Uganda is located at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa and is
bordered by South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Its location makes it a strategic base for trade
and therefore very attractive for potential investors as an
emerging market. However, companies interested in entering the
Ugandan market should seek IP protection beforehand, as it is
common for third-party distributors to take advantage of new
businesses and register their trademarks in bad faith, resulting in
the unlawful use of marks and the creation of counterfeit
products.
International treaties and protocols
Since 2000 Uganda has been a member of the Banjul Protocol of
the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO),
which means that trademarks can be filed regionally. However,
Uganda has not ratified the Banjul Protocol. Therefore, it is not
recommended to take this route over the national one, since it is
uncertain whether marks that are filed in
