Is your business ready for Tanzania’s High-Growth era? The 2025 legislative cycle has transformed the United Republic of Tanzania into one of the most stable and predictable investment destinations in East Africa. By formalizing a High-Compliance framework, the government has created a transparent “operating manual” that secures sovereign value while offering unparalleled opportunities for international…
RIVE&Co, the full service law firm, is proud to announce its role as Tanzanian law legal counsel, and English law opinion legal counsel, to TLG Capital on the successful closing of a strategic US$15 million facility to Kijenge Animal Products (KAP) the long-standing Arusha-based agro-processor. This innovative financing package was structured in conjunction with CRDB…
By Sunday Ndamugoba, Partner, RIVE&Co. The landscape of merger control in East Africa is on the verge of a significant shift. Effective November 2025, the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) will formally commence accepting merger notifications, marking a major milestone for regional economic integration. This imminent operationalisation introduces a critical compliance question for multinational…
The smooth transition of ownership and control following the death of a principal shareholder is a recurring vulnerability for private companies in Tanzania. The High Court of Tanzania, Commercial Division, addressed this head-on in the significant 2024 ruling of Mary Deogratias Magubo (formerly known as Mary Boniface Fungo) & 2 Others vs. The Registrar of Companies…
The cornerstone of modern company law is the principle established in Salomon v A Salomon & Co Ltd (1897), which grants a company a separate legal personality, insulating shareholders and directors from corporate liabilities. However, Tanzanian courts have consistently demonstrated a willingness to pierce or lift this corporate veil in “exceptional circumstances.” One of the most relevant precedents that…
This ruling, delivered on August 30, 2024, sets clear boundaries between rights obtained under the Companies Act (company name registration) and rights obtained under the Trade and Service Marks Act (trademark registration). 1. Background of the Case 2. The Court of Appeal’s Decision The CAT allowed the appeal, overturning the High Court’s finding of infringement. The key findings were: 3. Significance…
This opposition case centers on the attempt to register a visually and phonetically similar mark in the technology and apparatus class, which was successfully blocked by the owner of the internationally renowned brand. 1. Key Facts and Parties Role Party & Mark Details Opponent Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Mark: SAMSUNG) Proprietor of the well-known trademark SAMSUNG, registered in…
For years, the Tanzanian legal system faced a contentious debate regarding which court holds the proper original jurisdiction to hear copyright infringement cases, particularly when the claimed damages exceeded the pecuniary limits of the lower courts (TZS 100 Million). This uncertainty was a significant barrier to justice for the creative economy. The Court of Appeal…
This case, decided by the High Court of Tanzania, Commercial Division, concerns the copyright protection of industrial designs, specifically patterns used on printed fabrics. 1. Key Facts 2. The Legal Issue The central issue was whether the defendant’s unauthorized reproduction and distribution of printed fabrics featuring patterns and designs substantially similar to the plaintiff’s constituted…
Assignment is a voluntary and contractual transfer, whereby the owner of a trademark executes a written agreement to transfer ownership to another person or entity, either wholly or partially, and with or without the goodwill of the business. In contrast, Transmission is an involuntary transfer that occurs by operation of law, without the need for…