional competition demonstrates the growing recognition of privacy and data protection as critical issues in the digital era. This competition not only enhances legal advocacy skills but also fosters regional cooperation and dialogue on harmonizing data protection standards in East Africa.”
She added: “With national digital ID systems becoming central to governance, it is crucial to equip young legal minds with the knowledge and skills to address privacy and data protection challenges. The Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition serves as a platform to inspire, educate, and engage the next generation of privacy champions.”

Why This Competition Matters

As digital identity systems become central to governance, service delivery, and economic participation, issues of data privacy, security, and inclusivity are more pressing than ever.
The 4th Edition of the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition seeks to

• Deepen understanding of data protection and privacy laws among East African law students.
• Encourage debate and innovative legal solutions on digital ID systems.
• Foster regional cooperation and the harmonization of data protection standards.
• Empower the next generation of legal professionals to safeguard human rights in the digital age.

About Unwanted Witness:


Unwanted Witness is a civil society organization advocating for digital rights, in Africa. Through research, policy advocacy, and capacity-building programs, Unwanted Witness works to create a more secure, open, and rights-respecting digital environment.

Media Contact

For media inquiries, interview requests, and further information, please contact:
Secretariat-Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition

Email: info@unwantedwitness.org

Website: www.unwantedwitness.org | www.uwmoot.com
Twitter: @UnwantedWitness
@PrivacyMoot

End of Release