Africa Update 2020 – Uganda
Registry Visit
In December 2019, Adams & Adams Partner, Nishan Singh, attended a mediation hearing for a trade mark infringement matter filed at the Commercial Court in Kampala. He was accompanied by representatives from our associated firm. After the hearing, Singh visited the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), and met with the Manager of IP, Mr. Gilbert Agaba, to discuss Registry operations and outstanding matters.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CONCERNS
Opportunities
- New oil deposits can start energy industry development
- Uganda has a well-developed, sound and well-regulated banking system which compares favourably with other developing countries in the world.
- Productive agricultural land is being targeted by government for sustainable commercial farming
Concerns
- President Museveni’s long hold on power is retained at the expense of political and speech freedoms
- Government corruption a problem for investors
- Inadequate electricity supply is hindering national development

Nishan Singh
Constitutional Court Delivers Landmark but Incomplete Copyright Ruling. Parliament Must Now Seize the Opportunity to Modernise South Africa’s Copyright Law for the AI Era
JOHANNESBURG — On 26 June 2026, the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down its long-awaited judgment in Ex Parte President of the Republic of South Africa: In re Constitutionality of the C...
July 13 2026
Newsflash: First-Ever SEP Judgment in Africa – Moroccan Court Interdicts Transsion Smartphone Sales
The Casablanca Trade Court on 6 July 2026 handed down what appears to be Africa’s first standard essential patent (SEP) ruling, interdicting two Transsion Holdings subsidiaries, Tecno Mobile Lim...
July 09 2026
A Slow Burn
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill saw additional progress towards the end of June this year. Specifically, the Portfolio Committee on Health adopted a motion of desirab...
July 08 2026

