Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Muafay Marketplace is owned and operated by Muafay Ventures ("Muafay", "we", "us", or "our"), a Uganda-based company operating a multi-vendor platform connecting buyers with local vendors across Uganda. Our platform is accessible at muafay.ug.

2. Information We Collect

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, and WhatsApp number when you register.
• Business information: business name, location, category, product listings, and profile details provided by vendors.
• Location: the area you choose, and a map pin if you add one. A customer’s saved address is private and is not shown publicly.
• Transaction data: subscription payment records and payment status.
• Usage data: pages visited, search queries, and interaction events on the platform.
• Contact events: when buyers contact vendors via WhatsApp through our platform.
• Photos you use for photo search: processed to identify products and not stored.
• Communications: messages sent through our WhatsApp bot, AI assistant or customer support channels.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account and listings.
• To send transactional WhatsApp, SMS and email notifications (sign-in codes, account approval, subscription confirmations, review alerts).
• To process subscription payments.
• To show you vendors and listings near you and to answer your searches.
• To improve platform features and user experience.
• To send important service updates and security alerts.
• To comply with legal obligations.

4. WhatsApp Communications

We use the WhatsApp Business Platform (Meta) to send transactional notifications. These include sign-in codes, account approval confirmations, subscription receipts, review notifications, and renewal reminders. By registering with a WhatsApp number, you consent to receiving these messages. You may opt out by contacting us at hello@muafay.ug.

5. AI Features

Our AI assistant and photo search send the text or photo you provide to our AI service provider so that it can understand your request and find matching listings. We do not use them to identify people, and photos used for search are not stored by Muafay.

6. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform, including messaging delivery, payment processing, AI processing, and secure data storage. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on our behalf. We also share data with law enforcement or regulatory authorities when required by law.

7. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. If you close your account, we delete your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data.
• Opt out of WhatsApp marketing communications.

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@muafay.ug.

9. Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. All data is transmitted over encrypted connections and access is strictly controlled.

10. Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. We do not use third-party advertising cookies.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify active vendors of significant changes via WhatsApp or email. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at hello@muafay.ug. Muafay Ventures, Muafay Marketplace, Kampala, Uganda.