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
90 judgments

Court registries

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90 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2024
Applicant entitled to the certificate of title after paying the loan; vesting order refused for being unpleaded.
Land law – equitable title and transfer forms; mortgage discharge and release; liquidator/agent duty to perform discharged mortgage obligations; non-registration of transfer inconsequential to equitable interest; vesting orders must be pleaded.
30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024
Application to strike defences and obtain judgment on admission dismissed for lack of clear, unequivocal admissions.
Civil procedure — Order 6 rules 8 & 10 — specific v. general or evasive denials; Order 13 rule 6 — judgment on admission requires clear, unambiguous admissions; striking out pleadings reserved for incurably defective denials; pleadings that place opponent to proof should be tried.
30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024
30 September 2024
Administrator/registered proprietor proved trespass by utility; court awarded UGX 50,000,000, costs and 6% interest.
Land law – Trespass to land: requirement of legal interest/possession and unauthorized entry by public utility. Civil procedure – Res judicata: withdrawal by consent does not bar subsequent suit; burden to prove prior final determination. Constitutional law – Protection against deprivation of property without prompt and fair compensation. Remedies – Compensation for loss of use, award of general damages, interest and costs.
30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024

 

30 September 2024
30 September 2024
27 September 2024
27 September 2024
Applicants failed to prove statutory conditions for a vesting order; application dismissed with costs.
Land — Vesting order under Registration of Titles Act s167 — Conditions: registered land, full payment, actual possession, vendor acquiescence, vendor deceased or untraceable — Proof of actual possession and acquiescence required — Failure to prove administrator untraceable — Application dismissed with costs.
26 September 2024
A defendant who fails to file a defence and is defaulted lacks the statutory right to appeal; appeal dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure – Appeal competence – Defaulting defendant – Failure to file written statement of defence – Submission to jurisdiction (Order 9 r.3(6)) – Right of appeal (S.67(1) CPA) – Recourse for ex parte/default judgments (Order 9 r.12) – Abuse of process.
26 September 2024

 

26 September 2024
Appeal dismissed: res judicata inapplicable and appellant failed to prove bona fide occupancy or rebut ownership evidence.
Land law – ownership and trespass; doctrine of res judicata – distinct causes of action by date; bona fide occupant and Busulu payments – evidentiary requirement; first appellate court duty to re-evaluate evidence; Local Council judgments and subsequent civil proceedings.
26 September 2024

 

25 September 2024
25 September 2024
Strike-out application failed: prior judicial review did not bar substantive land, fraud and title claims; suit not time-barred.
Civil procedure – striking out pleadings – res judicata – prior judicial review does not bar substantive claim on ownership and fraud; Limitation Act s.25 – postponement where fraud discovered; Pleading standards – plaint and annexures must disclose cause of action; Frivolous/vexatious suits – arguable legal basis prevents strike-out; Capacity to sue – administrators evidenced by letters of administration, triable question.
25 September 2024
25 September 2024

 

25 September 2024
Fraudulent land transfer justified awards of general and punitive damages, interest and costs against transferees and the land registry.
Land registration – fraudulent transfer – forged documents and false identifications – entitlement to general and exemplary damages. Remedies – assessment of general damages for loss of use, inconvenience and emotional distress. Public/registry duty – breach of fiduciary/statutory duties by land registry under Registration of Titles Act – liability for punitive damages. Costs and interest – costs follow event; interest at court rate from date of transfer until payment.
25 September 2024
25 September 2024

 

25 September 2024

 

24 September 2024

 

24 September 2024

 

23 September 2024
Circumstantial blood evidence without forensic linkage failed to prove participation; accused also unlawfully remanded as a child.
Criminal law – Murder: ingredients of murder (death, unlawfulness, malice aforethought, participation) – requirement to prove all elements beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence – Circumstantial evidence and forensic proof: absence of forensic testing undermines reliance on alleged blood on accused’s clothes. Child justice – Police Form 24 and Children Act: presumption and protection of child suspects; unlawful remand with adult prisoners violates Article 34(6). Procedure – Duty of prosecution/magistrates to produce and consider Police Form 24 when charging/remanding suspects.
23 September 2024
Ministerial confinement cannot substitute for a judicial fitness-to-stand-trial determination; accused found not guilty by reason of insanity and remitted to hospital.
Mental health — Fitness to plead — Ministerial warrant of confinement — Judicial determination required — Psychiatric examination under Mental Health Act — Not guilty by reason of insanity under Trial on Indictments Act — Transfer to appropriate mental health facility.
23 September 2024

 

20 September 2024
20 September 2024
20 September 2024

 

20 September 2024
20 September 2024

 

20 September 2024

 

20 September 2024

 

19 September 2024

 

19 September 2024

 

16 September 2024

 

16 September 2024
IGG’s advisory to PSC without a fair hearing violated the applicant’s right to fair hearing and economic rights.
Human Rights Enforcement Act — jurisdiction to enforce constitutional rights without exhausting alternative remedies; Right to fair hearing (Article 28) — requirement of tribunal record and opportunity to be heard; Economic rights (Article 40) — denial of appointment as deprivation of lawful occupation; Inspectorate of Government — improper advisory influence on Public Service Commission; Remedies — declarations, compensatory damages, interest and costs.
16 September 2024

 

16 September 2024
13 September 2024
13 September 2024