Updated 12th March 2025
Introduction and general terms
Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it. By visiting the site, you are accepting and consenting to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
This privacy policy explains the following:
- What information Unwanted Witness may collect about you;
- How Unwanted Witness will use information we collect about you;
- When Unwanted Witness may use your details to contact you;
- Whether Unwanted Witness will disclose your details to anyone else;
- Your choices regarding the personal information you provide to us; and
- The use of cookies on the site and how you can exercise your choices in relation to those cookies.
Unwanted Witness is committed to safeguarding your personal information. Whenever you provide such information, we are legally obliged to use your information in line with the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019.
The site contains hyperlinks to websites owned and operated by third parties. These third party websites have their own privacy policies, including policies on their use of cookies. If you follow a hyperlink to a third party website, we urge you to review these policies before submitting any personal data to the third party website. The third party’s policies will govern the use of personal information you submit or which is collected by cookies whilst visiting these websites. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the privacy practices of third party websites and your use of such websites is at your own risk.
Who we are
The Unwanted Witness is a civil society organization (CSO) that was established to respond to the gap in effective communication using various online expression platforms.
This Privacy Policy relates to information which is obtained by Unwanted Witness. For the purpose of the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019, the data Collector/controller is Unwanted Witness.
What information will Unwanted Witness collect about me?
When you contact Unwanted Witness to sign up for any of its activities or online content—such as providing your telephone number or email, writing to us, or engaging with us via social media—we may collect and retain personal information about you. This may include your name, email address, postal address, telephone or mobile number, and bank account details for processing.
By submitting your details, you enable Unwanted Witness (and where applicable any sub-contractors we may use) to provide you with the services, information, activities or online content you select.
We do not usually ask members to provide “sensitive personal data” (such as information relating to racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health information and political opinions). However, if you reveal such information in emails or other communications hosted by our site, you are consenting to this sensitive personal data being collected and processed by us. If you do not wish to consent, please do not include sensitive personal data in your communications to, or through, the site.
If there is a clear reason for collecting sensitive personal data, for example where we need this to ensure that we provide support to enable you to participate in the event. Clear notices will be provided on applications for such events so that it is clear what information we need and why we need it.
If you are simply browsing the site as an anonymous visitor, Unwanted Witness may still collect certain information from you, such as your IP addresses (an IP address is a number that can uniquely identify a specific computer or other network device on the internet), browser type and operating system and platforms.
Unwanted Witness also uses cookies. Cookies are small text files on your device. They are made by your web browser when you visit a website. Every time you go back to that website, your browser will send the cookie file back to the website’s server. They improve your experience of using a website, for example, by remembering your preference settings and by measuring your use of a website to ensure that it meets your needs.
Uses made of the information
Unwanted Witness will use your personal information for a number of purposes including the following:
- In relation to any correspondence you have entered into with us whether by letter, email, text, social media, or any other means;
- For internal record keeping, to administer the site and for internal operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, statistical and survey purposes.
- To fulfil sales contracts you have entered into with Unwanted Witness.
- To contact you about any content you provide.
- To invite you to participate in surveys or research about Unwanted Witness or our work (participation is always voluntary)
- To provide you with information about our activities or online content you have agreed to receive.
- To personalise the way Unwanted Witness content is presented to you.
- To use IP addresses to identify the location of users, to block disruptive use, to establish the number of visits from different countries;
- To analyse and improve the activities and content offered by the site and to provide you with the most user-friendly navigation experience. We may also use and disclose information in aggregate (so that no individuals are identified) for marketing and strategic development purposes;
- To notify you about changes to our service; and
- As part of our efforts to keep our site safe and secure.
Disclosure of your personal data
We will only use your information for the purposes for which it was obtained.
Unwanted Witness will not, under any circumstances, share or sell your personal data with any third party for marketing purposes and you will not receive offers from other companies or organisations as a result of giving your details to us.
We may disclose your information to third parties:
- If disclosure is required or permitted by law (for example to government bodies for tax purposes or law enforcement agencies for the prevention and detection of crime, subject to such bodies providing us with a relevant request in writing).
- In order to enforce or apply our terms and conditions or to protect the rights, property or safety of Unwanted Witness.
Marketing and Advertising
We do not engage in personally targeted or behavioral marketing unless you have expressly consented to it. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can opt out by sending us an email at info@unwantedwitness.org or using any automated opt-out mechanisms we provide.
Where we store your personal data
All information you provide to us is securely stored by Qurium, our mail server provider and hosting service. Your information will not be used for any other purpose. Unwanted Witness employs SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect data transmissions, ensuring that your information remains secure and confidential. We take all reasonable steps to safeguard your data in compliance with this Privacy Policy.
However, while we implement strong security measures, no internet transmission is entirely secure. We encourage you to take precautions when sharing sensitive information online. Once we receive your data, we apply strict security procedures and safeguards to prevent unauthorized access.
Your Rights
If Unwanted Witness processes personal data about you, you have the following rights:
Right to erasure
You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or processed. To exercise this right, please send a request to info@unwantedwitness.org. We will respond within 72 hours.
Access to information
The Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019 gives you the right to access information held about you. You have the right to request access to the information we have about you. Simply contact us at info@unwantedwitness.org. And we will make sure to provide you with a copy of the data we’ve processed about you. To comply with your request, we may ask you to verify your identity. Then we will fulfil your request by sending your copy electronically unless the request expressly specifies a different method.
Right to Object to Processing
You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data in certain situations, particularly when processing is based on our legitimate interests, a third party’s interests, or the public interest. This includes objecting to receiving direct marketing from us. Additionally, if you believe we no longer have a lawful basis to process your personal data, you may raise an objection.
Right to Withhold and Withdraw Consent
You have the right to withhold consent to the processing of your personal data where consent is the legal basis for such processing. Withholding consent will not affect your ability to access our services, except where the processing is essential for providing those services. If you have previously given consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing conducted before withdrawal.
Lodge Complaints
You have the right to file a complaint if you have concerns about how your personal data is being processed by Unwanted Witness or if you suspect a violation of Unwanted Witness’s privacy policies or applicable data protection laws.
If you wish to exercise your rights or submit a request regarding your personal data, you may contact Unwanted Witness at info@unwantedwitness.org. We will make every reasonable effort to address your request in accordance with applicable laws and our internal policies.
If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) of Uganda, the regulatory authority for data privacy matters.
Contact Details for PDPO:
Email: info@pdpo.go.ug
Telephone: 0417801008 | 0417801009 | 0417801011
Website: www.pdpo.go.ug
Changes to our privacy policy
We may change our privacy policy at any time to reflect our current privacy practices, and such changes may take immediate effect. Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page and the effective date at the top of this note shall be updated accordingly. Please check back frequently to see any updates or changes to our privacy policy.
Contact
If you have any questions, comments, or requests regarding this policy or our processing of your information, please email our Data Protection Officer at john@unwantedwitness.org. You may also reach out to us using the following information.
THE UNWANTED WITNESS – Uganda
P. O. Box 71314 Clock Tower K’la Uganda | Plot 26, Ssentema Road |
Website: www.unwantedwitness.org
Telephone: +256 414 697 635 or +256 759953233
Email: info@unwantedwitness.org | Twitter: @unwantedwitness |
Skype: unwantedwitness | Facebook: unwanted witness Uganda