The Law Society has acted to protect the reputation of Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) after the City firm was wrongly accused of profiteering from the treason trial of the leader of the opposition party in Uganda.

Dr Kizza Besigye, the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), along with 22 other individuals, are accused of plotting to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni after losing in the country's 2001 election.


The FDC claims these trials are politically motivated and have complained in the Ugandan media and to the Law Society about DWS's alleged involvement. Mike Hancock, Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, also tabled a question in Parliament regarding the firm's alleged involvement in the prosecution.


DWS associate firm Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA) has been instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Uganda to help prosecute the trial, but a DWS spokesman denied that the firm or its lawyers had any involvement in the prosecution or profited from it in any way.


In a letter to Mr Hancock, the Law Society said that KAA was an independent Ugandan law firm, regulated by the Ugandan Law Council, and there were no English or Welsh solicitors practising in it. The letter confirmed that the two firms had no fee-sharing arrangements beyond those from the specific cases on which they collaborate from time to time.


The letter added: 'DWS has been much maligned and its reputation damaged by the incorrect allegations that led to your question.'


A spokesman for DWS said its relationship with its African associates is based on mutual referral and knowledge-sharing, but DWS has no influence over what instructions those firms do or do not take up.


KAA partner Elly Karuhanga denied the case was politically motivated, saying the defendants would receive a fair trial under Uganda's independent judicial system.


Catherine Baksi