Privacy moot competitions, a good step in the right direction- Stella Alibateese

Ms. Stella Alibateese the National Personal Data Protection Director officiated this year’s Privacy Moot competition organized by Unwanted Witness under the theme; 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚: 𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒔.

While speaking at the prestigious Privacy Moot competition, Stella noted that Privacy Moot competitions are a good step in the right direction towards building capacity in understanding of what privacy is, creating awareness on privacy and how we can enforce our right to privacy and also build capacity for the future privacy defenders and practitioners.

She commended Unwanted Witness for selecting an intriguing theme for the Moot competitions critical for the proper implementation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act.
“The theme for the Privacy Moot Competition Balancing Privacy Rights and National Security: 𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒔 is thought-provoking and critical for the proper implementation of the law. Whenever you have exceptions, particular focus has to be addressed to them to ensure that in exercising the exceptions, the overall purpose of the law is not negated of watered down. By organizing this competition under that theme, Unwanted witness has started this critical conversation”, Stella remarked.

Stella noted that the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019 applies to private and public bodies of whatever nature and called upon the state and the security organs to implement it in their various operations. She also added that empowering data subjects is key to enabling them understand when their privacy rights have been violated and how to seek redress.

She applauded Unwanted witness and its diverse partners for supporting students by organizing the competition which she stated` resonates well with the PDPO’s strategic plan 2023/2025 focus to develop a diverse pool of privacy practitioners in Uganda. She also commended the Honourable Justices for their commitment and sparing their time for the cause. 

Lastly, Stella encouraged participants to make use of the Office’s digital communication channels especially the website (www.podo.go.ug) where information regarding data protection and privacy is shared. 

The Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition is an annual inter-University event organized by Unwanted Witness to train and empower young legal professionals with expert knowledge of data protection laws, policies, and regulations and to further develop their oral, written, analytical, logical, and legal technological skills necessary for the sector.