Spotlight on: Godwin Kakande, MMKAS Advocates (Uganda)

Tell us about your career highlights to date?

My first career highlight was interning at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington DC, which I found interesting and eye opening. This was my first practical introduction to competition law and practice, and it was a worthwhile experience. I guess my other career highlight would have to be securing the requisite license to practice law in New York, Kenya, and also back home in Uganda. For a Ugandan that obtained a law degree from a South African University, it was difficult to get licensed in Uganda since the law (as it was then) did not allow students with law degrees from South Africa to undertake the Ugandan bar course. However, having been licensed to practice law in New York and Kenya, and also practised law in Kenya for four years, I eventually managed to get licensed to practice law in Uganda. This has been a great accomplishment for me since I prefer to live and practice law in Uganda.

What are you most excited about in 2025/ what are your goals in the coming months?

Considering the history of competition law in Uganda, and it being an area of practice for me, I am excited to see how the new Competition law will be rolled out and its impact on businesses in Uganda. From a goals perspective, I am looking forward to working more closely with our new tax partner to grow our tax practice to greater heights. I am particularly excited about this because tax remains a core business concern for clients investing in Uganda. 

Talk to us about doing business in Uganda – can you talk us through three things international investors need to consider?

International investors need to consider the following three things:

1. Tax Regime. Owing to diminished financial resources, the Uganda government is enhancing its revenue collections. The Uganda Revenue Authority has ramped up tax collections by conducting routine investigations into companies’ tax filings as well as actively issuing sanctions for non-compliance. The Uganda Revenue Authority is also increasingly considering new taxes to expand the country’s tax base in order to increase revenue collections.
2. Political Climate. The political climate of any country should be considered carefully by any investor looking to invest in any country. Uganda is not any different and since we are going into an election season, the political atmosphere in Uganda is getting heightened. During the election period, the Ugandan economy usually experiences stagnated growth. This usually affects the investments in the country.
3. Regulatory landscape. It is important for potential investors to consider the relevant regulatory requirements before investing in a country. Sectors that are heavily regulated tend to impede new investors from investing in the country.
    

What is the best advice ever given to you?

You either make yourself accountable or you will be made accountable by your circumstances.
 

Who are your dream dinner guests? 

• Nelson Mandela.
• Wangari Maathai.
• Rosa Parks.
• Lionel Messi.
• Sir. Lewis Hamilton.