Effective date: 1 July 2024 · Last updated: 15 January 2026
1. Who We Are
SmartYouth (“the app”) is owned and operated by Action for Rural Women’s Empowerment (ARUWE) (“we”, “us”, “our”), a non-governmental organisation registered in Uganda. Our offices are at P.O. Box 28564, Kampala, Uganda — Kyoga LC1, Namusera Parish, Wakiso District. We are the data controller responsible for your personal information, and we are registered with Uganda’s Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO). For any privacy question or request, contact us at aruwe@aruweug.org or +256-312-102852 / +256-778-896317.
2. About This Policy
This policy explains what information SmartYouth collects, how we use and protect it, who we share it with, and the choices and rights you have. SmartYouth provides health, safety and well-being information for young people — including sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention and response, and psychosocial support — and can connect you, at your choice, to trained counsellors and trusted service providers. Please read this policy before using the app.
3. Information We Collect
Information you give us:
- Account details: your name or chosen username, phone number and email address, used to create your account and verify it by SMS and email.
- Optional profile details you choose to provide, such as your age or age range, sex, and your district or area, so we can show relevant information and nearby services.
- Content you submit: questions, help requests, messages to counsellors, feedback and survey responses.
Information collected automatically:
- Device and technical data: device type, operating system, app version and basic log data.
- Usage data: screens viewed and features used, to help us improve the app.
- Approximate location, only if you grant permission, to suggest nearby services.
A note on sensitive information: because of what the app is for, some of what you view or ask about may reveal sensitive details about your health or personal circumstances. We treat this information with extra care and use it only to provide the service to you.
4. How we Use Your Information
We use your information to: create and secure your account and verify it by SMS and email; provide the information and support features you request; connect you, at your choice, to counsellors and local service providers; respond to your questions and help requests; keep the app safe and prevent misuse; understand how the app is used so we can improve it; and meet our legal obligations.
5. Our Legal Basis
We rely on your consent to use the app and to process the information you provide. Where you are under 18, you are considered a child under Ugandan law, and we rely on the consent of your parent or guardian where this is required. We also process information where necessary to provide the service you request and to comply with the law. You may withdraw your consent at any time (see section 9).
6. SMS and email
We send SMS and email messages to verify your account and to deliver notifications you have asked for. Standard message and data rates from your mobile provider may apply. You can opt out of non-essential messages at any time.
7. How we Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as follows: with counsellors or service providers when you choose to connect with them; with technical service providers who operate the app on our behalf (for example our SMS gateway, email provider, hosting provider and analytics provider), under confidentiality obligations and only as needed to run the service; and where required by law, or to protect the safety of a user or others. We require our service providers not to use or sell your data for their own purposes.
8. Data Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures — including encrypted connections, access controls and restricted staff access — to protect your information. No system is completely secure, but we work to keep your data safe and to respond promptly to any incident.
9. Your Rights
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, to correct it, to request its deletion, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent. To exercise any of these, contact us at aruwe@aruweug.org; we will respond within a reasonable time. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with Uganda’s Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO).
10. Data Retention
We keep your information only as long as needed to provide the service and for legitimate legal or operational reasons, after which we delete or anonymise it. You can ask us to delete your account and associated data at any time.
11. Young Users (aged 16 and above)
SmartYouth is intended for users aged 16 and above. It is not intended for children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their information. Because users aged 16 and 17 are considered children under Ugandan law, we apply added protections for them: we collect only the information needed to provide the service, we do not show personalised advertising, and we seek parent or guardian consent where the law requires it. We encourage young users to be careful about what they share online and to involve a trusted adult where appropriate. If a user indicates they are in danger or discloses abuse, the app points them to appropriate help and referral contacts. A parent or guardian who believes we hold information about a child under 16, or about their child without the required consent, can contact us at privacy@aruweug.org and we will address it promptly.
12. Links and Third-Party Services
The app may link to external websites or services (for example a service provider’s page). We are not responsible for their privacy practices; please review their own policies.
13. Where Your Data is Stored
Your information is stored on secure servers operated by our hosting provider. Where any data is stored or processed outside Uganda, we take steps to ensure it remains protected in line with this policy and applicable law.
14. Changes to this Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the new version here with a revised “Last updated” date and, for significant changes, notify you within the app.
15. Contact us
Action for Rural Women’s Empowerment (ARUWE)
P.O. Box 28564, Kampala, Uganda — Kyoga LC1, Namusera Parish, Wakiso District
aruwe@aruweug.org · +256-312-102852 / +256-778-896317
Data protection complaints: Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), Uganda.