Frederick J. Mpanga

About the LawyerFrederick J. Mpanga is a partner at AF Mpanga Advocates and heads the firm's Intellectual Property and Real Estate departments. He is a highly regarded litigator who has successfully handled several precedent-setting disputes, including trademark cases, bank recovery, and land disputes. He has also built a Sports Law practice, representing the Uganda Olympic Committee, SuperSport Inc., the Cricket Association of Uganda, and various local football clubs in contentious and arbitration matters. Furthermore, Frederick has served as a consultant to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committees of Uganda’s Seventh and Eighth Parliaments, contributing to significant legislative amendments and enactments related to copyright and trademarks. Anchoring the IP practice in Kampala, he oversees trademark registration and litigation with expertise and is noted as a key contact for trademarks in Uganda.As partner and head of the Intellectual Property practice at AF Mpanga, Frederick J. Mpanga focuses his work on complex IP litigation and advisory matters, particularly in the areas of trademarks and copyright. He advises a wide range of commercial clients on the protection, enforcement, and strategic management of their intellectual property rights in Uganda. His practice combines contentious IP work with advisory services on IP registration, licensing, and portfolio management, and he is frequently involved in disputes with significant commercial and regulatory implications for brand owners and rights holders.ExperienceFrederick J. Mpanga is a partner at AF Mpanga Advocates and heads the firm’s Intellectual Property and Real Estate departments, demonstrating leadership in the development and management of the firm’s IP practice. He is a highly regarded litigator who has successfully handled several precedent-setting disputes, particularly in trademark litigation, where he has represented clients in complex and high-value matters. His experience spans trademark disputes, bank recovery litigation, and land-related claims, with a strong emphasis on cases that clarify or shape the legal framework governing intellectual property and commercial rights in Uganda.In the field of IP litigation, Frederick has acted on significant disputes involving the protection and enforcement of trademark rights, including cases concerning the broadcasting and commercial exploitation of sports content. He has successfully represented the Uganda Olympic Committee in a landmark case preventing the barring of the Uganda Olympic Team from the London Olympic Games, a matter that engaged complex issues of rights, governance, and sports-related commercial arrangements. He has also acted for SuperSport Inc. in contentious matters with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations involving broadcasting rights for football matches, illustrating his experience at the intersection of intellectual property, media, and sports.Frederick serves as counsel to the Registered Trustees of the Cricket Association of Uganda and has advised a local football club on potential arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Vienna, reflecting his broader experience in sports-related IP disputes and arbitration. His practice also encompasses advisory and contentious work on IP issues arising in commercial transactions, including the exploitation of broadcasting, sponsorship, and licensing rights associated with sporting events and related brands.Beyond case work, Frederick has played a direct role in shaping Uganda’s intellectual property framework through his consultancy work with parliamentary committees. He served as a consultant to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Seventh Parliament of Uganda in the process leading to the amendment of the Copyrights Act and the enactment of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006. He was subsequently engaged by the Legal and Parliamentary Committee of the Eighth Parliament in the process that resulted in the repeal of the earlier Trademarks Act and the enactment of the current Trademarks Act, 2010. Through this work, he has contributed to the development of modern copyright and trademark legislation in Uganda.In practice, Frederick anchors the firm’s IP work in Kampala, overseeing both trademark registration and litigation. He is recognized as a key contact for trademarks within the firm and in the broader Ugandan legal market, and he regularly appears in court and arbitration forums on behalf of rights holders in contentious IP matters.SpecialtyFrederick J. Mpanga specializes in Intellectual Property Litigation, with a particular emphasis on trademark disputes, copyright law, and sports-related IP matters. His practice covers the full life cycle of IP rights, from registration and portfolio management to enforcement and dispute resolution, ensuring that clients’ brands and creative works are effectively protected and commercially leveraged.His work includes the prosecution and defense of trademark infringement claims, opposition and cancellation proceedings, and disputes concerning the unauthorized use or exploitation of protected marks. He has acted on cases involving the broadcasting rights of football games and other sports events, where issues of copyright, licensing, and contractual rights intersect with regulatory and commercial considerations. In these matters, he advises and represents broadcasters, sporting bodies, and clubs in both court and arbitration proceedings.Frederick’s practice also encompasses IP registration, licensing, franchising, and IP management. He advises clients on the registration of trademarks and related rights, the drafting and negotiation of licensing and franchising agreements, and the development of strategies for brand protection and enforcement. This includes portfolio structuring, brand watching, and the management of IP assets in both traditional and digital environments.In addition, he has developed a notable Sports Law practice aligned with his IP focus, representing entities such as the Uganda Olympic Committee, SuperSport Inc., the Cricket Association of Uganda, and local football clubs in contentious matters and sports arbitration. These engagements often involve the protection and commercialization of IP rights associated with sporting events, teams, and media content, reinforcing his specialization in IP litigation in the sports sector.Frederick is also involved in commercial and banking-related disputes where intellectual property and intangible assets form part of the broader commercial or financial arrangements, drawing on his experience in securitization, finance, and complex commercial litigation to address IP issues within these contexts.EducationFrederick J. Mpanga holds an LLB (Hons.) degree from Makerere University in Uganda and an LLM from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. His academic training supports his specialization in intellectual property and related commercial fields, and he has complemented his practice with teaching and academic involvement in IP and international trade law.

• Achievements and Recognition
  • Frederick J. Mpanga is a partner at AF Mpanga and heads the firm’s Intellectual Property practice; he is also described as a highly regarded litigator with precedent-setting trademark disputes to his credit.
  • He has been ranked in Global Law Experts for IP Litigation with AF Mpanga in Uganda, and is identified there as a key specialist in the practice area.
  • The AF Mpanga Intellectual Property practice was ranked in the Silver Band by World Trademark Review 2023, and Frederick J. Mpanga was individually ranked in the Bronze band alongside the practice head recognition.
  • He is described by Legal 500 as leading the firm’s Intellectual Property practice and as a strong force in high-value, precedent-setting disputes, especially in trademarks, banking recovery, and land matters.
  • He has also been credited with directly advising Uganda’s Parliament on reforms to the copyright and trademark laws, reflecting a leadership contribution to Uganda’s IP legal framework.