UGANDA Law and Practice Contributed by: Timothy Kajja, Nanyonjo Janet Pheobe and Jolly Kibalama, Engoru, Mutebi Advocates
appropriate sports federation. At this stage, clubs commonly suspend the players’ contracts pending a determination or investigation by the responsible federation. If the player is eventually found guilty, the contract is immediately suspended. At the federation level, when credible allegations are raised against a player, the individual is suspended from any sports activity pending full investigation and the hearing of their case. Although players are allowed legal representation, many go through the process unrepresented. The hearing panel is often composed of individuals knowledgeable about the sport, including former players. At the appellate level, some panels include members with legal qualifications. In many federa - tions, there is no clear distinction between the inves - tigatory team, the prosecution team, and the sports federation itself. After the hearing, the panel retires to deliver its verdict. Any party aggrieved by the decision may appeal to an internal appellate panel. A further appeal may lie with the international federation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), or the yet‑to‑be operationalised National Sports Arbitration Panel(s). The exact appellate struc - ture varies by federation. The Criminal Justice System and Crimes in Sport The third tier – Uganda’s ordinary criminal justice system – is an additional avenue, though one sel - dom used for players. It is more commonly applied to third‑party actors who are not licensed or recognised within the sports ecosystem. Certain offences may be categorised as purely “sports crimes”, while others fall under “crimes in sports”. Because the National Sports Act forms part of Ugan - da’s legal framework, any person, including players, who commits an offence under the Act may be pros - ecuted accordingly. The Uganda Police Force has the constitutional mandate to investigate suspected offences and bring charges against persons involved in doping or match‑fixing. After investigations, the case file is for - warded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),
who may sanction prosecution or return the file for further inquiries. If the DPP sanctions the case, the accused is arraigned in court for plea taking. A guilty plea results in immedi - ate conviction and sentencing. If the accused pleads not guilty, a full hearing follows, during which pros - ecutors present evidence. If the Magistrate finds that a prima facie case exists, the accused is required to present a defence, after which the Magistrate renders judgment. The judgment is appealable to the High Court. Uganda’s sports‑related rights landscape continues to grow steadily, with several key rights categories becoming increasingly significant. Below are some of the most notable areas. Trade Secrets In Uganda, trade secrets include information relat - ing to formulas, patterns, compilations, programmes, methods, techniques, or processes. In the sports sector, this may cover coaching tactics, methods for producing sports equipment, merchandise strategies, and other sensitive operational information. These are protected under the Trade Secrets Protection Act, Cap 80. This form of protection does not require registration, which benefits sports clubs and organisations that wish to maintain confidentiality while still enjoying legal protection. Typically, individuals granted access to such information must sign Non‑Disclosure Agree - ments (NDAs). If someone discloses or misuses pro - tected information, they can be sued under the Act. Venue Naming Rights Sports venues in Uganda are increasingly engaging in naming‑rights deals with companies seeking brand visibility among fans. One of the most successful examples is the partnership between MTN Uganda and Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC). 2. Commercial Rights 2.1 Sports-Related Rights
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