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
223 judgments

Court registries

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223 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2011
Court enlarged time to serve election petition after registrar's unauthorized substituted-service order prejudiced the applicant.
* Parliamentary election petitions — enlargement of time to serve notice — Rule 19(1) PE(EP) Rules; * Jurisdiction — Registrar lacked jurisdiction under Rule 24 to grant substituted service; * Service — failed personal service and alleged evasion by respondent; * Remedies — orders made without jurisdiction are nullities and may justify extension to prevent injustice.
22 September 2011
Estoppel cannot bar a tax authority from correcting statutory tax positions; VAT recomputation remitted for auditors to verify.
* Tax law – VAT on imports and bond sales – interplay between VAT Act (sections 4, 12(3), 23, 24) and customs law (EAC Customs Management Act) – taxable value of imports includes customs value, duties and incidental services. * Administrative law – estoppel against statutory bodies – estoppel cannot override or fetter statutory duties or authorize an ultra vires waiver of tax. * Evidence – weight versus admissibility – tribunals may decline to afford significant weight to testimony of non-party employees. * Procedure – remittal for reassessment – Tribunal’s power to remit computations for audit and recomputation with directions.
21 September 2011
Whether the respondent met the A‑level equivalence requirement for MP — court upheld NCHE equivalence and dismissed the petition.
Parliamentary elections – Qualification for MP – A‑level equivalence – NCHE certificate of equivalence; authenticity of underlying diploma and college certificate; probative value of typographical errors; existence and registration timing of awarding college; burden of proof in election petitions; Electoral Commission's liability.
18 September 2011
16 September 2011
The appellate court upheld the trial court's finding of trespass against the defendant despite procedural errors.
Land Law – Trespass – Burden and standard of proof in civil cases – Reliability of survey evidence – Dismissal of counter-claim.
15 September 2011
Accused acquitted of solicitation and abuse of office but convicted for receipt of gratification and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Anti‑corruption — solicitation v. receipt of gratification; proof beyond reasonable doubt; identification and credibility of witnesses; sting operations and evidential handling of currency; abuse of office requires proof of prejudicial act and authorisation; sentencing for receipt of gratification.
15 September 2011
Appellate court held heir’s consented occupation was not trespass, set aside erroneous decree portion and awarded costs to the appellant.
* Land law – customary heir – occupation by heir with consent – not trespass. * Remedies – eviction and scope of usufruct limited to specific parcel granted to heir. * Damages – general damages require pleaded and proved loss; discretionary. * Costs – discretion must be exercised with reasons; costs generally follow the event. * Civil procedure – decree must agree with judgment; decree inconsistent with judgment to be set aside.
13 September 2011
Criminal law
8 September 2011
Criminal law
8 September 2011
Elections
7 September 2011
Criminal law
6 September 2011
Criminal law
6 September 2011
Criminal law
6 September 2011
Criminal law
5 September 2011

Elections

1 September 2011
Elections
1 September 2011
August 2011
Criminal law
31 August 2011
Criminal law
31 August 2011
Judicial review against land authorities dismissed for suing wrong parties and failure to comply with statutory requirements for land conversion.
Land law – judicial review – mandamus – conversion of leasehold or customary tenure to freehold – proper parties to be sued – procedural requirements for land conversion – role of District Land Board and Chief Government Valuer – jurisdiction of court to issue prerogative orders against public officers – statutory compliance under Land Act, Cap. 227.
29 August 2011
Criminal law
25 August 2011
Criminal law
23 August 2011
Elections
22 August 2011
Elections
19 August 2011
Elections
17 August 2011
Elections
17 August 2011
Criminal law
16 August 2011
Civil Procedure|Jurisdiction
15 August 2011
A temporary injunction was granted to preserve property pending the determination of a main judicial review application.
Civil procedure – temporary injunction – requirements for grant – procedural irregularity in pleading law – irreparable loss – preservation of status quo pending suit – discretion of court in interim relief
12 August 2011
Civil Procedure
11 August 2011
Criminal law
11 August 2011
Elections
9 August 2011
Court affirms plaintiff's ownership of property, orders damages for breach and wrongful eviction.
Contract - breach of contract and ownership - determination of rightful ownership of property - damages for breach and wrongful eviction.
8 August 2011
Criminal law
8 August 2011
Incomplete records from the lower court necessitate a fresh trial for proper judicial review.
Civil Procedure – Incomplete trial record – Appellate process disrupted by missing documentation – Remittal for new trial required.
8 August 2011
Elections
7 August 2011
Elections
4 August 2011
Land|Land Dispute
3 August 2011
Land|Land Dispute
3 August 2011
The court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit, affirming the respondent’s ownership of the contested land.
Civil procedure – appeal – re-evaluation of evidence – land trespass – validity of property transfer – invalid marriage claim
3 August 2011
Land
3 August 2011
Adoption|HR
2 August 2011
July 2011
Elections
29 July 2011
Elections
29 July 2011
The appeal addressed flawed conclusions on the existence of a customary marriage and improper evaluation of children's interests.
Family Law – Customary Marriage – Validity of customary marriage without a certificate – Evidence required for proving customary marriage – Evaluation of children's welfare in divorce cases.
28 July 2011
Elections
28 July 2011
Elections
28 July 2011
Elections
27 July 2011
Criminal law
27 July 2011
Elections
25 July 2011
Elections
22 July 2011