Ruth Sebatindira

Practice Areas

Ruth Sebatindira is a Senior Counsel and past President of the Uganda Law Society (2013 - 2016). Ruth founded Ligomarc Advocates in 2003; a commercial and corporate law firm based in Kampala, Uganda. She has built business leadership skills and legal expertise out of her twenty-four years’ experience in commercial litigation, corporate transactions and tax advisory assignments. Ruth has experience in advising clients through complex issues that can accompany large and sophisticated transactions. She majorly advises and represents financial institutions, large manufacturing companies, Regulators and Government Agencies.

Ruth is the Administrator of Uganda Telecom Ltd - In Administration; appointed by the High Court of Uganda on 2nd January, 2020. Her mandate is to manage the business of the Company, to take charge of all the Company’s assets across the country and to preserve their value; while identifying potential investors, technology partners and devising a turn around strategy for the Telecom to come out of insolvency. In this role, Ruth works to ensure compliance with telecommunications, technology and intellectual property laws, among others. She heads a team of 350 employees working across the country that are committed to ensuring network availability to improve the Company’s revenues.

Ruth is a transfer pricing specialist and heads the firm’s Tax Practice. She leads the team in tax litigation, advisory, negotiations with the URA and in tax risk mitigation assignments. She supports clients and renders advice in response to changes in regulatory environments of their businesses and tax laws; as well as advise on tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, permanent establishment and double taxation treaties of contemplated transactions.

Previously, Ruth headed the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice leading teams in development of case strategies, case analysis, strategic planning, negotiations, and managing all phases of the litigation process from investigation, pleadings, pre-trial, trial, settlement, and appeals processes. The primary focus was on corporate insolvency, shareholders disputes, lender enforcement actions, financial services matters, trademarks and drug regulation.

Ruth is a Member of the Judicial Service Commission which advises the President of Uganda on the appointment of Judges, appoints the lower Bench of the Judiciary and exercises disciplinary control over Judicial officers and advises on the administration of Justice in Uganda. Ruth is the Chairperson of the disciplinary committee of the Commission.

In 2011, she helped to set up the Women Lawyers’ Committee at the Law Society to enhance the advancement of women lawyers in the legal profession and she served as its first Chair. She is a regular speaker at women’s and leadership conferences and mentors young professionals. Ruth also speaks to children in schools about responsible leadership.

As Board Chair at Special Olympics Uganda, Ruth works to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities through Olympic-type sports.

Career

. January 2020- Present: Administrator, Uganda Telecom Limited – In Administration (Appointed by the High Court of Uganda)

• Dec. 2003 – Present: Founding Partner, Ligomarc Advocates

• Dec. 2016 – Present Commissioner, Judicial Service Commission.

• 2018 – Present Board Chair, Special Olympics Uganda

• March 2013 – April 2016: President, Uganda Law Society

• 2011- 2012: Chairperson, Female Lawyers Committee, Uganda Law Society

• March 2003 – Nov. 2003 Senior Tax Advisor, Deloitte, Uganda

• 1997 – Feb. 2003 Associate, Kalenge, Bwanika, Kimuli & Co. Advocates

Professional Memberships

• Uganda Law Society, Kampala, Uganda

• East Africa Law Society, Arusha, Tanzania

• International Bar Association, London, United Kingdom

• International Fiscal Association, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

• Association of International Petroleum Negotiators