This is the version of this Act as it was from 27 June 2008 to 30 December 2023. Read the latest available version.
Related documents
- Is amended by Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2008
Uganda
Arbitration and Conciliation Act
Chapter 5
- Commenced on 19 May 2000
- [This is the version of this document from 27 June 2008 and includes any amendments published up to 31 December 2023.]
- [Note: The version of the Act as at 31 December 2023 was revised and consolidated by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
- [Amended by Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2008 (Act 3 of 2008) on 27 June 2008]
Part I – Preliminary
1. Application
Except as otherwise provided in any particular case, the provisions of this Act shall apply to domestic arbitration and international arbitration.2. Interpretation
Part II – Arbitration
3. Form of arbitration agreement
4. Waiver of right to object
A party who knows of any provision of this Act from which the parties may derogate or of any requirement under the arbitration agreement which has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the arbitration without stating his or her objection to the noncompliance without undue delay or, if a time limit is prescribed, within that period of time, shall be deemed to have waived the right to object.5. Stay of legal proceedings
6. Interim measures by the court
7. Death of a party
8. Receipt of written communications
9. Extent of court intervention
Except as provided in this Act, no court shall intervene in matters governed by this Act.10. Determination of number of arbitrators
11. Appointment of arbitrators
12. Grounds for challenge
13. Challenge procedure
14. Failure or impossibility to act
15. Termination of mandate and substitution of arbitrator
16. Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction
17. Power of arbitral tribunal
18. Equal treatment of parties
The parties shall be treated with equality, and each party shall be given reasonable opportunity for presenting his or her case.19. Determination of rules of procedure
20. Place of arbitration
21. Commencement of arbitral proceedings
Unless the parties agree, the arbitral proceedings in respect of a particular dispute shall commence on the date on which a request for the dispute to be referred to arbitration is received by the respondent.22. Language
23. Statements of claim and defence
24. Hearing and written submissions
25. Default of a party
Unless agreed by the parties, if, without showing sufficient cause—26. Experts
27. Court assistance in taking evidence
The arbitral tribunal, or a party with the approval of the arbitral tribunal, may request from the court assistance in taking evidence, and the court may execute the request within its competence and according to its rules on taking evidence.28. Rules applicable to substance of dispute
29. Decision making by panel of arbitrators
30. Settlement
31. Form and contents of arbitral award
32. Termination of arbitral proceedings
33. Correction and interpretation of arbitral award; additional award
34. Application for setting aside arbitral award
35. Recognition and enforcement of award
36. Enforcement
Where the time for making an application to set aside the arbitral award under section 34 has expired, or that application having been made, it has been refused, the award shall be enforced in the same manner as if it were a decree of the court.37. Bankruptcy
38. Questions of law arising in domestic arbitration
Part III – Enforcement of New York Convention awards
39. Definition
40. Power of judicial authority to refer parties to arbitration
When seized of an action in a matter in respect of which the parties have made an arbitration agreement referred to in section 39, the court shall, at the request of one of the parties, refer the parties to arbitration, unless it finds that the agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed.41. When foreign award binding
Any New York Convention award which would be enforceable under this Part shall be treated as binding for all purposes on the persons as between whom it was made, and may accordingly be relied on by any of those persons by way of defence, setoff or otherwise in any legal proceedings in Uganda; and any references in this Part to enforcing a foreign award shall be construed as including references to relying on an award.42. Conditions for enforcement of New York Convention awards
A New York Convention award shall be recognised and enforced pursuant to section 35.43. Enforcement
Where the court is satisfied that a New York Convention award is enforceable under this Part, the award shall be deemed to be a decree of that court.44. Saving
Nothing in this Part shall prejudice any rights which any persons would have had of enforcing in Uganda of any award or of availing himself or herself in Uganda of any award if this Part had not been enacted.Part IV – Enforcement of ICSID Convention awards
45. Definition
46. Registration
47. Enforcement
Part V – Conciliation
48. Application and scope
49. Commencement of conciliation proceedings
50. Number of conciliators
51. Appointment of conciliators
52. Submission of statements to conciliator
53. Role of conciliator
54. Communication between conciliator and parties
55. Disclosure of information
When the conciliator receives factual information concerning the dispute from a party, he shall disclose the substance of that information to the other party in order that the other party may have the opportunity to present any explanation which he considers appropriate; except that when a party gives any information to the conciliator subject to a specific condition that it be kept confidential, the conciliator shall not disclose that information to the other party.56. Cooperation of parties with conciliator
The parties shall in good faith cooperate with the conciliator and, in particular, shall endeavour to comply with requests by the conciliator to submit written materials, provide evidence and attend meetings.57. Suggestions by parties for settlement of dispute
Each party may, on his or her own initiative or at the invitation of the conciliator, submit to the conciliator suggestions for the settlement of the dispute.58. Settlement agreement
59. Status and effect of settlement agreement
The settlement agreement shall have the same status and effect as if it is an arbitral award under this Act.60. Confidentiality
61. Termination of conciliation proceedings
The conciliation proceedings shall be terminated—62. Resort to arbitral or judicial proceedings
The parties shall not initiate, during the conciliation proceedings, any arbitral or judicial proceedings in respect of a dispute that is the subject matter of the conciliation proceedings.63. Costs
64. Deposits
65. Role of conciliator in other proceedings
66. Admissibility of evidence in other proceedings
The parties shall not rely on or introduce as evidence in arbitral or judicial proceedings, whether or not such proceedings relate to the dispute that is the subject of the conciliation proceedings—Part VI – The Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
67. The Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
68. Functions of the centre
The functions of the Centre shall, in relation to arbitration and conciliation proceedings under this Act, include the following—69. Governing body of the Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
70. Secretariat of the centre
70A. Funds of the Centre
The funds of the Centre shall include the following—70B. Borrowing powers
70C. Investment by the Centre
The Centre may invest monies in excess of what is required for the operations of the Centre in investments determined by the Centre with the prior approval of the council.[section 70C inserted by of Act 3 of 2008]70D. Remuneration
70E. Centre to be self-accounting
70F. Financial year
The financial year of the Centre shall be the same as that of the Government.[section 70F inserted by of Act 3 of 2008]70G. Estimates of the Centre
The Centre shall, before the commencement of each financial year, submit to the Minister responsible for finance, estimates of income and expenditure of the Centre for the ensuing financial year.[section 70G inserted by of Act 3 of 2008]70H. Accounts and audit
70I. Minister to lay Auditor General’s report before Parliament
The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the audited accounts of the Centre and the Auditor General’s report under section 70.H, lay before Parliament the audited accounts of the Centre and the Auditor General’s report.[section 70I inserted by of Act 3 of 2008]70J. Annual report
The Centre shall make an annual report to the Minister on its operations.[section 70J inserted by of Act 3 of 2008]70K. Minister to lay Centre’s annual report before Parliament
The Minister shall lay before Parliament—70L. Contracts
70M. Fees
Part VII – Miscellaneous
71. Rules
72. Forms
The forms set out in the Second Schedule to this Act or forms similar to them, with such variations as the circumstances of each case require, may be used for the respective purposes in that Schedule and if used shall not be called in question.73. Government to be bound
This Act shall bind the Government.74. Saving
History of this document
31 December 2023
Consolidation
Read this version
27 June 2008 this version
31 December 2000
Consolidation
Read this version
19 May 2000
Commenced
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Documents citing this one 6
Judgment 5
Act 1
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