Team size: Four

Jurisdictions your role covers:  Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, the DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mauritius and South Africa

Q&A

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The team has successfully executed several major telecom infrastructure deals, international development financings, and cross border regulatory transactions in different jurisdictions. The team delivered all legal and regulatory requirements for a major tender awarded by the Rwanda Information Society Authority. The contract covers the supply of Bulk Dedicated International Broadband Connectivity Capacity and IP Transit across Rwanda under the World Bank Digital Acceleration project.   

The deployment of optic fibre cable in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda is equally attributed to the ability of the team to negotiate and secure the critical Right of Way agreement permitting the construction and laying of optic fiber cables through the National Park. We further conducted full legal due diligence and executed the primary Grant Agreement with US Trade and Development Agency, securing international project financing for telecommunications infrastructure expansion.  

The team has held an upper hand in the negotiation, drafting and managing high value cross border agreements including Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) contracts, network Co-Build contracts, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) across the company’s different operations.

In light of increasing regulatory scrutiny across sectors in East Africa, how are you adapting your compliance frameworks to stay ahead of change? 

I monitor, interpret, and advise on emerging and existing laws, regulations, and industry standards across operating regions. I also ensure continuous development, implementation, update, and maintenance of internal compliance policies and operational procedures to ensure they directly reflect evolving regulatory and statutory changes.  I recommend and implement corrective actions, establishing internal controls that mitigate legal risks across the operations. I ensure efficient regulatory reporting through overseeing the preparation and accurate, timely submission of required regulatory filings and reports to the respective national authorities. I ensure that the telecommunication and operational licenses remain fully valid and compliant across multiple countries. I liaise directly with regulatory bodies and statutory registries to maintain transparent, constructive relationships. I also conduct legal orientations for new employees across different countries of operation and deliver regular compliance training to build organizational awareness.  

What trends are you seeing in foreign investment into the region, and how does your role support or facilitate these opportunities? 

Foreign Direct Investment is surging into East Africa’s digital infrastructure, particularly data centers and fiber networks. However, capital flows heavily toward projects with clear regulatory pathways, secured land rights, and flawless contract execution. I bridge the gap between complex regional requirements and international funding standards to unlock capital. I manage legal and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. I also negotiating complex land, government, and environmental approvals for fiber-optic deployment. Drafting and negotiating telecom agreements including IRUs, co-builds, MSAs, and SLAs facilitate the locking in of revenue and risk mitigation.