UGANDA Law and Practice Contributed by: Timothy Kajja, Nanyonjo Janet Pheobe and Jolly Kibalama, Engoru, Mutebi Advocates
Engoru, Mutebi Advocates 1st Floor Ericsson House 24B Akii Bua Road Nakasero P.O. Box 22510 Kampala Uganda Tel: +256 3932 16520 Email: engorumutebi@engorumutebi.co.ug Web: www.engorumutebi.co.ug
1. Athlete Conduct, Integrity and Enforcement 1.1 Anti-Doping Regimes Before August 2023, the consumption of some sub - stances appearing on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list constituted a criminal offence under Uganda’s general criminal statutes. However, the list was neither comprehensive nor aligned with the continually evolving WADA Anti-Doping Code. This gap was addressed through the enactment of Uganda’s National Sport Act, which broadly prohibits doping. Following WADA’s recommendations, the Act was further streamlined in January 2025 to ensure full alignment with the World Anti-Doping Code. Under the current legal framework, the use of any pro - hibited substance to enhance performance, as well as any violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, is criminalised. Consequently, all substances and meth - ods banned under the Code are equally prohibited in Uganda. At the time of writing, Uganda is actively developing its National Anti-Doping Regulations. Draft regulations are undergoing review by relevant stake - holders. The National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) Although the Sports Act establishes an independent NADO, the Uganda Olympic Committee is currently fulfilling this role in practice, as the statutory NADO is not yet fully constituted or operational. Nonetheless, the NADO office is in the process of recruiting staff and is expected to commence formal operations in the near future.
NADO is mandated to develop a national strategy for promoting and implementing the WADA Code, conduct athlete testing, investigate doping matters, address doping in sport, undertake related research, deliver anti-doping education, and carry out additional responsibilities within its remit. Doping Sanctions Doping sanctions are widely observed and enforced across Uganda’s sporting landscape. Professional sports leagues and governing bodies include anti- doping clauses in their constitutive instruments. In 2026, for example, Mercyline Chelangat – bronze med - allist at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – received a five-year ban after testing revealed adverse analytical findings for three prohibited substances. 1.2 Misconduct and Match-Fixing The law generally prohibits any person, including ath - letes, from manipulating sports results or the overall course of a sports competition. To achieve this objec - tive, the law outlines several actions that may consti - tute manipulation. These include the direct or indirect promise, offer, solicitation, or acceptance of an undue sporting advantage intended to alter or influence the outcome or progression of a sports event. The National Sports Act, Cap 151, further criminal - ises match fixing, particularly when it is connected to illegal betting activities. It also makes it an offence to share confidential information related to any sport when such information is used to fix or influence a sports result. Additionally, the Act prohibits schemes designed to use money or any other form of reward to
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