Kampala lawyer in trouble over EAC emblem

 The East African Community (EAC) has expressed its dismay on the use of its emblem by one litigant who has a case at the EA Court.
Mr Male Mabirizi, a Kampala based lawyer, is alleged to have illegally used the key symbol of the Community and photographs to raise funds for personal purposes.
Secretary general Liberat Mfumukeko said Section 7 and 8 of the Community Emblems Act prohibit the unauthorised use of the EAC emblem.
According to him, the offence is punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $3,000 (about Shs11 million), a three year imprisonment or both.
“No person shall without the permission of the Council of Ministers use or display the emblem of the Community”, he said.
Mr Mabirizi is reported to have used the EAC emblem and photographs of the judges of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) to advance his personal issues.
These include raising funds to meet the costs in a matter before the EACJ, the Arusha-based judicial organ of the Community.
The SG insisted: “While the Community set up the EACJ as a neutral arbiter, for disputes between parties, it condemns the misuse of its emblem and photographs of the judges.”
Mr Mfumukeko added that the EAC was also irked by the alleged derogatory language used by Mr Mabirizi against a sitting head of state he could not name.
The Community further demanded an apology from the said lawyer and immediate withdrawal of the adverts he used to raise the money.

EAC features
The emblem of the EAC features a map of Lake Victoria with the member states Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda around it.
The colours used in the emblem are the same as those used on the EAC flag which also features the emblem at its centre.
The symbols of the emblem, adopted in 2003, are the EAC flag, the logo and the Official Seal of the Community. Also included is the EAC Anthem.