Claire Amanya Rukundo Kakeeto

Biography

Claire Amanya Rukundo Kakeeto is a corporate and commercial lawyer with over 15 years professional experience backed by a strong academic background.

She emerged the best student in the Uganda in A level exams in 2001. Thereafter, she got a government scholarship to study Law at the University of Dar es Salaam. She returned to pursue her Post Graduate Diploma at the Law Development Centre. She emerged the best student at the bar course at LDC. She holds a Masters in International Business Law from the University College London. She is also a chartered secretary.

Currently she is the managing partner of CR. Amanya Advocates & Solicitors, a leading corporate and commercial law firm representing local and international clients. With a core purpose of cultivating growth and happiness among its clients and staff.

She is a Director in Autism Care Uganda, Barefoot Law, Precious Villas Hotel, Beautiful Minds International School and other organisations.

She is married and blessed with 2 children.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Acting as a legal advisor to banks such as Centenary Bank, Equity Bank, Bank of Africa regarding compliance, preparation and review of facility documentation, perfection of securities, documentation, structuring of transactions, debt collection and receivership.

Act as legal advisor to many leading multinational and lead companies including Britam Insurance Company, Sanayi Turizm Nakliyet Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirket, Youngjin Construction Inc, Zone Four International, Comfort Homes, African Marine And General Engineering Limited, Kigezi Steel Company, Ac Yafeng Construction Company, Johnass International College

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

• Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), Jan 2010 – Aug 2011
• Master’s in International Business Law, 2008 – 2009 University College of London (UCL)
  • John Carr Scholarship for Students from Africa and the Caribbean

Majored in:

• • International Energy Law
  • Corporate Finance
  • Banking Law
  • Company Law

• Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Dip. LP), 2006 – 2007 Law Development Centre
  • Best overall student on the Bar Course 2006/2007
  • Chief Justice Award for Exceptional performance
  • Denton Wilde Sapte (UK) Prize for academic excellence

• Bachelor of Laws Degree, 2002 – 2006 University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Second Class with Honors’ Upper Division (2:1)
  • Best female student in LLB Class
• A-Levels (UACE), 1999 – 2001, Uganda Martyrs S.S.S Namugongo
  • Best student in the country with 2AAAA

• O-Levels (GCSE equivalent), 1995 – 1998 Uganda Martyrs S.S Namugongo

LANGUAGES

Fluent in

• English,
• Coastal Kiswahili
• French
• Runyakitara (Rukiga, Luganda, Rutooro)
• Portuguese learner
• Learning Ugandan Sign Language

PUBLICATIONS

• “An International Legal Analysis of the Oil and Gas Policy of Uganda” (Masters of Law Dissertation 2009)
• “The Role of The International Criminal Court in Combating War Crimes: A case study of the Intended Trial of The Lord’s Resistance Army Rebels of Northern Uganda” (Bachelor of Law Dissertation 2006)
• “How to Pass A’ Level” articles to the Education Vision pullout of “The New Vision” Uganda leading Daily Newspaper (September 2005 – June 2006)
• “Equality of women in Employment: Case of 2006 Labor Laws in ” “Arise Magazine” Issue 36 published by Action For Development (ACFODE)
• Currently working on the first issue of “Speak” Magazine for Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1. Amanya Advocates & Solicitors, May 2012 – Present

Managing Partner

1. Amanya Advocates & Solicitors (CRAA) is a premier full service leading law firm in Uganda providing a comprehensive range of legal services and solutions for domestic and international clients. The services include but are not limited to Corporate and Commercial, Banking and Finance, Energy and Mining, Transport and infrastructure, Employment, Pensions and Immigration, Arbitration and Litigation including Public Interest Litigation.

Kampala Associated Advocates (Associate of Denton Wilde Sapte, UK, now Denton’s),

• Senior Associate Sep 2011 – April 2012
• Associate Sep 2009 – Sept 2011

Supported the leader of the Corporate and Finance law practice in Kampala Associated Advocates. She was also co- head of the International Law practice in the firm.

International law Department roles

• Regular Contributor to World Bank Surveys including “Doing Business in Uganda”, “World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law” Survey and others
• Associate of TRACE International Inc and Contributor to the TRACE Compendium of International Bribery cases and

Corporate and Commercial Department roles

• Relationship manager of several client accounts and offered legal advisory and company secretarial services to many multinational companies and
• Interview clients, draft court documents and represent clients in court, dispute resolution, arbitration and mediation
• Draft and review contracts, agreements and legal

St. Pancras Refugee Centre (UK) Jan 2009-Aug 2009

Volunteer

• Give legal advice and follow up on benefit
• Provide support to the In-charge Advise & Support
• Interact with clients; homeless and asylum seekers and follow up with authorities on certain

Kampala Associated Advocates (Associate of Denton Wilde Sapte, UK) Apr 2008 – Sep 2008

Legal Associate – Commercial and Corporate Department

• Prepared legal documents including contracts and official
• Provided legal advice and support to firm clients including banks and
• Carried out in-depth research and furnished legal opinions requested by supervisors and
• Prepared legal opinion, pleadings and advised on diverse issues in the Litigation Department

Achievements

• Reduced turnaround time for drafting and completing security documents for credit applications for bank’s clients, from 7 to 3 working days, or less.

A.F Mpanga & Co Advocates  Apr 2007 – Jun 2007

Legal Internship

• Prepared legal documents including but not limited to agreements, contracts and pleadings
• Prepared legal opinion, official letters and correspondence with clients
• Handled clients’ accounts and participated in interviews with clients
• Researched on various subjects like insurance and banking and thereafter prepared related memoranda for the
• Conducted searches in the Companies, trademarks and Lands

F.K Law Chambers (Associate of Shadbolt & Co Solicitors, U.K)  Feb 2006 – Jun 2006

Legal Internship

• Drafted, under supervision, legal documents such as pleadings, contracts, agreements and court
• Carried out extensive and in-depth research on topics requested for by advocates and thereafter gave legal
• Assisted in filing documents and pleadings with Courts and the Companies, trademarks and lands registers.
• Involved in preparation of records of appeal and assisted advocates in the preparation of

Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) Summer 2005

Volunteer

• Provided legal aid to the
• Sensitized the clients on land rights, family, domestic law issues and
• Gave legal advice to walk in
• Handled arbitration between
• Assisted clients to get help from the local leaders and

Shell Uganda       Nov 2001 – Aug 2002

Cashier & Operations Supervisor at outlet

• Reconciled accounts at the end of the day
• Supervised fore court workers
• Attended to customer complaints
• Carried out marketing activities like promotions and events