Engoru, Mutebi Advocates

The Firm's track record in the corporate, projects and infrastructure, M&A, Project finance, capital markets, competition law banking and finance industries highlights its strength and expertise in complex financial transactions. With a strong focus on ECA backed financings, the Firm is consistently sought after for its expertise in structuring and negotiating finance and transactional documents.

In the past year, the Firm has significantly expanded its presence in the Capital Markets arena, receiving instructions from CIPLA QCIL to address its float deficiency on the Uganda Securities Exchange. Additionally, the Firm has played a pivotal role in the oil and gas industry, receiving instructions from renowned Tier 1 EPCs such as China Offshore Oil Engineering Company and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited. The mandates include advising on EPC classification, construction work, and securing necessary regulatory approvals from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.

The Firm has very impressive credentials in project finance as demonstrated by its assistance to Standard Chartered Bank on a USD 275 million loan facility, with on ongoing structuring efforts throughout the year. Additionally, the Firm advised UK Export Credit Agency on an amendment to a Facility agreement relating to EUR 270,266,043 million term loan facility in relation to the construction of Kabale Airport. Furthermore, the Firm played a key role in facilitating Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited’s negotiation of a USD 7.5 million loan from Afri-Exim Bank to finance the construction of Nyagak III Hydro Project in Zombo District.

The Firm has also seen notable activity in the M&A realm, recently taking on instructions from Axion Group Limited on its acquisition of Wananchi Group Holdings Limited and the Marubeni Corporation on acquisition of a leading pharmaceutical business. Additionally, the Firm has assisted Bank Mendes Gan NV, on the regulatory aspects related to the expansion of their cash pooling products portfolio. There is also notable growth as illustrated by the Intellectual Property practice group, which is currently advising Sanlam General Insurance in a trademark infringement claim against ICEA LION General Insurance, a subsidiary of ICEA LION Holdings Limited.

Other high value transactions and disputes work stream include:

• Axian Group Limited on a due diligence exercise on Wanachi Group Holdings Limited, an entity that is set up in Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Uganda, and Tanzania to inform the proposed acquisition of three (3) Ugandan entities.
• Standard Chartered Bank PLC on a UKEF-backed facility to the Government of Uganda amounting to EUR 85,279,510 for the development and construction of 115 KM Kitgum to Kidepo Road in Uganda.
• China Offshore Oil Engineering Company with respect to the local content requirements applicable to the upstream project in Uganda.
• Financial Access Commerce and Trade Services (Uganda) Limited on a Factoring Line of Credit from the African Export-Import Bank.
• Successfully representing Geo Tech Uganda Limited, a leading Geotechnical Solutions company in the Great Lakes region covering Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and Congo on a contractual dispute brough against an O & M company regarding remedial works carried out on the largest dam project in Uganda.

The Firm's Corporate, M&A, and Finance practice is led by Arnold Lule Sekiwano ([email protected]), while Dr. Ivan Engoru ([email protected]) leads the Disputes team. Ritah Nakalema, an emerging leader in her field, heads the Risk, Governance, and Compliance practice. Priscilla Mutebi leads the firm's Real Estate and TMT practice group.