Founded in 2003, Birungyi, Barata & Associates is one of the leading tax law firms in Uganda. Recognized by both locally and internationally by entities such as Uganda Law Society, East African Law Society, IFLR1000, Chambers & Partners and Global Law Experts among others, the firm wields over 240 years of combined tax and commercial law experience.
The firm currently has two partners, three associates, four associate partners, two senior legal associates, four legal associates, and one legal assistant.
The firm has approximately handled up to 35% of all tax litigation in Uganda, including some game-changing cases that have resulted in tax law being amended. Currently, the firm has ongoing suits worth over UGX300 billion.
Here below, are some of the firm’s senior lawyers and tax advisors.
1 of 9: BIRUNGYI CEPHAS KAGYENDA; Managing Partner
Practice Areas: Taxation, Commercial and Corporate Law, Advisory and Consultancy; Energy And Construction; Dispute Resolution, Insolvency And Employment Law
Professional Qualifications: LL. B (LAW) (Makerere University); Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Centre, Uganda)
Cephas is a founder and the Managing Partner of the firm. He is an Advocate of the High Court, a Commissioner for Oaths, a Notary Public, and a registered Tax Agent with Uganda Revenue Authority. He is also the head of the Tax Cluster in the Uganda Law Society and a member of the IBA tax Committee.
Cephas has over 35 years’ experience in Tax and 17 years in Legal having served in various capacities. He worked for the Ministry of Finance from 1984 and later on Uganda Revenue Authority where he retired as the Deputy Commissioner in 2004. He represented Uganda in negotiations and drafting of various double taxation agreements for South Africa, India, Denmark, Mauritius, and Norway. He was instrumental in drafting the Income Tax Act 1997 in Uganda and the Tax Appeals Tribunal Act.
From 2004, Cephas has emerged as the best Tax Lawyer in Uganda according to IFLR and Global Law Experts; and has offered his professional services to East Africa Community, World Bank, International Finance Corporation Consultancies for the Malawi, Liberia, Nigeria (Bauchi State) Governments among others.
Cephas has carried out Several advisory, consultancies and also Litigation for individuals, private, public, NGO’s and Government bodies. He has made several presentations to ICAU, CATA, DANIDA, World Bank, International Bar Association, Uganda Law Society among others.
He is a member of Uganda Law Society; East African Law Society, International Bar Association, IFSIN and Institute of Corporate Governance.
PUBLICATIONS & ARTICLES: Cephas edited tax publications for Paul Frobisher’s Book: Value Added Tax in Uganda: A Commentary on Statutes, Case Law and Practices; Pius Bahemuka’sBook: Income tax in Uganda; and Christine Mugumebook: Managing Taxation in Uganda. He also was key in drafting and editingthe compendium of cases, A compendium of tax cases by Birungyi, Barata & Associates, 2nd Edition. He is also a regular contributor to Thompson Reuters (Tax).
2 of 9: ENOCH BARATA; Senior Partner
Practice Areas: Commercial and Corporate Law; Banking; Insolvency and Bankruptcy and Dispute Resolution
Professional Qualifications: LL. B (LAW) (Makerere University); Diploma In Legal Practice (Law Development Centre, Uganda)
Enoch is the Senior Partner at Birungyi, Barata & Associates, and one of the founders of the firm which started in 2003. He heads the Banking, Commercial and Corporate law and Insolvency departments and a registered Tax Agent with Uganda Revenue Authority
Enoch has received specialized training in Finance and Financial Law from the Center for Finance and Management Studies at the University of London and has gained repute as a professional lawyer in that field where he has represented various clients in complex financial and corporate transactions.
With over 20 years’ experience, Enoch has advised top and reputable companies, banks, insurance companies, government ministries, public agencies, and multinational corporations both in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa.
He has represented various clients in complex corporate transactions, all aspects of finance and lending, due diligence, mergers and acquisition, insurance, and litigation.
He is a member of Uganda Law Society; East Africa Law Society, International Bar Association and the Institute of Corporate Governance
3 of 9: ROBINAH LUBWAMA LUTAAYA; Associate
Practice Areas: Taxation and Consultancy
Professional Qualifications: LLB (Makerere University); DIPLOMA IN LEGAL PRACTICE (Law Development Centre, Uganda) and Diploma in Tax Administration (Uganda Management Institute)
Robinah is an Associate at Birungyi, Barata & Associates since 2015 specializing in Tax, Advisory, and Consultancy. She is attached to the Tax Department and a registered tax agent with the Uganda Revenue Authority.
She formerly worked at Uganda Revenue Authority for over 14 years where she had risen to the level of Commissioner. She participated, drafted and implemented legislation on Rental Income while still at URA. Thereafter she worked at PWC as a Manager for over 10 years before joining BBA.
Robinah has extensive experience in Uganda’s tax environment and practices and has dealt with a wide array of tax issues. These range from compliance checks and Due Diligence assignments, VAT refunds, Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax Health Check reviews, resolving URA tax disputes in addition to tax planning for a range of clients. She has also provided tax advice to clients in various service sectors including telecommunication, Not-for-Profit Organizations, financial institutions, and the manufacturing Industry.
4 of 9: NGOBI JACOB; Associate
Practice Areas: Taxation
Professional Qualifications: Bachelors in Statistics (Makerere University); Post Graduate Diploma in Income Tax Administration (Uganda Management Institute); Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (Uganda Management Institute); Certificates in Taxation Audits, Double Taxation and International Taxation and Management skills
Jacob is an Associate at Birungyi, Barata & Associates where he has worked since 2003. He specializes in Taxation and Consultancy works, and is attached to the firm’s Tax department. He is a Registered Tax Agent with Uganda Revenue Authority
Jacob has over 30 years’ experience in tax matters previously working at the Uganda Revenue Authority before joining the firm. He was part of the pioneer team that drafted the VAT Statute and VAT regulation and participated in the successful sensitization and implementation of VAT in Uganda.
For over 14 years, Jacob worked in various capacities with the Uganda Revenue Authority where he initiated and developed various Tax Audit Manuals and Pamphlets for URA. Jacob has delivered various papers and has conducted several seminars and workshops on Taxation to both staff of URA and the Taxpayers.
Jacob’s qualifications, participation, and hands-on experience in the formulation, implementation, and design of tax structures and tax administration have made him a distinguished business and tax consultant.
5 of 9: TWINOMUJUNI GEORGE; Associate
Practice Areas:Taxation
Professional Qualifications: B. Com (Makerere University); MA. EPP (Makerere University); Diploma in ITA (Uganda Management Institute)
George is an Associate at Birungyi, Barata & Associates where he has worked since 2003. He specializes in Taxation and Consultancy and attached to the firm’s Tax department. He is a Registered Tax Agent with Uganda Revenue Authority
Bob Okodi, Amref Health Africa Uganda CFO, On Purpose-Driven Finance and Measuring Impact in Lives, Not MarginsHe previously worked at Uganda Revenue Authority where he headed the Audit section of Corporate taxpayers, a member of the technical committee that interpreted tax laws on technically contentious issues on domestic taxation, carried out Quality Assurance Audits in URA, and a resource trainer at the URA’s training center.
George has attended various local and international taxation courses/workshops during his career at Uganda Revenue Authority in the last 14 years of continuous service gaining vast knowledge, experience, and professionalism.
George has over 30 years’ experience in tax matters originating from his previous job at the Uganda Revenue Authority and continuing the same at the firm with vast experience in tax audits, examinations, quality assurance audits in all the domestic taxes. George is also a lecturer at UMI and Makerere Business University.
5 of 9: BELINDA LUTAYA NAKIGANDA; Associate Partner
Practice Areas: Taxation; Commercial and Corporate Law; Construction Law; Advisory and Consultancy; Arbitration, Litigation and alternative settlement dispute; Employment Law.
Professional Qualifications: LL. B (LAW) (Makerere University); LLM (Energy and Natural Resources Law- Queen Mary University); Diploma In Legal Practice (Law Development Centre, Uganda)
Belinda is an Associate Partner at Birungyi, Barata & Associates specialising in Taxation, Commercial and Corporate Law, Construction Law, Arbitration, and Litigation. She is attached to the firm’s Tax, Arbitration, construction, and Commercial and Corporate departments. She also heads the firm’s Business Development Department.
She has over ten years’ experience in tax and legal practice and is a registered Tax agent with URA. Belinda has represented clients during tax audits, compliance check, tax examination with the Uganda Revenue Authority specifically in the analysis of tax computation, negotiations, consultancies, and litigation before the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
Belinda has vast experience in arbitration both as an arbitrator and arbitration lawyer. She has also handled several of the firm’s construction cases before dispute boards, arbitration, and negotiated on behalf of clients in contract, settlement of debts among others. She also has experience in commercial and corporate transactions specifically reorganisation of companies, negotiations in loan agreements, company secretarial works among others.
Belinda has been a team leader for four major consultancies of the firm with international clients, which were executed to the client’s satisfaction.
Belinda is a member of theUganda Law Society; East Africa Law Society; Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Uganda; Young International Arbitration Group; Charted Institute of Arbitrators, UK
Publications & articles: Belinda researched for Mugambwa Paul Frobisher’s Book: Value Added Tax in Uganda: A Commentary on Statutes, Case Law, and Practices.
6 of 9: MBANZA MARTIN KALEMERA; Associate Partner
Practice Areas: Commercial and Corporate Law; Taxation; Energy and Construction; Arbitration and Dispute Resolution; Litigation.
Professional Qualifications:LLB (Hons) – Uganda Christian University; Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – Law Development Centre.
Martin is an Associate Partner at Birungyi, Barata & Associates having joined the firm in 2008. He heads the securities department; is a registered tax agent with Uganda Revenue Authority and is an advocate of the High Court.
With over 10 years’ experience with the firm, Martin has advised, represented, and developed an excellent working relationship with the various clients of the firm and key market players in Uganda.
He has structured, and executed landmark multi-million-dollar deals and financial transactions in Uganda and East Africa in the fields of; Private Equity, Energy, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Martin specialises in Commercial and Corporate, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Energy, and Construction offering clients practical and real-time solutions to enhance their business.
Martin is a member of Uganda Law Society; East Africa Law Society; Rotary International.
8 of 9: DOROTHY BISHAGENDA; Associate Partner
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial transactions; Tax law; Debt collection; Employment; Mediation; International environmental law; UN Human Rights.
Professional Qualifications: LLB (Makerere University); LLM (University of London – Queen Mary University)- International Tax, Corporate Governance, International Environmental Law, UN Human Rights: Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Centre, Uganda)
Dorothy Bishagenda is an Associate Partner in Birungyi Barata having Joined the firm in 2008. She is a Registered Tax Agent with URA and Advocate of the High Court.
She has over 10 years’ experience in Legal and Tax matters through which she has gained experience in handling various court cases. She is also charged with work related to company law, debt collection, land law, labour law, tax law, drafting of contracts, contract negotiations, research assignments, company secretarial work, election petitions, and ADR mediation and arbitration.
Dorothy is a member of Uganda Law Society; East Africa Law Society and FIDA- Uganda Federation of Female Lawyers
9 of 9: PATRICK KABAGAMBE; Associate Partner
Practice Areas: Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Transactions; Immigration; Land Conveyance; Employment and Tax Advisory
Professional Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws Degree (Honours)- Uganda Christian University; Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Centre)
Patrick is an Associate Partner at Birungyi, Barata & Associates having joined firm in 2008. He heads the firm’s immigration and conveyance department; and is an Advocate of the High Court.
Patrick has a vast knowledge of litigation and dispute resolution and has represented various clients. He underwent special training in Trial Advocacy at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and has represented many of the firm’s clients before the Tax Appeals Tribunal, Courts of Judicature, and Labour Tribunal.
His specialty is Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Transactions, Immigration, Land Conveyance, Employment and Tax Advisory.
Patrick is a member of Uganda Law Society, East Africa Law Society and Rotary International
