Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Gulacart platform, including the website at gulacart.com and all related services (the "Service"). By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old to use Gulacart. By creating an account, you represent that you meet this age requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are using Gulacart on behalf of a business or organisation, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. Account Responsibilities

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
• You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account
• You must provide accurate and complete information when creating your account
• You must promptly notify us if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• One person or entity may not maintain more than one free-tier account

3. Use of the Platform

Gulacart provides tools to create online storefronts and connect with customers via WhatsApp. You may use the platform only for lawful commercial purposes. You are solely responsible for all content you publish on your store, including product listings, images, descriptions, and prices.

For details on acceptable use, see our Acceptable Use Policy.

4. Prohibited Activities

• Selling illegal, counterfeit, stolen, or prohibited goods
• Selling regulated goods (weapons, drugs, tobacco, alcohol) without appropriate licensing
• Impersonating other businesses, brands, or individuals
• Attempting to access other users' accounts, data, or stores
• Using the platform to send spam, unsolicited messages, or phishing attempts
• Reverse-engineering, scraping, or attempting to extract source code from the platform
• Uploading malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Using Gulacart to launder money or facilitate financial fraud
• Creating stores for the sole purpose of gaming affiliate or referral programs

5. Subscription Plans and Billing

5.1 Plans

Gulacart offers a free plan and paid subscription plans (Basic, Plus, Pro). Feature availability varies by plan. Current pricing and features are listed on our pricing page.

5.2 Billing

Paid subscriptions are billed monthly. Payments are processed by Dodo Payments. By subscribing, you authorise recurring charges to your payment method.

5.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Upon cancellation, you retain access to paid features until the end of your current billing period. After expiry, your store reverts to the Free plan.

5.4 Refunds

Please see our Refund Policy for details.

5.5 Price changes

We may change subscription pricing with 30 days' notice. Existing subscribers continue at their current rate until the next renewal after the effective date.

6. Store Content and Intellectual Property

You retain full ownership of all content you upload to your store, including product images, descriptions, and branding. By using Gulacart, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display your content to your customers and to include it in platform features (such as featured stores or marketing materials, with your prior consent).

Gulacart's platform — including code, design, logos, and brand name — is our intellectual property. You may not copy, modify, or redistribute it.

7. Transactions Between Sellers and Buyers

Gulacart facilitates the connection between store owners and their customers but is not a party to any transaction. Store owners are solely responsible for:

• The accuracy of product listings, prices, and availability
• Collecting payment from customers (via WhatsApp, M-Pesa, bank transfer, etc.)
• Fulfilling orders, delivery, and returns
• Complying with applicable consumer protection laws
• Issuing refunds to their own customers

8. Affiliate and Partner Programs

Gulacart operates an affiliate program. Partners earn commissions for referring merchants who subscribe to paid plans. Commissions are subject to separate partner terms. We reserve the right to modify commission rates, withhold fraudulent commissions, or terminate partner accounts for abuse.

9. Availability and Service Levels

We strive for high availability but do not guarantee 100% uptime. The platform may be temporarily unavailable for maintenance, updates, or reasons beyond our control. We are not liable for losses caused by downtime.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• Gulacart is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• We are not liable for lost profits, lost revenue, lost data, or business interruption
• Our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the total amount you paid to Gulacart in the 12 months preceding the claim

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Gulacart, its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, your store content, or your violation of these Terms.

12. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in prohibited activities, or remain inactive for more than 12 months. You may delete your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Uganda. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation, or if necessary, through binding arbitration.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting a notice on our website or via email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of Gulacart after the changes take effect constitutes your acceptance.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email legal@gulacart.com.