Privacy Policy

LowHub ("we", "us", "our") runs a marketplace app and website that lets people in Uganda buy and sell items directly with each other. This policy explains what information we collect when you use LowHub, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information we collect

We collect information you give us directly, information created automatically as you use the app, and information about how your device can be reached for notifications.

• Account information — your name, email address, phone number, and password (handled by Firebase Authentication) when you sign up or sign in.
• Listings you post — titles, descriptions, prices, category, photos, and location details for items you list for sale.
• Messages — the content of chats between buyers and sellers, sent through our in-app messaging so you can arrange a sale.
• Orders & delivery — order details, delivery or pickup station preferences, and pickup verification codes when you buy or sell through checkout.
• Payment & wallet activity — payment status, mobile money transaction references, wallet balance, and withdrawal history for sellers who use LowHub's wallet.
• Reviews & reports — ratings, reviews, and any reports or disputes you file about a listing, order, or another user.
• Usage information — which listings you view, searches, and general interactions we use to show sellers how their ads are performing.
• Device & notification information — a push notification token for your device/browser (via Firebase Cloud Messaging) so we can deliver alerts, and basic device type (mobile or web).

2. How we use your information

• To create and manage your account and show your listings to buyers.
• To connect buyers and sellers through messaging, calls, and order/delivery coordination.
• To process orders, payments, wallet balances, and withdrawals.
• To send you notifications — for example when someone views or messages you about a listing, when your ad is approved, or when an order status changes.
• To review reported listings and disputes, and to moderate content that violates our guidelines.
• To show sellers analytics about their own ads (views, interested buyers) — we never share this with anyone besides the seller themselves.
• To improve the app and keep it secure and free of scams.

3. Sharing with other users

LowHub is built around direct buyer-seller contact, so some information is visible to other users by design:

• Your display name, profile info, and public listings are visible to anyone browsing LowHub.
• When you message a seller or buyer about a listing, that user can see your name and the messages you send them.
• Sellers can see the names of buyers who viewed or messaged them about their own listings, so they know who's interested.
• If you leave a review, your name and review text are shown publicly on the relevant listing or seller profile.

We do not sell your personal information to advertisers or third parties. We only share information with service providers who help us run LowHub — for example Firebase (hosting, authentication, database, and push notifications) and our mobile money payment processor — solely to provide the service.

4. Notifications

If you allow notifications, we use Firebase Cloud Messaging to alert your device about things like new messages, someone viewing your listing, ad approvals, order updates, and premium plan status — even when the app isn't open. You can turn notifications off at any time from your browser or device settings; doing so won't affect your ability to use LowHub, but you may miss time-sensitive alerts like new buyer messages.

5. Payments & wallet

Payments are processed through our mobile money payment partner (MTN and Airtel Mobile Money). We store payment status and transaction references needed to confirm your order or credit a seller's wallet — we do not store your mobile money PIN. Wallet balances and withdrawal requests are only ever modified by our backend, never directly by the app, to keep them accurate and tamper-proof.

6. Data retention

We keep account, listing, order, and transaction information for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period after, so we can resolve disputes, meet accounting obligations, and keep marketplace records accurate. You can ask us to delete your account and associated personal data at any time — see Section 7.

7. Your choices & rights

• You can review and update your profile information at any time from Profile settings.
• You can delete individual listings, or ask us to delete your account entirely.
• You can turn off push notifications from your browser/device settings.
• You can ask us what personal data we hold about you, or ask us to correct it.

To exercise any of these, reach out using the contact details in Section 11.

8. Security

We rely on Firebase's security infrastructure (encrypted connections, authenticated access, and Firestore security rules) to protect your data, and sensitive operations like wallet balances and payment status are only writable by our backend. No system is perfectly secure, so please also use a strong, unique password and avoid sharing your login details with anyone.

9. Children

LowHub is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has created an account, please contact us so we can remove it.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time as LowHub adds new features. We'll update the "Last updated" date above when we do. Continuing to use LowHub after a change means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact us

If you have questions about this policy or your data, or want to request account/data deletion, contact us: