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
114 judgments

Court registries

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114 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
June 2024

 

28 June 2024
28 June 2024
28 June 2024
28 June 2024
28 June 2024
The applicant failed to prove ownership; the respondent’s title allocation stood and the suit was dismissed with costs.
Land law – proof of ownership and possession; indefeasibility of title and exceptions for actual fraud; allocation and lease procedures by District Land Board and central agencies; trespass — elements and proof; burden and standard of proof in civil land disputes.
28 June 2024
28 June 2024
28 June 2024
Whether judicial review challenging DPP’s sanctioned charges is time-barred and whether respondents’ affidavits were validly commissioned.
Judicial review — timing — grounds arise when DPP sanctions charges; disclosure is procedural, not the triggering act; affidavits invalid where commissioned by commissioner lacking practising certificate.
28 June 2024
Appellant failed to prove a gift or exclusive possession; respondents held beneficial interest and appeal dismissed with costs.
Land law – gift inter vivos: elements of intent, delivery and acceptance; pleadings and departure from pleaded case; beneficial ownership and estate property; possession and trespass – trespass requires lack of permission or exclusive possession.
28 June 2024

 

28 June 2024
Court allowed set-off of cross-taxed costs, set aside execution, ordered vehicle release and refund.
* Civil procedure – Set-off of cross decrees – Order 22 Rule 15 – conditions: cross decrees, reciprocal creditor/debtor positions, concurrent executability, definite sums. * Execution – attachment of property – setting aside execution where set-off established and funds held in court. * Res judicata – scope: Registrar’s execution ruling did not decide set-off; res judicata inapplicable. * Jurisdiction – High Court may hear formal set-off application despite procedural lapses; substantive justice to prevail.
28 June 2024

 

28 June 2024

 

28 June 2024
A chief magistrate’s conditional forfeiture order lacked legal basis; trial court correctly found respondent owner based on boundary evidence.
Land law — boundary disputes — customary tenure — admissibility and sufficiency of parol and physical boundary evidence (trees, anthill) — supervisory powers of Chief Magistrate in revision — limits on conditional forfeiture orders — weight of locus in quo inspection and sketch map — challenges to survey/lease inclusions.
28 June 2024
A beneficiary may sue to protect estate interests and challenge alleged unlawful distribution despite claims of letters of administration.
* Succession law – locus to sue – beneficiaries’ right to sue to protect estate interests and challenge unlawful alienation of estate property. * Succession Act s.264 – effect of letters of administration – does not automatically bar beneficiaries from suing; validity and effect are matters of evidence. * Civil procedure – claims against administrators – administrators may be sued for mismanagement or fraudulent disposition of estate assets.
28 June 2024

 

27 June 2024

 

27 June 2024

 

27 June 2024
27 June 2024
27 June 2024

 

27 June 2024
26 June 2024

 

26 June 2024

 

26 June 2024
26 June 2024
26 June 2024
26 June 2024
25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

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25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024

 

25 June 2024
24 June 2024

 

21 June 2024
Applicant permitted to amend plaint to correct land size and introduce survey report; amendment not prejudicial or mala fide.
Civil Procedure – Amendment of pleadings – Court’s discretion to allow amendment before hearing – Introduction of surveyor’s report – Avoidance of multiplicity of proceedings – Abuse of process and prejudice – Costs to abide outcome of main suit.
21 June 2024
Alleged late filing of an appeal is not an error apparent on the face of the record and does not justify review.
Civil Procedure — Review (O.46 CPR, s.82 CPA) — "error apparent on the face of the record" — timeliness of appeal not an apparent error — s.79 CPA time limits and exclusion of time — discovery of new evidence — requirement of due diligence — finality of litigation.
21 June 2024
Appellant established title where the respondent failed to produce primary evidence of ownership; lower court decision set aside.
Land law – ownership dispute – burden of proof on plaintiff to prove title on balance of probabilities; Evidence Act – primary evidence required for documents; Appellate review – re-evaluation of evidence where trial court considered evidence in isolation; Local Council findings – not admissible if not tendered as exhibits; Trespass – cannot be established without proving claimant’s title.
21 June 2024
Taxing officer's award partially set aside; duplicate and unsupported items deducted, instruction fee upheld and bill allowed at Ugx 17,025,000.
* Taxation of costs – appellate review of taxing officer’s discretion – interference only for error of principle or manifestly excessive/low amounts. * Advocates (Remuneration & Taxation of Costs) Regulations – allowable items, duplicates, repetitions and necessity of supporting documentation. * Instruction fees – Regulation 9 application where value of subject matter not indicated.
21 June 2024

 

21 June 2024

 

21 June 2024

 

21 June 2024
Appellate court upholds finding that respondent’s title prevailed and appellants trespassed; forged deed fatal to appellants' claim.
Land law – ownership and inheritance – whether disputed land forms part of deceased’s estate; trespass – occupation versus limited allotment (50ft x100ft); evidentiary assessment – forged document (D. Exh.1) and burden of proof; admissibility – res gestae versus hearsay; appellate re-evaluation of trial credibility and locus findings.
21 June 2024
Respondent vicariously liable for soldier's torture; declaration made and damages awarded to the applicant.
Human rights enforcement – freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; vicarious liability of the State for actions of security personnel; awards of general and exemplary damages for human rights violations.
21 June 2024