Legal Counsel

About Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda

Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda Limited (CCBU) is the Ugandan subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the largest African Coca-Cola bottler accounting for 40% of all Coca-Cola volumes on the continent. CCBU, officially renamed in 2022 following the amalgamation of Rwenzori Bottling Company Limited and Century Bottling Company, has a 24-25 year track record in Uganda. The company operates 3 plants, offers 12 brands and employs 894 people. CCBU has been recognised as a Top Employer in Uganda for 2025 and 2026. It operates the country's leading plastics collection and recycling operation, Plastic Recycling Industries (PRI), under Rwenzori Bottling Company, and has invested significantly in Uganda including a US$10 million Rwenzori Pure Natural Mineral Water line (2019) and a US$27 million PET line at Namanve (2023). Uganda operations are led by Emmy Hashakimana. This context is beneficial for the Legal Counsel role which requires navigating multinational FMCG regulatory and commercial environments.

Job Details

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Legal Counsel for Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda based in Kampala, Uganda. This is a Permanent (Full-time) position reporting directly to the Managing Director (Reference: CCB260820-5, Closing Date: 2026/09/02). The role provides proactive legal support across the business, working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and company policies.

Key Purpose Statement: Provide trusted legal and governance leadership that protects the business, manages risk, ensures compliance, and enables sustainable business performance.

Reporting Line: Managing Director, Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda Location: Kampala, Uganda Employment Type: Permanent / Full-time Job Category: Legal and Public Affairs - Communication and Sustainability

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide timely and expert legal advice to business leaders and departments on commercial, regulatory, labour and compliance matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate and manage supplier, distribution, partnership and other commercial agreements.
• Develop strategies that reduce reliance on external legal counsel while maintaining high-quality legal support.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise the business on changes that may affect operations.
• Identify legal risks and recommend practical mitigation actions.
• Manage litigation matters and coordinate external legal service providers where specialist expertise is required.
• Conduct legal awareness and compliance training for employees and management.
• Maintain and update contractual templates, policies and legal processes in line with regulatory requirements.
• Support corporate governance initiatives and ensure adherence to internal policies and standards.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with regulators, external counsel, The Coca-Cola Company and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent qualification — Admitted Attorney or Advocate (required).
• An LLM, MBA or other relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 8 years post-qualification legal experience in commercial law, legal compliance, corporate governance, litigation and contract management.
• Experience gained in both a reputable law firm and corporate environment is preferred.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and commercial laws relevant to a multinational business environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing legal budgets and controlling external legal costs.
• Experience working within an FMCG or multinational organisation will be advantageous.
• Competencies: Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills; Excellent analytical and risk assessment capability; Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills; Ability to balance legal requirements with commercial objectives; Excellent communication and presentation skills; High integrity, sound judgement and attention to detail; Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Job Summary

• Job Category: Legal and Public Affairs - Communication and Sustainability
• Job Type: Full-time (Permanent)
• Deadline of this Job: 2026-09-02
• Duty Station: Kampala
• Posted: 2 (23 hours ago)
• No of Jobs: 1