The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has taken a keen interest in the case of a young teargas inventor whose intellectual property (IP) rights were allegedly infringed upon by individuals within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), resulting in the mass production of his tear gas formula without due compensation.
In 2017, Samuel Mugarura, a Chemical Engineering student at Makerere University then, gained national attention for creating a less-toxic teargas formula aimed at subduing riotous crowds without causing harm to their health.
His innovative recipe was seen as a breakthrough, and the government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, expressed interest in collaborating with him. Mugarura’s company, Sharawe Technologies Ltd, was expected to partner with the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to mass-produce the product.
However, Mugarura’s breakthrough invention allegedly became the subject of IP theft. According to a letter from his lawyers, GEM Advocates, Mugarura claims that, without his consent, UPDF’s Luweero Industries Ltd began clandestinely manufacturing tear gas and pepper sprays using his patented formula. The letter also states that, on June 15, 2020, the Minister of Defence informed the President of Mugarura’s intent to sell his intellectual property rights for the invention to the government.
Mugarura’s lawyers were threatening legal action, claiming the government and UPDF owe him compensation for the unauthorized use of his invention. The letter asserts that “Luweero Industries Ltd and the UPDF have, without regard to our client’s intellectual property rights, been wrongfully producing tear gas and pepper sprays on a mass scale using our client’s invention.”
Sources within the UPDF have confirmed that Gen. Kainerugaba has instructed Lt. Col. Daniel Ahimbisibwe Atwiine, head of the Special Investigations Bureau, to launch a thorough investigation into the matter and identify any personnel involved in the violation of Mugarura’s IP rights. Lt. Col. Atwiine has reportedly already summoned Mugarura and his legal team to assist with the investigation.
While the specifics of the meeting remain unclear, the investigation into the alleged infringement continues, with the aim of holding accountable those responsible for undermining Mugarura’s invention.
This development follows Mugarura’s legal notice, in which he demands compensation of USD 11 million in damages and associated costs from the government and UPDF. The case highlights growing concerns over the protection of intellectual property rights in Uganda and the importance of upholding agreements made with local innovators.
Both parties in the matter were not available for comment by press time.
