The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has embarked on the process to identify and sue members of the public who take it upon themselves to duplicate Uganda Cranes Jerseys and other products bearing FUFA logos and trademarks.
The Federation says this is an infringement on their patent logos, which is unconstitutional.
This was revealed Wednesday in press conference addressed by the body’s communications director, Ahmed Hussein, Deputy CEO, Humphrey Mandu and legal officer, Denis Lukambi at FUFA House.
FUFA says that despite them being the original importers and sole distributors of Uganda Cranes Jerseys, some individuals and traders are now selling duplicated materials alleged to be from FUFA, causing financial losses to the federation.
“Since we came up with the new Uganda Cranes Jersey, we have realized that there are members of public especially in the business sector who have taken this advantage and are reaping from these products at the cost of the FUFA who are their sole importers and distributors,” Mandu said.
“We think jersey sales would be one of the revenue streams of the Federation and the national team,” added Mandu.
The football governing body clarified that no individual has been authorized to sell their products or those with FUFA logos, but efforts are underway to have regional distributors.
“The public is notified that no individual or company has been granted any authorization as yet, to deal or produce any items related to the Uganda Cranes replica jerseys or on behalf of FUFA,” he added.
Mandu adds that the football body however seeks to deal with the business community in an “organised and authorised procedure”.
To the effect, FUFA is currently receiving applications from individuals and companies from the different regions of the country interested in the distributing Uganda Cranes jerseys.
A single company will later, be issued a FUFA certificate of distribution, which also supply the products to the different sales agents in their respective regions.
On his part, Dennis Lukambi, the FUFA Legal Manager stressed that the Federation has full powers over its products and will not give chance to anyone duplicate them.
“As FUFA, we have a Vision of becoming the number one football Nation in Africa on and off the pitch and protecting the game is one of the components of our mission. FUFA underwent rebranding and all the logos, names and features are all registered,” Lukambi told reporters.
“In Uganda under the trademarks act, you can be imprisoned for selling what doesn’t belong to you. So we don’t want to ambush the public and that’s why we are making the sensitisation,” he added.
The lawyer asked members of the public to recognize that the logos and design were created by some people and FUFA paid for that work.
“Therefore it’s wrong for one to go and duplicate our work without permission. It is criminal to do such business” he added.
