BecomingGolden

On 6th February 2025, the East Africa Law Society (EALS) hosted a webinar on Competition and Consumer Protection Law, bringing together experts to discuss key legal principles, enforcement mechanisms, regional trends, and career opportunities for lawyers in this evolving field. Below are the insights from the webinar;

Dr. Willard Mwemba, CEO of the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC), emphasized that competition law plays a crucial role in ensuring fair markets and economic development. He explained that monopolies harm consumers by driving up prices and limiting innovation, which is why enforcement is essential. He highlighted cases like CAF vs. Lagardère Sports, where COMESA intervened to break an exclusive 28-year football broadcasting contract, opening the market for more players. For more information about COMESA Competition Commission, please visit: https://comesacompetition.org

Consumer protection laws were also a key focus, with Steven Kamukama from CCC explaining how they safeguard consumers from deceptive business practices and unfair contracts. He pointed to the Vodacom & Airtel case in Tanzania, where excessive mobile money transaction fees led to regulatory action, and the Uber-Kareem merger in Egypt, which was
approved under conditions to prevent monopoly pricing. The rise of digital markets and e-commerce presents new challenges, as consumers are often subjected to misleading advertising and hidden costs.

Senior Counsel Pheona Wall discussed the Uganda Competition Act (2024), which provides a legal framework for fair competition and consumer protection. However, Uganda still faces challenges in enforcement due to the lack of implementing regulations and differences in regional legal structures. Unlike Kenya and Tanzania, which have independent competition authorities, Uganda’s competition law is overseen by the Ministry of Trade. She also highlighted the need for stronger oversight in digital finance and mobile money services to prevent unfair pricing and monopolistic behavior.

Joel Amenya Omari of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) shared insights on enforcement mechanisms. Investigating anti-competitive practices, such as price-fixing and unfair mergers, remains a priority, but regulating companies operating across multiple jurisdictions is a challenge. The dominance of tech companies also creates regulatory hurdles, as
many operate in multiple countries with varying legal frameworks.

The webinar underscored that competition law is an emerging and lucrative field in Africa, with increasing opportunities for lawyers and businesses. However, enforcement remains a challenge, particularly in digital markets. Institutions like the Fidelis Leadership Institute are stepping in to offer training and certification for legal professionals looking to specialize in this area. Please visit: https://fidelis-institute.org for more information about Fidelis Leadership Insitute.

For more information about the program, please visit; https://ealawsociety.org