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
24 judgments

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24 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2016
An application to extend time to file an election petition was struck out for lack of standing under the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Electoral law – Election petition – Locus standi – Extension of time – Section 60(2) Parliamentary Elections Act – Striking out for lack of locus.
22 December 2016
An appeal court holds an ex-parte judgment should be set aside due to counsel's negligence, ordering a trial inter partes.
Civil Procedure - ex-parte judgment - setting aside - counsel's negligence - binding precedent
1 December 2016
October 2016
A temporary injunction to halt a public sewerage project was denied due to greater public interest and adequate remedies in damages.
Temporary injunction – prerequisites for grant – prima facie case – irreparable injury – balance of convenience – public interest in infrastructure projects – environmental and public health considerations.
31 October 2016
September 2016
A civilian's challenge to trial by military court under the UPDF Act must be addressed by the Constitutional Court, not the High Court.
Criminal law – Military justice – Jurisdiction of General Court Martial – Whether GCM may try civilians under the UPDF Act – Constitutionality of military courts – Separation of powers – Judicial independence – Jurisdiction of High Court versus Constitutional Court.
16 September 2016
August 2016
Both the appeal and cross-appeal against a taxation decision were struck out as procedurally incompetent for lack of essential documents and lateness.
Civil procedure – Taxation of costs – Appeals from decisions of taxing officers – Procedural requirements – Necessity of proper record and bill of costs – Limitation period for appeals – Incompetent appeals and cross-appeals dismissed for non-compliance.
24 August 2016
July 2016
Donation of an ambulance during campaign period by the winning candidate constituted an illegal electoral practice warranting a by-election.
Election petition – electoral law – parliamentary elections – bribery – donation of ambulance during campaign period – proof of illegal practices – reliefs for proven illegal practice – threshold for setting aside election result – election law compliance and evidentiary standards – role of charitable donations and inducement during elections.
18 July 2016
June 2016
Court held affidavits in rejoinder need not be by initial deponents, but struck out non-compliant illiterates’ affidavits as inadmissible.
Election petitions – Affidavits in rejoinder – Illiterates Protection Act – Admissibility of affidavits – Mandatory statutory compliance – Original signatures – Preliminary objections.
22 June 2016
A Member of Parliament’s election was annulled due to lack of proper verification of academic qualifications required for nomination.
Election law – qualifications of candidates – requirement of authentic and valid academic qualifications for nomination – due diligence in verification of academic papers for electoral candidacy – electoral commission reliance on certificates of equivalence – effect of non-compliance with statutory verification process – burden of proving authenticity of academic qualifications – electoral malpractices not established without cogent evidence.
10 June 2016
May 2016
A continuing failure to communicate a retirement decision and withdraw benefits amounts to constructive discharge, entitling remedies via judicial review.
Administrative law – judicial review – time bar – continuing administrative wrongs – constructive discharge – military service – fair administrative action – failure to communicate decision – remedies and damages – Uganda People's Defence Forces Act – constitutional rights – damages for unlawful deprivation of employment and benefits.
28 May 2016
A sports regulatory body acted illegally in suspending and replacing an elected official without a fair hearing or proper authority.
Administrative law – Judicial review – Natural justice – Right to fair hearing – Sports associations – Powers of regulatory bodies – Illegality and procedural impropriety in suspension and disbandment of elected officials.
20 May 2016
Application for leave to defend dismissed where no triable issues or credible defense to repayment of funds were raised.
Civil procedure – summary judgment – leave to defend – validity and enforceability of memorandum of understanding – consideration – raising of triable issues as defense.
20 May 2016
Appellant failed to prove title; court found abandonment, upheld lower court, and dismissed the appeal with costs.
Land law – ownership of public land – burden of proof under Evidence Act ss.10 & 110 – abandonment and revival of possession – sufficiency of survey and lease application evidence – possession versus title.
10 May 2016
Trial court erred by relying on untested pleadings; the respondent liable for false imprisonment and damages awarded.
* Property law – licence versus transfer – temporary grant for cattle dip does not pass proprietary title; revocation on abandonment and re-entry by owner. * Evidence – pleadings and annexures unsupported by viva voce evidence are insufficient; need for cross-examination. * Tort – false imprisonment – subordinate local officials acting as agent of local government create liability; onus on defendant to justify detention. * Remedies – award of general damages and costs.
4 May 2016
April 2016
Court revised and set aside an irregular blanket recount conducted despite unsealed/tampered ballot boxes; original returning officer results reinstated.
Election law – Recount under PEA secs. 55–56 – Jurisdiction and revision – High Court’s supervisory powers (CPA s.83(c), Art.139) – Invalidity of recount where ballot boxes unsealed/tampered – Blanket/unfocussed recounts and lack of specific numerical complaints – Reinstatement of returning officer’s results.
25 April 2016
Registered Powers of Attorney upheld; forgery allegations unproven, plaintiff awarded declarations, injunctions, specific performance and costs.
* Property law – validity of Powers of Attorney – effect of registration and certification by Registrar of Documents as evidence of authenticity. * Evidence – probative value of registered documents and office witnesses versus absence of original document and uncorroborated allegations of forgery. * Fraud/forgery allegations in land transactions – burden of proof and requirement for independent corroboration. * Remedies – declarations of title, injunctions and specific performance where authority to sell is established.
8 April 2016
March 2016
A subsequent suit challenging market sublease was barred as res judicata due to an earlier conclusive consent judgment.
Civil procedure – res judicata – prior consent judgment – representative suits – requirement for representative order – market lease dispute – no cause of action where issues previously determined.
31 March 2016
The appeal succeeded as the High Court found deficiencies in the original judgment's reliance on evidence and procedure.
Land law – customary land ownership – evaluation of evidence – hearsay evidence – certificate of ownership – balance of probabilities.
23 March 2016
The court upheld the respondents' possession of land, rejecting the appellant's trespass claim based on insufficient proof.
Land law – Trespass – Burden of proof in trespass cases – Error in issue framing by trial magistrate – Boundary dispute determination
14 March 2016
February 2016
Appeal dismissed: trial court properly found appellant failed to prove illegal takeover of land; no miscarriage of justice found.
Civil procedure – appeal from magistrate’s court – re‑evaluation of evidence on appeal – insufficiency of proof on balance of probabilities in land/kibanja claim – alleged misdirection on admissibility/weight of oral evidence to vary written documents – dismissal with costs.
9 February 2016
Application to set aside dismissal for non-appearance dismissed due to lack of sufficient cause and proper notice of hearing.
Civil procedure – application to set aside dismissal for non-appearance – sufficiency of reasons for non-attendance – effect of proper notice of hearing date.
9 February 2016
Court orders minority shareholder's shares bought back and withheld profits paid due to unfair exclusion from management.
Company Law – minority shareholder rights – member's exclusion from management – remedies for unfair prejudice.
9 February 2016
Appellate court upholds trial court’s ruling confirming respondent’s title and dismissing the appellant’s boundary and procedure-related claims.
Land law – Evidence – Competing claims over land donated by common donor – Evaluation of witness credibility and documentary authenticity – Standard of proof in civil trespass and boundary disputes – Appellate review of trial court’s findings.
5 February 2016
January 2016
28 January 2016
The NRM primary elections in Kyegegwa were nullified due to procedural irregularities and unlawful reversal of an unopposed candidate's status.
Electoral law – NRM primary elections – irregularities – disenfranchisement – reversal of unopposed candidate's status without procedural compliance – election results nullified.
12 January 2016