Dentons Uganda Admits Julius Kyamanywa as its New Associate Partner – Banking & Finance, Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Dentons Advocates Uganda, the only global law firm with a presence in Uganda, has announced the admission of Julius Kyamanywa as its new Associate Partner – Banking & Finance, Litigation & Dispute Resolution. With over 15 years of legal practice, Julius brings to the firm a depth of expertise that spans commercial law, litigation, banking, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.

Julius has held senior legal roles in both the private legal sector and within Uganda’s leading commercial banks, including DFCU Bank and Bank of Africa Uganda. In these positions, he managed high-stakes litigation portfolios, advised on strategic transactions, and played a key role in ensuring compliance across various operational domains such as procurement, credit, ICT, human resources, and trade finance.

His advisory scope includes complex regulatory frameworks—particularly in areas like anti-money laundering, data privacy, and operational risk—making him a valuable ally for clients navigating Uganda’s evolving legal and compliance landscape. Julius has appeared before all levels of Uganda’s judiciary, from the High Court to the Supreme Court, successfully arguing landmark cases in constitutional, commercial, and property law.

His experience also extends into intellectual property law and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) advisory—critical areas in today’s business environment. A graduate of Makerere University with a Bachelor of Laws and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Julius is an active member of both the Uganda Law Society and East Africa Law Society.

Speaking about his admission, Pearl Nyakabwa, Managing Partner of Dentons Advocates, remarked:

“The admission of Julius to the partnership strengthens an already distinguished team. His depth of experience further sharpens our ability to advise with clarity, confidence, and commercial foresight. Clients engage us for diverse reasons, but remain with us because of the consistency, integrity, and strategic insight we bring to each engagement. We are not simply legal advisers,”.

“We are business partners, delivering world-class counsel that is locally exceptional and globally connected,” Ms. Nyakabwa added.

dentons-partners-collage-942x628-1 — CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Julius Kyamanywa (Associate Partner) joins a distinguished lineup of top legal talent at Dentons Advocates Uganda, including David Mpanga (Chairman), Pearl Nyakabwa (Managing Partner), Dennis Otatiina (Partner), John Musiime (Partner), and Isaac Kyagaba (Partner)—renowned experts with decades of experience across Uganda’s critical sectors such as finance, energy, infrastructure, and dispute resolution.

Commenting on admission to one of Uganda’s leading law firms, Julius Kyamanywa, said: “Joining Dentons Advocates Uganda is both a professional milestone and a strategic alignment with a firm that is redefining legal practice in this market. In a rapidly evolving business and regulatory environment, clients need more than legal advice—they need insight, foresight, and execution. I look forward to contributing to a culture of excellence and thought leadership, particularly in navigating the complexities of finance, risk, and cross-border litigation.”

Strength in Depth – A Formidable Team

Julius Kyamanywa joins a powerhouse of senior legal professionals at Dentons Advocates Uganda. The leadership team comprises David Mpanga (Chairman), Pearl Nyakabwa (Managing Partner), Dennis Otatiina, John Musiime, and Isaac Kyagaba—collectively holding decades of experience across Uganda’s critical sectors such as finance, energy, infrastructure, and dispute resolution.

Supporting this partnership is a team of senior associates. Agatha Etyang brings her prowess in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and cross-border infrastructure transactions. Esther Niwamanya Ntale is a go-to expert for sovereign lending, project finance, and banking and finance compliance. Emmanuel Mucunguzi contributes deep litigation expertise across commercial law, and land disputes, while Fabian Omara is a trusted advisor on insurance, employment, and construction law.

The firm’s most recent promotions—William Wepukhulu and Kenneth Mugira to Senior Associates—signal a strong bench of rising talent. William is lauded for his work in energy, infrastructure and, fintech, while Kenneth has earned a reputation for courtroom rigor in complex disputes involving public law, insurance, and labor.

This multi-generational, multidisciplinary team reflects Dentons Advocates’ strategic vision of combining deep local insight with international best practice—equipping clients with agile, insightful, and future-ready legal support.

dentons-senior-associates-942x628-1 — **CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:** Dentons Advocates Uganda’s team of senior associates—including Esther Niwamanya Ntale, Agatha Etyang, Emmanuel Mucunguzi, Fabian Omara, and newly promoted William Wepukhulu and Kenneth Mugira—represents the firm’s deep bench of emerging legal talent, combining sharp local insight with global standards to deliver agile, high-impact counsel across diverse practice areas.

From Kyagaba & Otatiina to Dentons Advocates – A Strategic Evolution

Dentons Advocates Uganda was formerly known as Kyagaba & Otatiina Advocates. Building on that strong foundation, it began its journey under the Dentons global brand in 2019. Following regulatory approval by the Uganda Law Council in May, the firm officially aligned its operating name with the Dentons global brand. This milestone marks the continuation of a strategic evolution—expanding the firm’s scale, capability, and ambition to better serve clients locally and internationally.

The firm now boasts six partners, twelve lawyers, and nine professional support staff—serving clients that range from multinational corporations and SMEs to developers, entrepreneurs, and government entities. The firm’s practice areas cover the full spectrum of modern legal needs, including:

Banking and Finance
Capital Markets
Construction
Corporate and M&A
Energy and Infrastructure
Tax and Regulatory
Dispute Resolution
IP and Technology
Insurance
Project Development
Real Estate
Labour, ESG, and Compliance

By merging its locally rooted expertise with Dentons’ expansive global network, the firm is uniquely positioned to help clients grow, invest, and thrive—within Uganda and beyond. Whether advising on groundbreaking capital markets transactions, supporting ESG-aligned infrastructure projects, or navigating multijurisdictional regulatory regimes, Dentons Advocates continues to demonstrate that it is more than a law firm—it is a strategic partner for the region’s economic transformation.

mellisa-ssanyu-942x628-1 — Mellisa Ssanyu, Business Development Manager at Dentons Advocates Uganda, brings a unique blend of legal expertise, commercial strategy, and client engagement—driving the firm’s visibility, growth, and responsiveness to evolving market needs across Uganda and the region.

In a move to reinforce its strategic growth agenda, Dentons Advocates Uganda recently welcomed Mellisa Ssanyu as Business Development Manager. A UK-trained legal professional, Mellisa brings to the role a unique blend of legal understanding, commercial strategy, and client-focused communication, positioning her as a vital link between the firm’s legal service delivery and the evolving priorities of its diverse client base. Her previous experience spans legal practice, communications, and client engagement across East Africa. At Dentons Advocates, she will support the leadership team in aligning the firm’s business strategy, visibility, and client outreach with long-term market trends while strengthening the firm’s capacity to respond to cross-border opportunities and complex commercial needs.

In today’s complex and competitive legal marketplace, firms must go beyond delivering exceptional legal advice; they must anticipate client needs, build enduring relationships, and identify new opportunities. This appointment signals Dentons’ commitment to innovation and client-centric growth, ensuring the firm remains agile, future-ready, and strategically connected.

Spotlight on Dentons Uganda’s Senior Associates

Supporting Dentons Uganda’s formidable partnership is a distinguished cohort of senior associates whose diverse expertise and strategic insight continue to power the firm’s service delivery across key sectors.

agatha-etyang-scaled-1 — Agatha Etyang is a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Commercial Practice, with a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, insolvency, and venture technology. She has advised both multinational and government clients on high-value, cross-border transactions, infrastructure development, and social impact investments. Known for her sharp negotiation skills and commercial pragmatism, Agatha was a Rising Star nominee of the Uganda Law Society.

esther-ntale — Esther Niwamanya Ntale serves as a Senior Associate in the Banking & Finance and Corporate practice groups. She regularly advises regional banks and financial institutions on complex transactions including sovereign lending, cross-border financing, project finance, private equity, and commercial loan documentation. Esther also offers company secretarial support and corporate governance advisory, and was recently recognized as a Rising Star by IFLR1000.

emmanuel-mucunguzi-942x628-1 — Emmanuel Mucunguzi, a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, brings more than seven years of experience in commercial litigation, tax, regulatory compliance, and land disputes. He has successfully represented both multinational and domestic clients in high-stakes litigation, and brings additional strength in project management and strategic oversight of legal initiatives. Emmanuel also holds an MBA, underscoring his commercial acumen.

fabian-omara-942x628-1 — Fabian Omara is a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group specializing in insurance, construction, banking, and employment law. With over eight years of experience, Fabian is a familiar presence before Uganda’s courts and tribunals, including the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Industrial Court, Tax Appeals Tribunal, and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. He is also advancing his expertise in international arbitration, with a keen interest in out-of-court dispute resolution.

william-wepukhulu-1-942x628-1 — William Wepukhulu, recently promoted to Senior Associate, supports the Banking and Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Corporate practice groups. He advises on financing, compliance, and cross-border investments, particularly in fintech, insurance, and renewable energy. William is recognized for his commercial insight and has played a key role in executing high-value mandates. He was nominated as a 2023 Rising Star by the Uganda Law Society.

kenneth-mugira-942x628-1 — Kenneth Mugira, also newly promoted to Senior Associate, is a member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. His practice focuses on public law, insurance, land, labor & employment disputes, arbitration, and banking litigation. Kenneth has represented sovereign clients, public corporations, and academic institutions in precedent-setting cases, and is noted for his analytical rigor and courtroom advocacy.

Together, this team reinforces Dentons Uganda’s capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality counsel that bridges local understanding with global legal standards.