Leading Construction & Arbitration Lawyer David Kaggwa on His Formula for a Successful Law Firm

What does it take to build a successful law firm—and a reputation that opens doors beyond your home market? For David Kaggwa, Senior Partner at Kaggwa & Kaggwa Advocates and one of the region’s leading construction and arbitration lawyers, the formula combines specialisation, hard work, focus, integrity and strong governance. In this CEO East Africa Magazine interview, David joins Muhereza Abel Kyamutetera to share his journey from working as his brother’s messenger and personal assistant to becoming a partner in a specialist legal practice. He explains why choosing what to stop doing became a defining business decision—and how professional success can grow into lasting impact and legacy. Filmed at his Wild Geese Lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria, this conversation explores: 📌 Building a successful law firm through specialisation and exceptional service. 📌 Working with family while maintaining competence, accountability and professional standards. 📌 Construction law, arbitration and the growing value of preventing disputes. 📌 Opportunities for African professionals in infrastructure, mining and cross-border dispute resolution. 📌 Artificial intelligence, the future of legal practice and the importance of human judgement. 📌 Why poor planning, bureaucracy and delayed payments drive up infrastructure costs. 📌 Investing in tourism, supporting conservation and creating community employment. Whether you’re a lawyer, law student, entrepreneur or business leader, David’s experiences offer practical lessons on building expertise, earning trust and creating a business that lasts. His challenge: Stop doing everything. Master what matters. Which lesson will you apply to your career or business? Share your thoughts in the comments. Highlights: 0:03:20 – Origin story & career path 0:05:50 – Strategic shift to construction law & arbitration 0:06:35 – Unique technical edge of the firm 0:11:57 – Family partnership and the need for competence 0:17:10 – Governance as the silver bullet for firm longevity 0:19:56 – Why construction lawyers are now indispensable 0:23:26–0:27:57 – Why construction disputes belong in arbitration 0:27:57–0:29:20 – Speed, finality, and confidentiality in arbitration 0:32:29–0:32:56 – Arbitration cost vs the true cost of court delays 0:33:24–0:35:07 – CIArb fellowship and cross‑border arbitration work 0:37:06–0:38:50 – Why serious clients prefer certified arbitrators 0:40:29 – Law, specialisation, and the impact of AI 0:54:15–0:55:08 – Integrity as a non‑negotiable for arbitrators 0:58:06–1:00:07 – How Uganda’s Commercial Court supports arbitration 1:01:39–1:04:27 – Why major road projects overrun and how to fix it Subscribe to CEO East Africa Magazine for more conversations on business, leadership and impact. Follow @CEOEastAfrica across our social platforms. #DavidKaggwa #ConstructionLaw #Arbitration #LawFirmManagement #CEOEastAfricaKey