Sports 22 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Sports Stars Shine but IP Rights Leave Nation Empty-Handed
Uganda produces world-class athletes like Joshua Cheptegei, yet the country reaps little financial benefit due to weak intellectual property enforcement in sports. Treating IP as a national priority could unlock lucrative opportunities from trademarks, patents, and athlete branding. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/intellectual-property-running-on-empty-rights-5433258
Intellectual property transforms sports from mere athletic feats into a global money-maker. Without IP rights, it’s just runners and jumpers; with them, industries thrive on broadcasts, merchandise, and sponsorships.
Recall Joshua Cheptegei’s Olympic gold in the 10,000m at Tokyo 2020. Uganda celebrated wildly, but the profits from his Nike shoes, TV rights, and fan gear flowed abroad. Uganda contributed the talent, yet gained little beyond national pride.
This gap persists. At Mandela National Stadium, counterfeit Uganda Cranes jerseys flood stalls unchecked, despite FUFA’s trademarks. Enforcement is lacking, turning legal rights into empty promises.
Top athletes like Halimah Nakaayi, Peruth Chemutai, and Jacob Kiplimo possess huge commercial value. In advanced markets, they’d protect their names and images; in Uganda, they often sign deals without proper safeguards.
Innovation beckons. Uganda’s runners train on unique Kapchorwa trails. A patented shoe designed for that terrain could tap into the billion-dollar trail-running market, linking local research institutes and universities to global sales.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau has improved IP processes, but sports awareness lags. Solutions include IP experts in federations, stadium anti-counterfeiting, and a unified national strategy tying broadcasts, athlete rights, and trademarks together.
No new laws needed—the talent and frameworks exist. It’s time to prioritize IP in sports.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)