Uganda’s Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling against an importer found guilty of handling counterfeit Hewlett-Packard (HP) products.
The ruling, first reported by ChimpReports, reaffirms legal action taken against the importer, who was found to have violated HP’s intellectual property rights by bringing non-genuine HP cartridges and accessories into the Ugandan market.
According to ChimpReports, the three-member appellate panel dismissed the importer’s appeal and confirmed the earlier judgment, effectively holding the defendant liable for dealing in counterfeit goods. The decision is viewed as a boost to brand protection enforcement and a warning to importers dealing in illicit products.
“The Court found no merit in the grounds of appeal and upheld the High Court’s decision,” the report noted.
The case highlights growing momentum within Uganda’s judicial system to address intellectual property violations, especially those involving counterfeit technology products — a growing concern across East Africa. HP, like many global tech firms, has long battled the distribution of fake products which can undermine user safety, system performance, and trust in the brand.
The ruling comes amid heightened calls for authorities to strengthen enforcement of Uganda’s intellectual property laws. Agencies such as the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) have advocated for stiffer penalties and improved border controls to stem the flow of counterfeit goods into the country.
While the ruling has now been confirmed, key details — including the exact penalties imposed and the scope of the seized counterfeit products — remain unclear, as the full judgment has yet to be made public. However, the importer has been named in the ChimpReports article as China New Future (Uganda) Ltd, a company previously accused of distributing non-genuine HP products in the country.
No official statement has been released by HP or the Court of Appeal at the time of publication.
Uganda’s stance aligns with broader regional trends, as countries across Africa intensify efforts to enforce IP laws and protect consumers. In 2023, Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) seized over 50,000 counterfeit electronics in Nairobi alone, including HP-branded goods.
