The sixth edition of DataFest Africa brought together digital rights advocates, policymakers, civic technology innovators and feminist leaders across Africa to Kampala, Uganda, under the theme “Reclaiming our Data Futures.” For CcHUB, represented by Yvonne Eweka – Senior Program Manager for Election and Governance, this year’s conference was an opportunity to address a pressing challenge: the weaponization of technology against women in political spaces.

As Africa’s digital landscape expands, technology increasingly shapes governance, innovation, and democratic participation. However, as emphasized during the opening ceremony, data is not neutral—it reflects hierarchies rooted in colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism. For women seeking political office across the continent, this reality manifests as tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), a phenomenon that threatens to reverse hard-won gains in women’s political representation.