Mathias V Ssekatawa

Mathias Ssekatawa is a Partner at MMAKS Advocates, a leading law firm in Kampala, Uganda and the Ugandan member of the Africa Legal Network (ALN). He and the firm have been recognised in the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 for Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Uganda, an accolade that reflects MMAKS Advocates' reputation across commercial and intellectual property matters in East Africa.

A leading Ugandan commercial law firm

MMAKS Advocates is a well-established Ugandan firm known for its work in commercial transactions and litigation, with recognised strength in areas such as banking and finance litigation and commercial litigation. As a member of the Africa Legal Network, the firm is part of a leading alliance of independent law firms across Africa, which enables it to serve clients on matters spanning multiple jurisdictions on the continent. The firm operates from Kampala, Uganda's capital and commercial hub, and Mathias Ssekatawa practises there as a partner, contributing to the firm's intellectual property capability.

Intellectual property law in Uganda

Intellectual property law protects the creations and distinctive signs on which businesses and innovators rely, including trade marks, patents, industrial designs and copyright. Effective IP advice covers the registration and management of these rights, the drafting and negotiation of licensing and commercial agreements, and the enforcement of rights against infringement and counterfeiting. As African economies grow and diversify, and as businesses invest in brands, technology and creative works, the value of well-protected intellectual property has risen accordingly, and with it the importance of experienced advisers.

Uganda, as a member of regional and international frameworks for the protection of intellectual property, offers rights holders mechanisms to secure and enforce their rights both domestically and, in some respects, regionally. For businesses operating in Uganda and across East Africa, protecting trade marks and other IP assets is essential to safeguarding reputation, market position and the returns on investment in innovation. A firm with strong commercial and litigation experience is well placed to combine the transactional and contentious aspects of intellectual property work, helping clients both to build their portfolios and to defend them when necessary.

Areas of focus

• Trade mark protection, registration and enforcement
• Intellectual property advisory and portfolio management
• Licensing and commercial agreements
• Commercial litigation and dispute resolution
• Cross-border matters through the Africa Legal Network

The connection to a pan-African network is particularly valuable in the intellectual property field, where brands and businesses frequently operate across borders and require coordinated protection and enforcement in several countries. Clients benefit from a firm that can combine detailed local knowledge of Ugandan law and practice with the ability to manage matters that reach into neighbouring jurisdictions, providing a seamless service across the region.

For businesses building brands and developing products in a growing economy, the return on that investment depends on the ability to protect what they create. Registering rights is only the beginning; enforcing them effectively, whether against local infringers or counterfeit goods entering the market, is what preserves their value. A firm that combines intellectual property knowledge with strong litigation experience can offer clients both the strategic advice needed to build a sound portfolio and the practical capability to defend it. Mathias Ssekatawa's work at MMAKS Advocates reflects this integrated approach to protecting intellectual property in Uganda and East Africa.

Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026

The Corporate INTL Global Awards recognise leading firms and practitioners across the world's legal and advisory markets, identified through the publication's research among clients and peers. The recognition of MMAKS Advocates as Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Uganda, with Mathias Ssekatawa among its leading partners, reflects the firm's strength in this field and its regional reach through the Africa Legal Network. For businesses seeking to protect and enforce their intellectual property in Uganda and across East Africa, MMAKS Advocates offers experienced and well-connected representation from its base in Kampala.