Dispute Resolution — International Arbitration
K&K Advocates acted as Ugandan counsel to Uganda Railways Corporation alongside the Attorney General's Chambers and international co-counsel Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP. The London tribunal dismissed all claims and awarded Uganda costs in excess of USD 3.6 million and GBP 200,000.
Case Reference: UNCITRAL Arbitration | Republic of Uganda v. RVR Investments (Pty) Ltd & KU Railways Holdings Limited
Seat: London, United Kingdom
Final Award: 22 July 2025
RVR Investments (Pty) Ltd and KU Railways Holdings Limited (together, RVR) held the investor and concession interests in the Kenya and Uganda metre-gauge railway concessions established under the East African Community framework. On 2 April 2020, RVR commenced UNCITRAL arbitration against both the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda, with the hearing conducted in March 2024.
RVR sought compensation in excess of USD 2,305,900,000 from Uganda and Kenya combined, alleging that the Governments had failed to harmonise operational standards across the two countries, caused adverse impacts through the development of the Standard Gauge Railway, repudiated their agreements with RVR, and deceived RVR into continued investment despite an alleged hidden intention to retire the Metre Gauge Railway line.
Uganda consistently maintained that it was not in breach of any contractual obligations, and that the termination of the Concession Agreement was lawful, justified, and necessary to protect a critical national infrastructure asset. Uganda's position was that the true cause of the concession's failure was RVR's own conduct - specifically its mismanagement, persistent underperformance, and failure to meet agreed freight volume targets and maintenance commitments.
Lead Partners: Peter Kauma · Kiryowa Kiwanuka · Paul Katuramu
Advocates: Richard Bibangambah
Co-Counsel: Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP (International) · Attorney General's Chambers
K&K Advocates acted as counsel for Diamond Trust Bank Uganda and Diamond Trust Bank Kenya throughout all three levels of court, securing dismissal of a claim seeking UGX 34 billion and USD 23 Million, and the unconditional release of all security.
K&K Advocates successfully represented Absa Bank Uganda Limited before the Constitutional Court, defending the validity of Regulation 13 of the Mortgage Regulations in a challenge brought by a defaulting borrower seeking to frustrate security enforcement.
K&K Advocates acted as counsel for National Medical Stores in landmark FIDIC Yellow Book adjudication proceedings before the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, securing an award of delay damages in excess of UGX 6.9 billion against a construction contractor.
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