On February 25, 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) hosted a distinguished delegation from the Republic of Uganda led by the Honourable Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional
Affairs. The delegation also included key figures from the Uganda Registration
Services Bureau (URSB): Ambassador Butagira Francis, Chairman of the Board; Ms.
Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Registrar General; and Mr. Arthur Kwesiga, Director of
ICT and Innovation.
The delegation was warmly received by ARIPO Director General,
Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, at the Secretariat. The visit underscored the strong
collaborative relationship between ARIPO and Uganda, particularly in intellectual property (IP) development.
Addressing the assembled officials, Honourable Mao emphasized
the significant progress Uganda has made in implementing its National
Intellectual Property Policy 2019. He acknowledged ARIPO's pivotal role in
supporting the policy's development and its continued involvement in its
strategic implementation.
"Uganda is now in the second half of our National
Intellectual Property Policy 2019 implementation," Minister Mao stated.
"ARIPO has been instrumental in supporting us from the beginning and
continues to play a vital role through its strategic interventions."
He further highlighted ARIPO's contribution to human resource
capacity building in Uganda, citing the numerous professionals who have
benefited from Master's degree programs in IP at esteemed institutions such as
Africa University, the University of Dar es Salaam, and Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology.
Director General Bemanya Twebaze reiterated ARIPO's commitment
to supporting Uganda's IP endeavors. He noted that Uganda is currently a
signatory to two of the five Protocols administered by ARIPO: the Harare
Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs and the Banjul Protocol on Marks.
"It is our sincere hope that the Government of Uganda will
consider ratifying the remaining three Protocols, which are crucial for
safeguarding the rights of creators and innovators within Uganda," Mr.
Twebaze stated. He emphasized the importance of these protocols in fostering a
robust IP ecosystem that encourages innovation and economic growth.
The visit served as a platform for fruitful discussions on strengthening IP protection and fostering innovation in Uganda. The exchange of ideas and insights between the ARIPO Secretariat and Member States, as was the case with the Ugandan delegation, is expected to further enhance collaboration and drive progress in the region's IP landscape.