The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala has dismissed a case in which the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), associated with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was accused of illegally using the lion symbol belonging to another political group.
The Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) had sued PLU, claiming the pressure group unlawfully adopted the lion as its emblem. The party argued that the symbol was its official mark and asked court to issue a permanent injunction restraining PLU from further use, publishing, or associating with the lion without prior authorization.
However, Justice Simon Peter Kinobe rejected RPP’s application for a permanent injunction.
“It is hereby ordered that the application for the temporary injunction is hereby dismissed,” Justice Kinobe ruled, further ordering RPP to pay costs.
The Case
In its filings, RPP alleged that PLU and its supporters unveiled the lion symbol at a public function and had continued to use it in political activities, including posters and campaign materials for upcoming elections. The party argued that this caused confusion and led to loss of political support, constituting infringement of its trademark and political publicity rights.
In defence, PLU, represented by lawyer Usaama Sebuufu of K&K Advocates, argued that RPP had no legal basis for the case, since it had not registered the lion as a trademark. PLU maintained that trademark rights in Uganda can only be enforced by holders of registered trademarks through a certificate of registration issued by the Registrar of Trademarks.
The group further argued that the lion is a generic symbol and that the version used by PLU is distinct in shape, colour, and design, and therefore does not resemble RPP’s emblem.
The ruling effectively allows PLU to continue using the lion symbol in its mobilisation activities.
