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
523 judgments

Court registries

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523 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
Applicant’s displeasure over estate distribution and alleged non‑compliance does not justify setting aside a consent judgment.
* Civil procedure – Consent judgment – Setting aside or variation – Grounds required include fraud, mistake, misrepresentation or contravention of court policy; mere dissatisfaction with distribution or alleged non‑compliance insufficient. * Property law – Restrictive covenants and prior interlocutory rulings may affect available remedies regarding estate land and compensation. * Procedural – Failure to file directed written submissions may inform the court’s approach to costs.
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
Consent nullifying letters of administration did not void respondent’s prior bona fide purchase; appellant held a trespasser and appeal dismissed.
* Succession law – administrators’ powers and sales – validity of sales by court‑appointed administrators to third parties prior to surrender/nullification of Letters of Administration. * Civil procedure – effect of a consent judgment – retrospective effect and binding nature vis‑à‑vis non‑parties. * Property law – trespass – requirement to seek judicial determination of competing title before self‑help. * Damages – appellate interference – award of general damages not disturbed absent inordinate error. * Pleading – need to plead particulars of fraud when relying on allegations to impeach transactions.
16 February 2023
Whether land used as the matrimonial home required spousal consent before inter vivos sale to a third party.
* Land law – Matrimonial/family property – Whether spousal consent required under s.39(1)(c)(i) of the Land Act for inter vivos disposal of land ordinarily occupied as a matrimonial home. * Evidence – Proof of separation/divorce – separation without court order does not confer sole proprietorship; statutory declarations must be reliable. * Purchaser’s duty – Caveat emptor; intending purchaser must ascertain vendor’s ability to dispose of matrimonial property. * Appeal – Re-appraisal of evidence by first appellate court where trial magistrate mis-evaluated testimony.
16 February 2023
Applicant entitled to consequential orders under s.177 RTA to cancel a registered title and be registered as proprietor.
* Registration of Titles Act, s.177 – Consequential order following recovery of land by proceedings – court may direct registrar to cancel or substitute entries on certificate of title. * Procedure – Ex parte proceedings – effect of respondent’s failure to file affidavit in reply and attend hearings – disentitlement to be heard but burden of proof remains on applicant. * Evidence Act, s.102 – burden and standard of proof (balance of probabilities) in civil proceedings. * Authorities – Re Ivan Mutaka; Andrea Lwanga v Registrar of Titles – requirement of judgment for recovery before rectification under RTA. * Remedies – recall and cancellation of duplicate certificate; entry of applicant’s name; issuance of new/special certificate if duplicate not returned.
16 February 2023
15 February 2023
An applicant may challenge estate administration despite delay where administration remains open; preliminary objection dismissed.
Limitation Act (Sections 5 & 20) – estate claims – applicability where administration remains open; Challenge to Letters of Administration – administrators’ duties and accountability; Succession Act non‑retrospective – two‑year administration cap not absolving prior grantees; Purposive interpretation and equitable/constitutional considerations favor allowing challenges while administration incomplete.
14 February 2023
Court finds plaintiff lawfully purchased land, defendants trespassed, registrar’s delay unjustified; reliefs including rectification and damages granted.
Land law – proof of purchase where original sale agreement lost – admissibility of certified copies and secondary evidence; Fraud – high standard and requirement to attribute to the transferee; Trespass – unauthorized entry and dispossession during pending administrative decision; Administrative delay – Commissioner, Land Registration’s duty to decide rectification applications within reasonable time; Remedies – declaration of title, injunction, rectification order, eviction, mesne profits, special, general and exemplary damages, interest and costs.
13 February 2023
13 February 2023
9 February 2023
9 February 2023
9 February 2023
January 2023

 

31 January 2023
A customary heir without letters of administration cannot sue to recover intestate land for trespass.
Succession law – requirement of letters of administration (s.191 Succession Act) before rights to intestate property may be established in court; Civil procedure – plaint must disclose cause of action and plaintiff must be in actual or constructive possession to sue in trespass; Locus standi – customary heir without letters lacks capacity to sue for recovery of intestate land unless possessing independent proprietary rights.
31 January 2023
The appellants failed to prove title; the respondent declared owner and ordered to cease nuisance and pay damages.
Land law – ownership dispute – application of parol evidence rule to written sale agreements; burden of proof in civil title disputes; private nuisance (sewage) – entitlement to damages; appeal – re-evaluation of evidence and correction of trial judgment.
27 January 2023
27 January 2023
25 January 2023
24 January 2023
A caveat affords temporary protection only; an application for a permanent caveat is untenable and was dismissed.
Land law – Caveat – Nature of a caveat as a notice/statutory/interlocutory injunction; caveat provides temporary protection only; permanent caveat not available; caveator must institute ordinary action without undue delay.
23 January 2023
A caveat provides temporary, interlocutory protection; a permanent caveat is not an appropriate remedy.
Caveat – nature and effect – caveat is a notice/statutory interlocutory injunction giving temporary protection; caveator must bring ordinary action without undue delay; Permanent caveat – unavailable as a remedy; Procedure – improper reliance on Order 36(3) for a permanent caveat application.
23 January 2023
Court exercised inherent jurisdiction to set aside dismissal under Order 17 r.6(1) and reinstated the land suit.
Civil Procedure – dismissal under Order 17 r.6(1) – inherent jurisdiction to reinstate; sufficient cause – mediation and COVID‑19 disruption; res judicata where prior application withdrawn; preference for adjudication on merits; costs in the cause.
23 January 2023
Stay pending appeal dismissed as premature where decree-holder had taken no steps to execute the decree.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Order 43 r.4 – appeal does not automatically stay execution – applicant must show notice of appeal, risk of substantial loss, no unreasonable delay, security for due performance – applicant must also show visible steps by decree-holder to execute (extraction of decree, bill of costs) – premature application where no execution steps taken – dismissed with costs.
23 January 2023
Applicant granted extension to file defence where delay excused by reliance on counsel and administrative processes.
Civil procedure – Extension of time – Order 51 r.6 & s.98 Civil Procedure Act – "sufficient cause" – reliance on counsel and administrative processes – mistake of counsel not always visited on client – triable issue whether interdiction lifted before suit.
23 January 2023
Court granted interlocutory injunction restraining administrators from dealing with estate pending trial.
• Civil procedure – interlocutory injunctions: requirements of prima facie case, irreparable injury, and balance of convenience; • Effect of letters of administration on interim relief; • Preservation of subject matter/status quo pending substantive determination; • Appellate review of registrar's rulings under Order 50 Rule 8.
23 January 2023
23 January 2023
Applicant granted leave to defend due to bona fide triable disputes over a blank cheque and disputed repayments.
Civil procedure – Order 36 leave to defend – Requirement to show bona fide triable issue of fact or law – Dispute over loan amount, payments and a blank signed cheque – Procedural directions for filing written statement of defence and reply.
23 January 2023
Plaintiff’s false title/logbook representation held fraudulent; defendant still owes balance but recovers damages.
Contract law – sale of goods; Evidence Act ss.91–92 (parol evidence rule and exceptions) – admissibility of antecedent/condition‑precedent oral agreement; Misrepresentation and fraud – seller’s false representation of title/logbook; Indemnity for third‑party claims; Assessment and reconciliation of payments; Damages for fraudulent misrepresentation.
23 January 2023
23 January 2023
Petitioner failed to prove substantial non-compliance; election upheld and petition dismissed with costs.
* Election law – burden and standard of proof – petitioner must prove non-compliance and substantial effect on result (high degree of probability). * Affidavit evidence – recanting witnesses and Rule 19 issues – recanting affidavits rejected as not credible where contradictory and uncorroborated. * Evidence requirements – importance of original voters’ registers, appointment of agents, and contemporaneous complaints when alleging polling irregularities. * Presence of security and minor disturbances – lawful police intervention does not automatically vitiate an election. * Remedies – where non-compliance not shown to be substantial, election will not be nullified.
20 January 2023
20 January 2023

 

20 January 2023
19 January 2023
19 January 2023