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
13 judgments

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13 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2023

 

10 October 2023

 

10 October 2023

 

10 October 2023

 

10 October 2023
August 2023
Prosecution proved aggravated defilement: child under 14, sexual act, accused as stepfather and perpetrator; accused convicted.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Elements: victim under 14, sexual act, person in authority, identity of perpetrator – proof beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence – medical report and eyewitness corroboration – sufficiency where victim does not testify. Burden of proof – prosecution’s duty; accused’s silence not determinative.
25 August 2023
Accused convicted for aggravated defilement where medical, eyewitness and admission evidence proved all elements beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Elements: victim under 14, sexual act (penetration however slight), perpetrator in position of authority – proof beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence – medical report and independent eyewitness corroboration may sustain conviction where victim does not testify. Admissions to local authority (LC1) and arrest at scene as evidence of identity.
25 August 2023
The accused was convicted of aggravated defilement for sexual acts on a child in his care.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – elements: victim under 14, sexual act, accused a parent/person in authority, identification of perpetrator. Proof of age – birth testimony, medical examination and court’s common-sense assessment. Sexual act – victim’s evidence corroborated by medical report (partially open introitus suggesting penetration). Person in authority – in loco parentis/step-parent and household head qualifies. Identification – caution with single-witness ID; circumstantial evidence and repetition of incidents can safely support conviction. Delay in reporting – threats to the victim can explain delay and do not necessarily undermine credibility.
24 August 2023
Elderly victim’s testimony, medical evidence and voice identification sufficed to convict the accused of rape.
Criminal law – Rape – Elements: carnal knowledge, lack of consent, identity of perpetrator. Evidence – Proof beyond reasonable doubt; medical report and witness testimony as corroboration. Identification – Voice identification admissible and reliable where victim is familiar with accused’s voice. Criminal procedure – Burden of proof remains on the prosecution; alibi and fabrication allegations must raise reasonable doubt.
24 August 2023
Prosecution failed to prove carnal knowledge and identity beyond reasonable doubt; accused acquitted.
Criminal law – Rape – Elements: carnal knowledge, lack of consent, identity – Proof beyond reasonable doubt required Identification – Visual recognition at night; caution on uncorroborated single-witness identification Medical evidence – Delayed examination; ruptured hymen without signs of recent trauma may not corroborate alleged recent sexual intercourse Credibility – Alleged motive (land dispute) and absence of corroboration can undermine prosecution case
23 August 2023
Victim and eyewitness testimony plus medical evidence proved non‑consensual penetration; accused convicted of rape.
Criminal law – Rape: ingredients – carnal knowledge (penetration), lack of consent, and identity. Corroboration by medical and eyewitness evidence. Capacity to consent – unsound mind negating consent. Burden and standard of proof – prosecution must prove every ingredient beyond reasonable doubt.
23 August 2023
Conviction for aggravated defilement where child’s unsworn testimony and medical evidence sufficiently corroborated identification of accused.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – ingredients: age under 14, sexual penetration, identification of accused. Child evidence – unsworn testimony of child of tender years and corroboration. Medical evidence – PF3 findings supporting penetration and injuries. Hearsay – victim’s disclosure to guardian admissible as exception and corroborative. Alibi – requirement for prosecution to place accused at scene and rejection of unsupported alibi.
23 August 2023
July 2023
Accused convicted of rape after prosecution proved non-consensual intercourse, identity, and corroborative medical evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Rape – Elements: unlawful carnal knowledge; absence of consent; identity of perpetrator. Burden and standard of proof – prosecution must establish every ingredient beyond reasonable doubt; conviction on strength of prosecution's case. Evidence – victim identification and testimony; medical evidence corroborating violent sexual intercourse; assessment of accused's defence credibility.
20 July 2023
April 2023
Respondent’s possession (not registered title) established trespass; appellants’ customary claim extinguished by long adverse possession.
Civil procedure – first appeal duties to re-hear and re-appraise evidence; Land law – trespass to land requires proof of possession (actual or constructive) not necessarily registered title; Possession established by enclosure and continuous, open, exclusive acts; Customary land rights extinguished by long inaction, adverse possession and laches.
23 April 2023