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
1,332 judgments

Court registries

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1,332 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2024

 

3 October 2024

 

3 October 2024

 

3 October 2024
Plaintiff's equitable interest and estoppel invalidated reallocations; titles cancelled, fresh lease and aggravated damages ordered.
Land law – equitable interest, estoppel and legitimate expectation from conduct; Lease expiry, renewal and public lease policy; Cancellation of registered titles where registration procured to defeat an unregistered interest; Requirement of hearing and natural justice in reallocations; Unjust enrichment – no benefit where defendant did not obtain possession.
3 October 2024

 

3 October 2024

Land Acquisition – EACOP Project – Compensation Deposit – Public Use – Vacant Possession – Refusal to Accept Compensation – Property Rights – Estate Administration – Legal Compliance – Eviction Orders.

1 October 2024

Land acquisition – EACOP Project – compensation deposit – public use – vacant possession – refusal to accept compensation – property rights – estates – compliance – eviction

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024
Substituted service was valid; attachment before judgment was properly maintained, but the applicant may file a defence out of time.
* Civil Procedure — Attachment before judgment (Order 40 r.5–6 CPR) — requirement to show good cause or furnish security to set aside attachment. * Civil Procedure — Service of process — substituted service by publication — effectiveness where defendant has no known address and has evaded personal service. * Civil Procedure — Extension of time to file defence — discretionary relief in interest of substantive justice (Order 8 r.1(2); Order 51 r.6). * Pleading — citation of wrong statute does not automatically invalidate proceedings absent prejudice.
1 October 2024
Accused found presently unfit to stand trial; court ordered transfer to a national psychiatric hospital for treatment and statutory follow-up.
* Criminal procedure – fitness to stand trial – accused must be of sound mind to plead and participate in trial; presumption of innocence. * Mental health – psychiatric examination and determination – s.54 Mental Health Act; referral to facility for treatment. * Statutory regime – s.11 Penal Code (insanity), ss.47–48 Trial on Indictments Act, s.69 Mental Health Act – procedures for discharge and certification to resume trial. * Transfer for treatment – court authority to order detention for treatment under Article 23(1)(f) of the Constitution.
1 October 2024
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