John W. Katende (SC)

John W. Katende is a co-founding Partner of the firm and is widely regarded as a doyen of Ugandan law, with over 50 years' experience. His practice focuses on Corporate Law, with expertise in corporate and commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration, capital markets, banking and finance, international trade, and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Katende graduated top of his distinguished law class and was awarded full African Fellowship Scholarships to study his Master of Laws (LLM) at either Oxford University or Harvard University. He chose Harvard and became one of the very first Ugandan graduates with an LLM from that institution.

He has lectured law at Makerere University, teaching 'Introduction to Law' and the 'Law of Business Associations' throughout the 1970s. He has authored many learned treatises, including The Law of Business Associations in East and Central Africa, one of the leading texts in all the law schools across East and Central Africa.

His distinguished career in academia is rivalled by equal merit in the practice of law. He has been involved in a lot of groundbreaking and law-creating litigation that has significantly contributed to the evolution of jurisprudence and legal practice in Uganda. Outside the courtrooms, he has been involved in the structuring and planning of many of the largest commercial ventures in Uganda and continues to routinely advise leading commercial concerns on a day-to-day basis.

He has served in various capacities as a Director or as Chairperson of the Boards of several large domestic and multinational corporations. For over thirteen years, John was the Honorary Attorney General and Chief Legal Advisor to the Kingdom of Buganda and to His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda. He was also the Chairperson of the Buganda Constitutional Review Commission.

Mr. Katende was honoured to have sworn in the King of Buganda, His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, at his coronation on 31 July 1993. He was awarded 'Ekitibwa ky'Amafumu n'Engabo' by the Kabaka of Buganda in 2011 for his outstanding contributions towards the Kingdom, the highest honour that can be bestowed for service in the Kingdom of Buganda.

On 31 March 2017, he was recognised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and awarded the ULS' first Distinguished Service Award. He was also one of the first 3 lawyers in the history of Uganda to be inducted into the ULS inaugural 'Roll of Honour.' On 28 March 2018, he was awarded the Special Rank of Senior Counsel (the highest honour in the legal fraternity) by the Chief Justice of Uganda, Hon. Bart Katureebe.

Mr. Katende is a renaissance man: a playwright, artiste, director and producer. In 1977, he started a drama group, now known as "The Ebonies," which is the largest drama group in East Africa to date.

He has been internationally recognised as one of the only two Senior Legal Statesmen in East Africa by Chambers and Partners Global Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers, which has described him as "a seasoned lawyer with a wealth of legal and business experience gathered over his many years of practice," "a highly respected individual in the Ugandan market," and "an important reference in the market."