IP is a challenge facing African economies

In most African countries, institutional mechanisms have been established, the relevant policies put in place and activities undertaken towards promoting intellectual property rights. This is because Africa has an underwhelming record in creating and protecting IP.

Not enough importance has been given to the protecting the ideas and data generated by Africans and African institutions. Protecting these valuable resources is an essential step towards creating wealth and securing opportunities for Africa’s youth. The key question now is how we can best use the IP system to bring about lasting economic, social and cultural benefits for all Africans

Global IP statistics paint a rather bleak picture. For example, in 2013 not one African nation appeared among the top 20 countries filing international patent applications using WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty.

In the global knowledge-based economy, intangible assets are central to any country’s productivity and competitive advantage. The creation, management and protection of knowledge are central to global economic integration and wealth creation.

A strong IP regime provides incentives for producers or researchers to develop new products and technologies. We need an urgent public debate involving all stakeholders to frame new ways of promoting innovation and creativity and capturing their economic value in Africa.

Global Patent, Plant Varieties and Trademarks filings rise in 2014. Industrial Designs drop

Innovators filed some 2.7 million patent applications in 2014 to mark a 4.5% worldwide annual rise. Application activity in China outstripped the combined total in its next-closest followers, the United States and Japan.

Trademark and plant variety filings also showed strong growth last year, while industrial design applications declined for the first time in two decades, according to the 2015 edition of the World Intellectual Property Indicators - WIPO’s annual report on the latest trends in intellectual property (IP) activity worldwide.

“Demand for IP rights continued to grow around the globe in 2014,” said WIPO Director General Francis Gurry. “This underscores the central role that new technology and brand recognition play in determining success in today’s marketplace. It also highlights the important task that falls to IP offices in maintaining quality when examining IP applications.”

Patent offices receiving the highest number of applications in 2014 were China, with 928,177 filings, followed by the US (578,802), Japan (325,989), the Republic of Korea (210,292) and the European Patent Office (EPO, 152,662).

US applicants filed the most applications abroad (224,400), followed by those from Japan (200,000) and Germany (105,600).

Computer technology (7.8% of total) saw most applications worldwide, followed by electrical machinery (7.4%), measurement (4.8%) and digital communication (4.6%).

An estimated 1.18 million patents were granted worldwide in 2014.

The total number of trademark registrations issued worldwide in 2014 increased markedly by 16.3% to reach 3.49 million.

For the first time in more than 20 years, the total number of designs contained in all industrial design applications filed worldwide in 2014 dropped by 8.1% to about 1.14 million in 2014.

Plant variety applications reached a new record in 2014 with around 15,600 filings worldwide. The 3.3% increase in 2014 marks the fourth consecutive year of growth.

WIPO-ARIPO Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property and Product Branding For Business Development in Africa

The World Intellectual Property Organisation, (WIPO), in association with African Regional Intellectual PropertyOrganisation, (ARIPO), hosted the Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property and Product Branding for Business Development in Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, between 26th – 27th November. The workshop, which attracted participants from all 19 ARIPO member states was opened the Acting Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe, F. Gabi.

In his opening speech, quoted by ARIPO website, F. Gabi appreciated WIPO and ARIPO for committing time to share knowledge and understanding about the benefits of using branding to market African IP in Africa and beyond. 

Gabi is quoted saying the African continent is rich in resources of any kind, including genetic resources, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and many more, all of which needs IP protection and a proper business strategy on how to market the goods and services.

The Director, Industrial Property, Christopher Kiige, welcomed the participants to Harare and thanked the Director General of WIPO for facilitating not only this workshop but also other programmes in Africa including the MIP, IP Offices Infrastructure Development Programme through IPAS and others.

Kiige also thanked the very knowledgeable and high calibre resources persons for making time to come and share their knowledge and experiences. He hoped that the MIP students will use the knowledge obtained during the workshop in their daily work for the benefit of the ARIPO Member States and Africa at large.

The representative of WIPO, Joyce Banya said in the knowledge based economy of the world today the importance of IP and innovation is globally acknowledged. African leaders in the AU Agenda 2063 identified Science, Technology and Innovation as crucial elements for the transformation of African Economies.  

Uganda's Super Cop

Standing in the rains battering the rain, she stood firm directing traffic for those in the comfort of their cars. The splashes, mud run off and damp clothing not deterring her duty. Only a helmet protected her hair, green jacket and black trouser shielding her wet skin. This is a rare show of work commitment by a Uganda Police Force officer. 

But Betty Chemisto (CPL) did just that, braving the afternoon rain on October 30 to guide traffic along Lugogo Bypass.

And her actions have not gone unnoticed. When her unidentified picture was posted on social media, it went viral. Many were touched by her selfless devotion and requested to recognize her #Supercop action.

From public contributions, special lunch was organized for her, and cash contributions, said to be about 1.7 million, handed to her.

“I was very happy. I am very happy with Chemisto. This is the image we want to see, because on the century celebrations the president criticised us and since then we have tried to change,” said AIGP Steven Kusima in a ‘lunch message.
“Uganda Police Force is very happy. The recognition will not stop here. We will see to it that her work is duly recognized. I encourage you to continue to do what you are doing, the public is watching,” he added.

CPL Betty Chemisto had this to say, “I thought I had committed a crime (when I was called to office). I love my job whether it rains or not. My OC is very tough he moves around to check especially when it’s about to rain. I carry my packed food, water and raincoat, because in Kampala you are never sure of the weather. Long live Uganda Police."

Messages are still pouring in on social media. 

Tubonge and Copyright Debate

When Ugandan musicians met the president at a evening siesta dubbed Tubonge along the shores of L Victoria at Speke Resort Munyonyo, it was a funfair. Spiced with music, comedy and camera flashlights, the venue was a chatterbox filled with Uganda’s unedited musical voices.

At the end of the sumptuous meal, the president promised a sweetening package of 400 million shillings to be put in their support fund. Accusations and counter accusations of ‘misappropriation’ of the funds are already boiling.

One of the scorns they woke up to a day later was of meeting the president and failing to raise issues of copyright for their music. In defense, some say it was a wrong forum for such an issue.

Music industry in Uganda is still disorganized, and as a result under rewarding in the long term. Ask James Wasula, secretary general of the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS), a collecting society managing music performing rights. Whereas UPRS has a structure for collecting fees from users of music; radio stations, hotels, conference venues, discotheques among others, the collections are meager.

Despite the increase in numbers of potential collection points, the individual benefits of artists from their works are short lived, in relation to copyright aspects. Commercial benefits of music and artistic works in Uganda are catered for under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006 and the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Regulations of 2010.  

The implementation of this act is the problem, not the lack of a presidential statement at a dinner besides a lake.

In this crowded city, musicians get their money from concert/musical performance sales, corporate endorsements, participation in commercials and other social performance gigs. The CD sales, airplay revenue and royalties are just a peanut that would not meet the cost of the next trip to the recording studio.

An announcement by the president at Munyonyo would have little, if any, effect to the copyright implementation.In fact, he has through his government set for them the ground to achieve more than a mere statement. The acts and regulations have been passed to cater for intellectual property, and that contains copyright issues.  Institutions like police, judiciary, Uganda RegistrationService Bureau are already in place.

The artists themselves are supposed to be ‘lead actors’ in promoting the copyright benefits of their work.

Wakaliwood – A Breed of Ugandan Film

Over the course of this year, one Ugandan film producer has received more international reporters at his studio and home than all the rest in the field. Newspaper, radio, television, online, he has welcomed them all to his Wakaliga based Ramon Film Productions.

 Isaac Nabwana is the man behind Ramon Film Productions, and Wakaliwood, the new slogan coined out of Wakaliga slum, on the outskirts of Kampala, where his studio is located.

In one of the latest reports, Aljazeera’s Malcolm Webb describes Nabwana as “Uganda's rockstar filmmaker. He produces a new film every month, most with a budget of around $200, attracting millions of views online and filling seats at local theaters,”.

One of the most watched trailers from this production house is a trailer titled Who Killed Captain Alex?. Other films include: tebaatusasula, (they don’t pay us), Bad Black, ‘crazyPeople’ – Ani mulalu and about 50 others.

“It is a surprise that he did not feature anywhere in this year’s Uganda film festival awards,” says Muloma Timothy, one of Wakaliwood films’ fan. “He is flying our flag high outside Uganda, especially in these hard and chaotic times of election”.

With his friends and neighbors, Nabwana is turning Wakaliga into a home of film production.

Ugandan Doctor Invents Ebola Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit, Files for Patents

A Ugandan doctor, Misaki Wayengera, has filed to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African RegionalIntellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), for patents of his innovations in biometric interventions that include an HIV-1 cure and rapid tuberculosis diagnostics. 

His rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for Ebola virus disease (EVD) is able to detect Ebola recombinant antigens in less than five minutes.

In an article by Agnes Nanyogo, published on the website http://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org, titled “Ugandan innovation could end up being manufactured elsewhere: the plight of a young scientist in Africa”, it reveals that Wayengera kicked off his research with the EVD RDT under start-up (2008) biotech Restrizymes Biotherapeutics (U) limited.

Among the challenges he has faced is shortage of funds to facilitate his research.

“Dr Wayengera then resorted to applying for funding from Grand Challenges Canada in 2013;  he was awarded a grant worth CAN$100,000. In addition, Grand Challenges Canada was willing to award to him an extra one million dollars for his research, if matched by financial commitment [of any value] to the project by his home Government. Subsequent efforts to secure local funding from the Ugandan government through follow up letters and social media pressure were futile. Luckily, in a rare turn of events, a breach of the prevailing rules and in a show of trust, Grand Challenges Canada offered Dr. Wayengera and his research team CAN$1.5 million, possibly due to the devastating EVD in West Africa and beyond.  The money enabled Dr. Wayengera and his team to continue with their research which led to a breakthrough innovation,” 

This quote is from Agnes Nanyogo’s article, which can be accessed on this link: http://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/ugandan-innovation-could-end-up-being-manufactured-elsewhere-the-plight-of-a-young-scientist-in-africa/

Wayengera is now looking to manufacture and scale up his technology in North America. 

The United Republic Of Tanzania Signs The Arusha Protocol For The Protection Of New Varieties Of Plants

© IP Desk: The United Republic of Tanzania has become the fifth member state of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) to sign the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, (PVP).
According to ARIPO, “Hon. Stephen M. Wasira (MP), Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives signed the Protocol on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam on September 28, 2015”.
The other four ARIPO Member States to have signed the protocol include; The Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. These signed the protocol on July 6, 2015, the day the protocol was adopted a Diplomatic Conference that was held in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.
PVP Protocol seeks to provide Member States with a regional plant variety protection system that recognizes the need to provide growers and farmers with improved varieties of plants in order to ensure sustainable Agricultural production. Member States, cooperating partners and other stakeholders are expected to provide financial and material support for the effective implementation of the Protocol.
The Protocol remains open for signature by Member States of the Organization and other States, members of the African Union until December 31, 2015. It will enter into force only when four States have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession.

Zambia Becomes Party to Swakopmund Protocol

2nd Floor The Republic of Zambia has become the seventh member state to become party to the Swakopmund Protocol. This was after Zambia deposited Instrument of Ratification with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on August 28, 2015. The Member States of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) adopted the Swakopmund Protocol on the protection of traditional knowledge and expressions of folklore on August 9, 2010 at Swakopmund in the Republic of Namibia. The protocol entered into force on May 11, 2015. The protocol is meant to “protect creations derived from the exploitation of traditional knowledge in ARIPO member states against misappropriation and illicit use through bio-piracy, within ARIPO.

Global Census at population.io

You do know your age. But how many people are older or younger than you? Population.io is an online site that keeps track of the world’s population. It also lets you know how many people in the world, home country or any other country are either older or younger than you. And for some you, or us, the numbers and percentages are very surprising. Or are they not? At the time of writing this, we are 7,340,356,127 and adding up like seconds of a clock. That means by the time you visit, the numbers will be considerably higher. I came across this site after reading an article by Charles Onyango-Obbo in the Daily Monitor. All you need to do is enter your date of birth, country of birth and sex, then hit the GO button. In seconds you will get to know your age position, in the world.

About Population.io aims to make demography – the study of human populations – accessible to a wider audience. We believe that demographic data can play an important role in understanding the social and economic developments of our time. Our hope is that people from all walks of life, in all ages and across all countries will explore a new perspective of their own life and find their own place in the world of today and tomorrow. Credits Population.io has been developed by Wolfgang Fengler (wfengler AT worldbank DOT org,@wolfgangfengler), together with K.C. Samir (@kcsamir) and Benedikt Groß (@bndktgrs).

Bigirimana's Livelihood Copyright gets Mixed Reactions

Front Desk - An interesting debate about a granted copyright incident has developed in Kampala – Uganda. It all starts with the registrar of copyright granting copyright protection to the Youth Livelihood Model (YLM)) which later gave birth to the Youth Livelihood Programme(YLP) to Mr Pius Bigirimana. The registrar is from Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB), the government agency in charge of registering intellectual property rights aspects. Mr Pius Bigirimana is a government employee, Permanent Secretary in the ministry in charge of implementing the model. Copyright in Uganda is regulated by the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2006. The Youth Livelihood model is a development concept that has been adopted by the government in its anti-poverty campaign. Although Mr Bigirimana has waived his economic right to royalty for the use of his copyright, the debate is whether he should have been granted the rights in the first place. This is from issues that include; as a government employee, the copyright should have been given to the employer, whether the works are original ‘enough’ to grant copyright. This is because copyright protection is given for the expression of an idea, and not an idea in itself. This debate shows an increasing interest in the value of copyright in particular, and intellectual property rights in general, in Uganda. On these two links, are opinions by two lawyers on different sides. http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Bigirimana-s-copyright--raises-more-questions-than-answers/-/689364/2772998/-/10mxgt2/-/index.html and http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Why-Bigirimana-is-entitled-to-copyright-protection/-/689364/2790498/-/xf4lfh/-/index.html

Uganda increases intellectual property rights collection fees.

Intellectual property rights are gaining momentum in Uganda. A number of IP regulation and protection laws have been in the past. The Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) was also activated by an act of Parliament to among others, register components of intellectual property in the country. Ever since URSB was operationalised, "Uganda now collects Uganda shillings 20 billion shillings from intellectual property rights fees, from 5 billion in 2010," According to Mercy Kyomugisha, the deputy director at URSB. Copyrights aspects include trademarks, patents, copyrights, utility models and industrial designs. Muheebwa Hillary is a journalist based in Kampala, specialising in covering intellectual property rights.

China Boosts Uganda’s Road Sector

An ancient Chinese saying says that if you want to be rich, should build a road first. And so it seems, china wants Uganda to develop gauging by the number of road construction projects being undertaken by Chinese construction companies in Uganda. Being a landlocked country, Uganda relies heavily on road transport, carrying over 95 percent of passenger and freight traffic. Air and water transport are used minimally for trans-boundary transactions. This has limited the maximization of the country’s potential, especially in tourism, agriculture trade. Take Fortportal-Bundibugyo road in the western region which runs up to Lamia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Public transport on this road was limited, and travelers had to expect long tenacious drives on the bumpy road on the hilly terrains. But now, Chinese company Chongging International Construction Corporation is upgrading the 103km road to bitumen standard. According to the Uganda national roads authority, “the upgrading is considered to be important not only in terms of completing the national paved road circuit, but also for international transit traffic to the Democratic Republic of Congo.” The Albertine region where this road passes is also endowed with minerals, including oil. The African Development Bank is supporting the project through a loan to the government of Uganda. Another Chinese company China Communications Construction Company is constructing a $350 Kampala – Entebbe expressway. The 37km main road with an additional 13km spur road will join Kampala the capital city to Entebbe, the country’s single international airport. With Kampala’s congestion growing at an estimated annual rate of 4.5% annually, the express highway, the first of its kind in Uganda, is part of the measures to decongest the central business district and enhance trade movement through, within and out of the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. The project is funded by a preferential loan from China Export and Import Bank. In June last year, the Chinese government handed over to Uganda a batch of road equipment maintenance as part of a 40 year soft loan of about $106m to boost the country’s road sector. The equipment includes 159 graders, 257 tipper trucks, 12 wheel loaders, 7 excavators, 6 dozers and 2 low loaders. The equipment was distributed to the various local governments across the country. Information from Uganda Investment Authority place China as the country’s main source of direct investment, with more Chinese companies eyeing opportunities in the country’s construction, agriculture and oil and gas sectors.

Sports Betting; The Leading Employer of Ugandan Youth

For a starting price of Shs 500, and prospects of having it multiplied over a number of times within 90 minutes, betting has become the highest money earning venture for the bigest potion of unemloyed youth in Uganda. The over 10 sports betting companies in Uganda are expanding rapidly to meet the ever growing clientele in networked sports betting and virtual games. From early morning, to late evening, the youth swam the betting halls, watch the screens, surf the internet, and buy the playing ticket to take his bet. They will return the folowing morning to check on whether it was that lucky day, or another gamble gone bad. A gamble gone bad wont deter, and a lucky win gives inspiration to take a bigger bet next time. Once in a while, someone earns a huge amount. This once in a period moment entices more keep betting, the way an employee of the month award motivates in the corporate sector. According to statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) of the more than 400,000 young Ugandans who enter the labour market each year, only about 113,000 are absorbed in formal employment, leaving the rest to forage for jobs in the informal sector. While the national unemployment rate stands at 3.5 per cent, that of the youth is a whopping 32.2 per cent. Available data shows that youth unemployment is worse in urban areas, at about 40 per cent. This explains why the betting agencies have more braches in urban areas. For instance, Sports Betting Africa, one of the operational betting agencies, has over 200 branch locations around Kampala alone. Managers at SBA, another betting agency, once revealed to the media that over 100,000 individuals flock its head office halls on weekends with an average 60,000 individuals during the week days. Uganda became the Second African Nation to Legalise Sports Betting, after South Africa.

Ugadan Photojournalist Nominated for 2012 CNN Awards

Newsroom; The Observer newspaper photojournalist, Edward Echwalu is among the 27 journalists nominated for the 17th edition of the 2012 CNN Multichoice African Journalism awards. This years awards are scheduled for July 21 in Lusaka, Zambia. Known for his calm and laidback demeanour, Echwalu is one of the most respected photojournalists in Uganda. Yet it had to take the efforts of editors and friends to convince him to submit his works for nomination. "After weeks of pleading, Echwalu reluctantly submitted in five photos just a day to the submission deadline. The rather chilling, cinematic photos were all taken during last year’s walk-to-work riots. He hence dubbed his submission folder ‘Walk to Work or Walk to Death’." reads a story on The Observer's website. Reacting to news of his nomination, Echwalu, in his trademark solitary voice had this to say: “My pictures depict terror and that is a reminder to all photojournalists that we do not work for ourselves but rather for the good of society no matter what it takes.” Other Ugandan journalists that have won the award include last year's winners: Norman Katende (Photojournalism), Farouk Kayondo (TV News) and Benon Herbert Oluka (Tourism). Leone Ssenyange, (2010 Sports Award), Carolyne Nakazibwe (2002’s Health Reporting category) and Richard Kavuma (overall accolade in 2007). Earlier this year, Police officers allegedly beat Edward Echwalu as he was trying to cover the arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigye at Kira Road Police Station in the capital, Kampala. On April 5th, he recorded a statement with the police's Professional Standards Unit. Police promised to thoroughly investigate the matter within three weeks and hold anyone found responsible accountable, but by press time, the case was not yet resolved.

Journalist charged with incitement to violence, remanded

Uganda Press; Daily Monitor Ntungamo-based reporter, Perez Rumanzi, has been charged with incitement to violence and remanded in custody for 14 days. The new charge, preferred before the Ntungamo Grade One Magistrate Machenga Francis, was amended from the terrorism and obstruction charges that were initially brought against him before he was released on police bond in April. Rumanzi, 27, was arrested by Special Forces Group (SFG) guarding the first Lady Janet Museveni on Sunday, April 29 for allegedly interfering with the security of the first lady. Prosecution alleges that Rumanzi conducted himself in a manner that got the security concerned. It is alleged that he interfered with the movement of security people, and hurled insults at them, saying their time will come like it happened with Muammar Gaddafi. Ms Janet Museveni was the chief guest at the installation ceremony of the members of South Ankole Diocese synod at Kyamate Cathedral. Rumanzi nearly escaped jail when the magistrate said that the charge of “incitement to violence” was not on the charge sheet, and ordered him to produce two sureties so that he could be released pending amendment of the charge sheet. However, he failed to provide the sureties, and was remanded to Ntungamo Government prison until May 30. Rumanzi says he was cleared to cover the ceremony, but left the venue to off-load pictures from his camera’s memory card. On coming back he was denied access to the venue by Ms Museveni’s security personnel who said he was not cleared. “When they told me to go away, I went and kept the camera and returned to attend the service because I had just been cleared in the morning. They then said they did not want me there. They arrested me and called police to take me to the cells,” Rumanzi says. He will appear before court on May 30.

Journalist Killed in Kasese

Uganda Press; Journalists in Kasese District have condemned the killing of there colleague, Amon Thembo Wa'Mupagashya. According to Kasese Central Police, Thembo was attacked and shot dead by unknown armed thugs at about 1am in Kyogha village, Bwera Sub-county, on friday night as he returned from covering a wedding. Thembo, 42, was the director of the Mupagashya Community television centre in Kasese Town. Police say a witness, the deceased’s son, Arnold Mumbere, said men immediately took off with his father’s video camera, a jacket and a bag after being shot. The boy survived unhurt in the process. In a meeting chaired by the district information officer, Mr John Thawithe, journalists said their professional work is at risk if the security personnel do not intervene in curbing insecurity. In a joint statement, the journalists said: “It is tragic that our colleague Amon Thembo died in such a manner. We condemn with strongest terms the killing of our colleague. May the police and other security personnel intensify their operations and investigations so that the assailants are brought to book.” Thembo is survived by a wife and three children. He was buried in Kyogha yesterday.

When A Blind Activist Eluded Chinese Agents

From the Gallery; Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng jumped scaled a high wall and fled the darkened village. From there, he traveled nearly 400 miles to Beijing. His escape was made all the more remarkable by a simple fact: The 40-year-old Chinese dissident has been blind since childhood. “His story,” said friend and fellow activist Hu Jia, “is the Chinese version of ‘The Shawshank Redemption, ” reports the Wasingtonpost.com His flight is a severe blow to China’s vast and lavishly funded internal security system. China, according to budget figures released last month, will spend $111 billion on internal security this year — $5 billion more than the military will get. Chen, a prominent legal activist infuriated party officials by rallying opposition to forced sterilizations and other aspects of China’s family-planning regime, and was jailed from 2006 to 2010. Chen was technically free but under 24-hour surveillance for the last 19 months. He was barred from making phone calls or receiving visitors. Living under the watchful eye of the world’s biggest security apparatus, his every movement closely monitored. So for a blind man to elude one of the world's survaillance team is a show of man's resilience. In the days leading to his escape, Chen pretended to be sick, this clearly hoodwikned the details of layers of security imposed around his tumbledown home. The blind lawyer first tried to escape last year by digging a tunnel with his family members. But guards quickly discovered it, foiling the plan when the tunnel was only a few yards long. Chen’s success in eluding the legions of police and plain-clothes security agents that blanket much of China adds another layer of mystery to a case that has long caused bafflement. It has also highlighted the role of one of the Communist Party’s biggest irritants — a network of well-organized and committed activists ready to take grave personal risks to combat what they see as intolerable injustices.

Museveni wins law suit in London court

From the Gallery; The British Court of Justice has ordered a London-based Ugandan journalist, Dr. Jesse Mashate, to stop making false claims against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
"Be an extended civil restraint order imposed on the claimant stopping him from applying for making any claims or applying for any orders against the defendant without the permission of the judge, and without notice,” the order read.
The court was dismissing a case in which Mashate had obtained a default judgment with orders compelling President Museveni to pay £57m (about sh232.6b) including accumulated interest from 2010 as compensation to him (Mashate) for loss of business. The court also refused Mashate permission to appeal against its orders.
In the November 4 ruling, Justice Seymour, QC, also rejected Mashate’s request to appeal against his judgment. The team defending President Museveni included Kampala-based lawyers Dr. Charles Kallu-Kalumiya, Peter Kabatsi and Joseph Matsiko, all of Kampala Associated Advocates.
The judge also ordered Mashate not to sell Ugandan properties in London.

Mashate had dragged the President to the British court in London, initially, in his personal capacity as Museveni, claiming that he had breached a gentleman’s agreement “evidenced in writing” to compensate him for his newspaper, The Weekend Digest, which the Ministry of Information and National Guidance had closed down in 1986.
However, according to the court record, which the New Vision saw, Mashate, later sued Museveni as the President of Uganda, while at some stage he also involved the Government of Uganda.
The court also ordered Mashate to pay £90,000 as costs of the case, with a breakdown of £50,000 to Museveni and £40,000 to Uganda Property Holdings (UPH) Limited, a company controlling the Uganda Government properties in the United Kingdom and elsewhere abroad.
Earlier, the court had heard that in 1986, the Government closed Mashate’s news bulletin, The Weekend Digest, published in Kampala.
It was also alleged that while attending the 1997 CHOGM business meeting in London, Museveni met Mashate and allegedly promised to pay him (Mashate) $10m (£6.8m) as compensation for the banned publication.
When Mashate realised the payment was not forthcoming, he sued the President in his personal capacity as Museveni and during all the proceedings, Museveni did not appear in court. Mashate applied and obtained a default judgment against Museveni.

Publish Date: Nov 21, 2011 http://tinyurl.com/8967jeh (C)

Kampala Taxi Session on AddisTunes.com

Check out the music review column under the tittle Kampala Taxi Session on www.AddisTunes.com

In the column, we bring out the latest hit music from the streets of Kampala, interviews with the artists and producers and much more.

Check us out at www.AddisTunes.com