ALP Law Series

Article No 2/2022 of the ALP Law Review Series is an analysis of the constraints on trademark protection in South Sudan in the absence of what are traditionally regarded as intellectual property (IP) laws—that include trademark law. The constraints are particularly faced by businesses interested in creating a market for their products in South Sudan yet are concerned about the protection of distinctive brand identity in form of trade (and service) marks.

Article No 1/2022 of the ALP Law Review Series is an analysis on the emerging culture of trade wars in East Africa especially between Uganda and Kenya.

Article No 3/2021 of the ALP Law Review Series addresses the East African Monetary Union, its current set up and the challenges being faced to implement this stage of integration in the East African Community. This article further takes a comparative look at currency areas in Europe and West Africa deriving lessons from strengths and failures faced by the same to propose a resilient and efficient system for the East African Monetary Union going forward.

COVID-19 has continued to hold sway as a pandemic on public health and healthcare. While other parts of the globe were into fourth and fifth waves as of mid-2021, Uganda was hit with its second wave of the pandemic that resulted in country-wide lockdown (and shelter-in-place) measures from June 26, 2021 to July 30, 2021.

The full realisation and implementation of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) to facilitate the free movement of professional services in the EAC Common Market has remained a far-off reality since the commencement of the EAC Common Market Protocol. Post-COVID-19 the mutual recognition of professionals will be central to facilitating cross border movement and provision of professional services via online platforms.

Trade in the East African Community (EAC) region is operational mainly under a legal regime underpinned by the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market(the “Common Market Protocol”) and the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Customs Union (the “Customs Union Protocol”).

Parliament of Uganda enacts amendments to electoral laws as country gears for 2021 general elections. It is an effort at electoral law reforms straddling between aligning with recommendations of the Supreme Court and the 2018 constitutional amendments.

Uganda has been described by the oil industry press as Africa’s ‘hottest exploitation frontier’. Accordingly, Uganda’s Albertine Graben is estimated to hold more than 6 billion barrels of oil, placing Uganda among the foremost African oil producers. The discovery and eventual exploitation of this oil resource is one of those once-in-a generation events that can transform the country not only on a macro level but also in the individual lives of Ugandan citizens.

Article No 2/2020 of the ALP Law Review Series addresses disputes over customs and trade in the context of regional trade integration in the East African Community (EAC). The article reviews three decisions rendered in 2019 that involved disputes over taxes, classification of goods, and unfair trade practices within the EAC customs union and common market legal regime.

Article No 1/2020 of the ALP Law Review Series reflects on the role of the courts in Uganda in arbitration and in particular the attempts to use judicial review to challenge decisions of arbitral bodies and arbitral awards. The jurisdiction of courts to intervene in arbitration matters in Uganda is regulated by section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap 4 (as amended).