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
34 judgments

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34 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2009
Applicant granted temporary injunction restraining respondent from dealing with disputed land pending the main suit.
* Land law – interlocutory relief – temporary injunction to preserve status quo pending determination of a trespass action. * Civil procedure – ex parte application – effect of respondent’s failure to file affidavit in reply; unchallenged affidavit evidence. * Interim remedies – prima facie case, balance of convenience and potential for nugatory relief as grounds for grant of injunction.
30 September 2009
The court granted the applicant, the biological mother, guardianship and custody of the minor as being in the child's best interests.
Family law – Guardianship and custody – Child's welfare as paramount consideration under the Children Act – Parental guardianship – High Court’s jurisdiction to grant guardianship and ancillary directions.
30 September 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as legal guardians of an abandoned infant based on welfare and applicants' suitability.
Family law – Guardianship of abandoned child – Child’s welfare paramount; suitability of foreign applicants assessed by home study, clear conduct and welfare recommendations – Conditions: registration, passport, travel permission, annual welfare reports.
30 September 2009
Default judgment awarded for plaintiffs' lost rental income after defendants unlawfully re-entered leased premises.
* Civil procedure – Default/interlocutory judgment – Effect of failure to file defence and substituted service. * Property/contract – Breach of long-term lease and unlawful re-entry. * Damages – Assessment and calculation of lost rental income for remaining lease term.
30 September 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as legal guardians of orphaned children, finding the appointment in the children’s best interests.
* Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of foreign guardians for orphaned children – Welfare of the child paramount under Children Act. * Evidence – Suitability requirements: home‑study report, police clearance, medical fitness, employment and family stability. * Conditions imposed – registration of guardian order with national registries and embassies, issuance of passports, travel permission, and annual welfare reports until majority.
29 September 2009
An extra‑judicial confession plus corroborating circumstantial and medical evidence established murder; life imprisonment imposed.
Criminal law – Murder – Circumstantial evidence – Extra‑judicial confession to police – Post‑mortem establishing fatal blunt head injury – Recovery of implements – Conviction and life sentence.
29 September 2009
Foreign applicants appointed legal guardians based on the child’s best interests and applicants’ suitability, subject to protective conditions.
* Family law – Guardianship – Appointment of legal guardians under the Children Act and Constitution – Welfare of the child paramount; suitability of foreign applicants assessed by financial capacity, health, criminal clearance and institutional recommendation; conditions including registration, passport, travel and annual welfare reporting imposed.
28 September 2009
Court grants legal guardianship to suitable foreign applicants as being in the abandoned child's best interests.
Children Law – Guardianship – Best interests and welfare of the child – Appointment of foreign applicants as legal guardians; evidence of suitability (home study, criminal clearance); registration and reporting conditions.
28 September 2009
Foreign applicants granted legal guardianship of abandoned infant in child's best interests, subject to registration and reporting.
Children Act – Guardianship – Appointment of legal guardians for an abandoned infant – Best interests and welfare of the child – Court’s jurisdiction to grant guardianship – Conditions: registration, passport, travel permission and annual reporting.
28 September 2009
Single-witness identification under favourable conditions sufficed to convict the accused of aggravated robbery despite an alibi.
Aggravated robbery; single-witness identification – reliability factors (familiarity, proximity, duration, lighting); alibi – burden to displace by prosecution; medical evidence as corroboration; recovery of weapon at scene.
24 September 2009
Revision granted: fatal-accident plaint was incompetent; reliance on identification-only documents and vicarious liability findings were unlawful.
Civil revision — s.83 CPA; fatal accident claims — requirement to plead under Law Reform (Misc. Provisions) Act; interlocutory judgment — Order 9 r.6 vs r.7; ex parte proceedings where defendant fails to file defence; admissibility — identification marks vs exhibits; vicarious liability — burden to prove employment; special damages — strict proof; execution — simultaneous modes and limits.
23 September 2009
The accused convicted of rape on victim ID, confession and medical corroboration and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Rape—elements of the offence—sexual intercourse, lack of consent, identification; victim as primary witness; medical corroboration (semen) of penetration; admissibility and corroborative value of charge and caution statement and admissions to local leaders; rejection of unsupported allegation of grudge; sentencing considerations where rape involves violence and a deadly weapon.
23 September 2009
Accused convicted of aggravated defilement despite absent medical report; victim and eyewitness testimony proved age, penetration, and identity.
* Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Elements: age, penetration and identification; victim and eyewitness testimony sufficing to prove penetration and identity. * Evidence – Corroboration: medical evidence desirable but not mandatory where cogent victim evidence is independently corroborated. * Procedure – Trial judge may convict despite assessors' differing view if evidence proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
21 September 2009
Assignee lacked a cause of action because an unstamped assignment deed was inadmissible, so judicial review proceedings were struck out.
Judicial review — locus standi of an assignee — admissibility of unstamped instruments under the Stamps Act — capacity of unincorporated association to be subject to prerogative orders — interim relief procedure under CPR O.41 vs Judicial Review Rules — service irregularities not fatal absent prejudice.
18 September 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as guardians of an orphaned child, finding the appointment in the child’s best interests.
* Guardianship – appointment of legal guardians for an orphaned child – welfare and best interests of the child paramount; * Suitability of foreign nationals as guardians – home study, documentation, absence of disqualifying conduct; * Registration and reporting requirements – registration with Ugandan authorities and foreign embassy, annual welfare reports; * Jurisdiction – High Court powers under Constitution, Children Act and Civil Procedure Act.
18 September 2009
Defaulting defendant means plaintiff’s pleadings accepted; owner vicariously liable; medical damages awarded, special‑hire losses unproven.
• Civil procedure – default judgment – effect of failure to file a defence: unchallenged pleadings accepted. • Tort – motor accident – vicarious liability of vehicle owner for acts of driver. • Pleading and proof – special damages must be specifically pleaded and strictly proved; medical expenses and police report admitted. • Damages – appellate assessment of general damages where trial court wrongly dismissed claim.
18 September 2009
The court confirmed that a taxpayer can use a retrospective VAT calculation method despite procedural irregularities.
VAT - Standard Alternative Method - procedural approval - retrospective application - tax refunds - taxpayer rights
17 September 2009
High Court may hear revision of magistrate’s closure of prosecution’s case where illegality and substantive justice require review.
Criminal procedure – Revision v appeal – Sections 48 and 50 Criminal Procedure Code Act – Section 50(5) bar where appeal available – Closure of prosecution's case in absence of state representation – Illegality overriding procedural bars – High Court's duty under Article 126(2)(e) – Makula International Ltd v Cardinal Nsubuga cited.
17 September 2009
Court convicted the second accused of murder for shooting a celebrant; the first accused was acquitted.
Criminal law – Murder – Identification and eyewitness evidence – Ballistic and ammunition accounting – Malice aforethought under section 191(b) – Doctrine of common intention – Liability of police officers for unlawful use of firearms.
17 September 2009
Accused convicted of aggravated defilement based on victim identification, medical evidence of penetration, and corroborative admissions; sentenced to seven years.
* Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – elements: victim under 14, unlawful sexual intercourse (penetration), and accused’s participation. * Evidence – medical and lay witness corroboration of penetration and injuries. * Evidence – victim identification and contemporaneous admissions in charge and caution statement corroborative. * Principle – slightest penetration sufficient to establish sexual intercourse for defilement.
17 September 2009
Court allowed adoption by maternal uncle who met statutory and exceptional requirements despite foreign citizenship.
* Adoption law – children’s welfare paramount – exceptional circumstances allowing sole male adopter of female child where applicant is maternal uncle and long-term foster carer; * Inter-country adoption – section 46 requirements (fostering under supervision, criminal record, recommendation, recognition by country of origin) satisfied; * Consent – parental and spousal consent obtained; * Post-order formalities – registration and passport/embassy recognition required.
10 September 2009
Court appointed foreign applicants as legal guardians where appointment served the child’s best interests and suitability was proven.
Children Act – best interests of the child paramount; legal guardianship – suitability assessed by home study, employment, prior care order and absence of criminal record; High Court jurisdiction to appoint guardians and impose conditions including registration, passport and periodic welfare reports.
8 September 2009

 

8 September 2009
Conviction for aggravated defilement based on positive child identification and medical corroboration; sentenced to 17 years imprisonment.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – proof of intercourse and age – medical corroboration of sexual assault – identification by a child of tender years with mental disability – alibi defence – sentencing considerations.
8 September 2009
Applicant’s request to deposit disputed monthly rents in court granted; temporary injunction to maintain status quo ordered.
Civil procedure – temporary injunction – maintenance of status quo; Equitable relief – deposit of disputed rents into court pending final determination; Evidence – failure to file affidavit treated as admission; Oral submissions cannot displace affidavit evidence; Prevention of dissipation of contested funds.
7 September 2009
Court quashed university disciplinary decisions for procedural unfairness, awarded UGX 3,000,000 general damages and costs to the applicant.
Judicial review – prerogative orders – certiorari for procedural impropriety and breach of natural justice; Administrative law – fair hearing requirements in university disciplinary proceedings; Procedural irregularity – inconsistent charges and failure to put allegations to accused; Evidence – applicant’s failure to prove special damages; Remedies – quashing of disciplinary decisions, award of general damages; Joinder – university council properly joined in judicial review.
7 September 2009
Court appointed foreign foster parents as legal guardians, prioritising the child’s welfare and imposing registration and reporting conditions.
Children Act – Guardianship – Welfare of the child paramount – Appointment of foreign nationals as legal guardians – Conditions: registration, passport, travel and annual welfare reporting.
4 September 2009
Widow entitled to occupy deceased spouse’s principal residence under Succession Act; occupancy right granted, no costs.
Succession Act s.26 & Second Schedule (Part I) – entitlement of surviving spouse to occupy intestate’s principal residential holding; proof of marriage and ordinary residence; High Court’s inherent powers under s.98 Civil Procedure Act to grant occupancy relief.
4 September 2009
Criminal law|Commercial crime
3 September 2009
Criminal law
3 September 2009
Parental care and protection
2 September 2009
Civil Procedure
1 September 2009
Appeals and reviews|Property Law
1 September 2009
Criminal law|Evaluation of Evidence
1 September 2009