High Court of Uganda

The High Court of Uganda is the third court of record in order of hierarchy and has unlimited original jurisdiction, which means that it can try any case of any value or crime of any magnitude. Appeals from all Magistrates Courts go to the High Court. 

The High Court is headed by the Honorable Principal Judge who is responsible for the administration of the court and has supervisory powers over Magistrate's courts. 

Physical address
Plot 2, the Square Kampala
28 judgments

Court registries

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28 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2009
Parent permitted appointment as guardian to sell minor's registered land where sale serves the child's welfare.
Children Act – legal guardianship – welfare and best interests paramount – parent appointed guardian to permit sale of minor-owned land; minor cannot execute transfer; parental consent via affidavit considered.
31 October 2009
Court dismissed challenge to Letters of Administration, affirming defendants as estate beneficiaries based on paternity.
Family law - paternity dispute - revocation of Letters of Administration - evidentiary burden in proving biological paternity
30 October 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as legal guardians, finding guardianship in the child’s welfare and imposing registration and reporting conditions.
Children law – Guardianship – Welfare of the child paramount – Appointment of foreign prospective guardians after home study and clearances – Registration and reporting conditions imposed.
29 October 2009
The court may appoint the applicant as legal guardian of an abandoned child if the appointment serves the child’s welfare.
Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of legal guardian for abandoned infant – Welfare and best interests of the child paramount – Suitability of foreign applicant supported by home study and certificate of good conduct – Conditions: registration, passport, embassy notification, annual welfare reports.
29 October 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as guardians of an abandoned infant, permitting emigration subject to registration and annual welfare reports.
Child welfare – Guardianship – Appointment of foreign applicants as legal guardians of abandoned infant – Best interests principle – Suitability evidence (home study, references, medical and criminal clearances) – Permission to obtain passport and to emigrate – Registration and reporting conditions.
28 October 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as legal guardians of an abandoned infant, permitting migration subject to protective conditions.
Children — Guardianship — Welfare of the child paramount — Appointment of foreign guardians where child abandoned; suitability, registration, passport, embassy notification and periodic welfare reporting ordered; court’s jurisdiction under Constitution, Judicature Act and Children Act.
28 October 2009
Father appointed guardian and authorized to transact on the minor’s land interest as being in the child’s best interests.
Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of natural father as legal guardian – Best interests and welfare of the child. Family law – Minor’s property – Court authority to permit guardian to transfer, mortgage, pledge, assign or sell minor’s land interest. Jurisdiction – High Court’s original jurisdiction under the Constitution and Judicature Act to grant guardianship and property-related relief. Evidence – Parental consent and continuous care as factors supporting guardianship.
28 October 2009
State liable for unpaid retrenchment benefits after privatization; quantum reduced for failure to mitigate; interest awarded.
Public enterprises/divesture — State liability for employee terminal benefits after privatization; mitigation of loss by employee; part-payment not extinguishing larger debt; interest on delayed payment.
27 October 2009
Stay of execution granted pending appeal where applicant showed likely substantial loss, prompt application and indemnity undertaking.
Stay of execution – pending appeal – requirements: substantial loss if execution proceeds; promptness of application; security/undertaking for performance – discretion to grant stay of execution of decree involving real property.
26 October 2009
Applicants failed to satisfy section 72 requirements for a second appeal; leave to appeal was denied with costs.
Civil procedure – leave to appeal / second appeal – requirements of section 72 Civil Procedure Act – must show decision contrary to law, failure to determine material issue, or substantial procedural defect; appellate interference with trial court discretion; dismissal for want of prosecution and reinstatement; insufficiency of vague or unparticularised grounds for leave.
25 October 2009
Accused convicted of aggravated defilement of a 14‑year‑old while HIV‑positive and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – proof of age, penetration and identity; medical corroboration; admissibility of HIV test photocopy as secondary evidence; HIV status as aggravating factor; sentencing discretion (death versus life imprisonment).
23 October 2009
Applicant was fairly heard and the Academic Registrar lawfully communicated the discontinuation; review dismissed with costs.
Administrative law — judicial review — procedural fairness and natural justice in university disciplinary proceedings; University/examination regulations — Examination Regulations (2008–2011) govern examination malpractices and empower the Academic Registrar to receive reports, notify candidates and communicate committee decisions; ultra vires — Registrar’s communication upheld; application dismissed with costs.
22 October 2009
Applicant's challenge failed: PSC's advice to employer was within its powers and no hearing was required; relief dismissed with costs.
Public Service Commission – powers under Article 166(1)(d) to guide and coordinate District Service Commissions – distinction between advice and directive – entitlement to a hearing under Article 166(1)(e) limited to grievance/appeal proceedings – premature application for prohibition where employer has not acted on PSC advice.
22 October 2009
Whether a parent may be appointed guardian and authorized to sell a minor's land to raise the child's school fees.
Children Act – welfare of the child paramount; guardianship – appointment of parent as legal guardian; authorization to transfer/sell land registered in a minor’s name to raise funds for maintenance and education; High Court inherent jurisdiction to make guardian orders.
21 October 2009
Failure to serve statutory notice and expiration of limitation rendered the joint suit and default judgment null and led to dismissal.
Civil procedure — Statutory notice requirement under Civil Procedure & Limitation (Misc) Act — service on Attorney General; Limitation — section 3(1) — tort claims against government/local authority — two-year limitation; Joint suits — effect of nullity as to one defendant on entire suit; Default judgment/decree entered in defective proceedings — irregularity and nullity; Relief — dismissal with costs; setting aside of prior judgment and decree.
21 October 2009
An allegedly procured consent decree may be challenged by motion where fraud is pleaded; the court may order cross‑examination and further inquiry.
Civil procedure – challenge to purported consent decree – consent judgment requires genuine party consent; nullity may be set aside by application; fraud allegations must be pleaded with particulars but may be inferred from facts; Notice of Motion may be used to impugn allegedly void decrees and court may order cross‑examination and further inquiry. Title law – cancellation and reissuance of certificates by Registrar – effect on secured interests and protection of bona fide purchasers.
19 October 2009
Court granted adoption to married couple including a non‑Ugandan spouse under exceptional circumstances and statutory compliance.
Children Act (Cap 59) — Adoption — sections 45, 46, 47, 51 — age and fostering requirements; exceptional circumstances permitting foreign applicant to adopt; parental consent; registration and post‑adoption reporting.
19 October 2009
Foreign applicants appointed guardians where child's welfare required specialised care, subject to registration, passport and reporting conditions.
Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of legal guardians where child's welfare is paramount – Court may appoint foreign applicants where child requires specialised care and primary caregivers lack capacity. Evidence – suitability of guardianship established by passports, marriage certificate, international home study, health and criminal-clearance certificates. Conditions – registration with domestic and foreign authorities, passport procurement, permission to travel, and annual welfare reporting until majority.
14 October 2009

 

14 October 2009
Inter‑country adoption granted where statutory requirements were met and adoption serves the child’s best interests.
Children Act (ss. 44–51) – Adoption – statutory requirements: age, fostering period, spousal consent, parental consent; Inter‑country adoption (s.46) – residency, foreign authority recommendation, criminal record, foreign recognition of order; Best interests and welfare of the child; Post‑adoption registration and annual welfare reporting.
13 October 2009
The defendant held liable to repay purchase funds as money had and received after a failed land transaction.
Civil law – Money had and received – recovery where consideration wholly failed – quasi-contractual remedy; Professional duty – lawyer/land consultant’s standard of care – gross negligence and/or misconduct; Evidence – parol evidence rule applied to written sale agreement; Remedies – decretal sum, interest at court rate and costs.
12 October 2009
Carrier and successive contracted transporters held jointly and severally liable for lost cargo; plaintiff awarded net US$23,782.12.
Carriage of goods by rail – contract of carriage and sub-contracted carriage – joint and several liability of successive carriers – loss in transit; measure of damages for lost cargo; set-off of clearing charges; recovery of demurrage from liable carriers; costs.
8 October 2009
High Court may appoint suitable applicants as legal guardians when such appointment serves the abandoned child's welfare.
Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of legal guardians for abandoned child – Welfare of the child paramount. Jurisdiction – High Court’s original jurisdiction under Article 139 and Judicature Act to make guardianship orders. Suitability – Assessment based on home-study, financial capacity, criminal clearances and social welfare reports. Conditions – Registration, passport, overseas registration and annual welfare reporting until majority.
8 October 2009
Mother granted legal guardianship of her minor children to protect their welfare and pursue the father’s unexecuted will.
Guardianship – appointment of legal guardian under Civil Procedure Act s.98 and Order 52 rr 1&2 – welfare of the child paramount (Children Act) – High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to make guardian appointments to protect minors’ interests and pursue estate claims.
8 October 2009
Father appointed guardian and authorised to mortgage minor’s land as being in the child’s best interests.
Children Act — Guardianship — Section 3 and First Schedule paragraph 1(b) — Welfare and best interests of the child paramount — Court-authorised mortgage of minor’s land — High Court jurisdiction.
6 October 2009
Court expunged an illegally procured distress order, ordered return of recoverable goods, and held advocate and bailiff personally liable.
Civil procedure – distress for rent – validity of certificate where no underlying suit or court adjudication exists; Execution irregularity – attachment sold under a certificate naming a different person; Professional misconduct – advocate presenting documents to magistrate’s chambers bypassing registry; Bailiff liability – personal liability for executing irregular or illegal process; Remedy – expungement of illegal order and return of recoverable property; Costs against errant advocate.
5 October 2009
Applicant entitled to re‑enter leased land and recover arrears after respondent breached ground‑rent covenant.
Land law – Lease covenant – periodic revision of ground rent – valuation by party‑nominated valuer binds parties where not disputed; Forfeiture – Non‑payment of rent – s103 Registration of Titles Act – lessor’s right to re‑enter; Remedies – computation of arrears; Registrar of Titles to note re‑entry.
5 October 2009
Interdiction quashed for breach of audi alteram partem and for being ultra vires (wrongly invoked regulation).
Judicial review – certiorari; natural justice – audi alteram partem – statutory 14-day show-cause period; ultra vires action – interdiction power under Public Service Commission Regulations (Reg.29 not Reg.36); substitution of respondent and validation of service under Local Government Councils Regulations.
5 October 2009