By Mike Ssegawa | Lagos, Nigeria
The 7th Privacy Symposium Africa (PSA) 2025 opened yesterday at the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, drawing more than 200 delegates under the theme “Redefining Privacy, Power & Trust in Africa’s Digital Future.”
As data breaches and state surveillance intensify across the continent, the hybrid gathering has emerged as a key forum for shaping Africa’s data governance agenda — with Ugandan voices taking a prominent role from the outset.
In her opening remarks, Dorothy Mukasa, the executive director of Unwanted Witness Uganda, challenged delegates to confront the shifting power dynamics of the digital age.
“In a world where data is power, we must ask: who holds that power, and who is left vulnerable?” she said, adding that privacy “is not just a right to be protected; it is a trust to be earned.”
The symposium opened with a full masterclass on Data Breach Management, led by cybersecurity experts including Olufela Osideko of Digital Encode, offering practical guidance to regulators, data protection officers and IT professionals on prevention, detection and incident response.
A keynote presentation on the State of Data Privacy in Africa preceded the first panel on biometric data and digital ID systems.
Speakers, including Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, examined surveillance risks and exclusion concerns linked to national ID programmes, posing the central question: whether the convenience offered by such systems is worth the erosion of personal privacy.
Panel 2, titled “Data Protection as a Business Asset,” turned the spotlight on private companies. Abisola Epoyun of Flutterwave and others encouraged firms to move beyond compliance rhetoric by limiting data collection, aligning policies with local laws such as Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019, investing in staff training, and adopting privacy-by-design across product development.
The afternoon Women in Privacy Meet-up, moderated by Lucianna Thuo and featuring Nadia Ishaq, an IAPP board member, brought together emerging female privacy professionals for mentorship and peer engagement.
Day One concluded with “Would You Sign This? The Hidden Privacy Clauses We Ignore Daily,” a panel featuring Hanım Eken and Dr Sunday Oludare Ogunlana.
The session broke down the fine print buried in everyday user agreements, prompting delegates to reflect on how routinely they consent to intrusive terms without scrutiny.
With Unwanted Witness and other Ugandan actors helping guide discussions, PSA 2025 underscored Africa’s growing resolve to craft its own privacy standards rather than wait for global frameworks.
Day Two will feature masterclasses on litigating privacy violations and discussions on AI governance and cross-border data flows.
Watchdog Uganda is providing continuing coverage of the symposium and its implications for East Africa’s digital future.