Cookie Policy

Review the latest policy information published by Sika Prime.

Effective Date: November 17, 2022 Last Updated: November 18, 2024

This Cookie Policy explains how Sika Prime ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our platform or use our services. By continuing to use our platform, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website or use a digital platform. They are widely used to make platforms work efficiently, improve user experience, and provide information to the platform owner.

Cookies can be:

Session cookies — temporary files deleted when you close your browser
Persistent cookies — files that remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them
First-party cookies — set directly by Sika Prime
Third-party cookies — set by external service providers on our behalf

2. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the platform to function. Without them, core features such as login, account access, and loan application processing would not work.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
`session_id`	Maintains your logged-in session	Session
`auth_token`	Authenticates your identity securely	Session
`csrf_token`	Protects against cross-site request forgery	Session

You cannot opt out of essential cookies as they are required for the platform to operate.

2.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies remember your preferences and settings to provide a more personalised experience.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
`lang_pref`	Remembers your language preference	12 months
`ui_settings`	Saves your display and notification settings	6 months

2.3 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how users interact with our platform so we can improve performance and usability. The data collected is aggregated and anonymous.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
`_ga`	Google Analytics — tracks unique visitors	24 months
`_gid`	Google Analytics — tracks session activity	24 hours
`_gat`	Google Analytics — throttles request rate	1 minute

2.4 Security Cookies

These cookies help us detect and prevent fraudulent activity, unauthorised access, and suspicious behaviour on the platform.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
`sec_flag`	Flags unusual login patterns	Session
`device_id`	Identifies trusted devices for account security	12 months

2.5 Marketing and Communication Cookies

Where you have given consent, these cookies allow us to deliver relevant communications and measure the effectiveness of our campaigns. We do not use cookies to serve third-party advertisements.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
`mkt_ref`	Tracks referral source for loan applications	30 days
`campaign_id`	Links your session to a specific campaign	30 days

3. Third-Party Cookies

We may engage third-party service providers who set cookies on our platform on our behalf. These include:

Google Analytics — website usage analytics
Payment processors — secure transaction handling
Identity verification providers — KYC and onboarding services

These providers are contractually prohibited from using your data for their own purposes and must comply with applicable data protection laws. We are not responsible for the cookie practices of external websites linked from our platform.

4. Similar Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, we may use the following technologies:

Web beacons / pixel tags — small images embedded in emails or pages to track open rates and interactions
Local storage — browser-based storage used to save session preferences
Device fingerprinting — used for fraud detection and security purposes only

5. Your Cookie Choices

You have control over how cookies are used when you access our platform.

5.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our platform, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner where you can accept all cookies, customise your preferences, or decline non-essential cookies.

5.2 Browser Settings

You can control or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Common options include:

Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions

Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our platform, including your ability to log in or complete a loan application.

5.3 Opt-Out of Analytics

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

6. Cookie Retention Periods

We retain cookie data only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected. Specific retention periods are listed in the tables in Section 2. When cookies expire or are deleted, any associated session data is also cleared from our systems.

7. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, regulation, or our services. We will notify you of material changes by:

Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Displaying a notification on our platform where appropriate

We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:

Sika Prime — Privacy & Data Protection

Email: privacy@sikaprime.com
Phone: +260 975138481
Address: UNZA
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 17:00