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
15 judgments

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15 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2025
Prosecution proved a prima facie case of aggravated defilement; accused required to open defence and informed of defence rights.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Prima facie case – Proof of age – Medical evidence of penetration (PF3A) – Identification of accused by child witness – Right to open defence.
9 December 2025
November 2025
Prima facie case found for aggravated defilement; insufficient evidence to establish aggravated child trafficking.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – prima facie case established where victim under 14 and accused HIV+; child testimony and corroboration sufficient at prima facie stage – Medical findings do not automatically negate complainant’s evidence. Criminal law – Aggravated trafficking in children – elements of recruitment/transport/harbouring must be proved; absence of such proof defeats prima facie case.
25 November 2025
Prima facie case of aggravated defilement established from victim identification and medical evidence despite minor date inconsistency.
Criminal law — Prima facie case — Aggravated defilement — Elements: victim under 14, sexual act (penetration), accused’s participation — Victim identification and medical evidence as corroboration — Minor inconsistencies in dates not fatal to prima facie case.
25 November 2025
Prosecution established a prima facie case of aggravated defilement; accused ordered to enter defence.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Elements: child under 14, sexual act, accused’s participation – Victim identification and medical corroboration – Prima facie case to require accused to enter defence.
25 November 2025
Prima facie cases for aggravated robbery and murder established from possession of stolen phone and post‑mortem gunshot evidence.
Criminal law – Prima facie case – Aggravated robbery and murder – Circumstantial evidence – Recent possession of stolen goods – Post‑mortem evidence – Malice aforethought inferred from use of deadly weapon.
25 November 2025
A Commissioner’s caveat lodged to protect minors under s154(a) was valid and not liable to be vacated.
Registration of Titles Act s154(a) – Commissioner’s caveat – caveat as temporary protection and notice – caveat bars dealings (s125) – protection of minors and persons under disability – Section 124(1) power to vacate caveats; requirement that caveator pursue dispute within reasonable time.
12 November 2025
October 2025
Prima facie case established for aggravated defilement; insufficient evidence for aggravated trafficking in children.
Criminal law — Aggravated defilement — prima facie case; definition of sexual act (penetration not required); victim identification by single witness known to accused; Aggravated trafficking in children — elements (recruitment/transport/harbouring) must be proved.
21 October 2025
High Court lacks jurisdiction to hear contempt of a magistrate’s order whose file is before the High Court on appeal.
Contempt of court – jurisdiction – only the court that issued an order may punish contempt of that order; High Court supervisory powers do not confer jurisdiction to hear contempt of subordinate court orders merely because the subordinate court file is before the High Court on appeal; Registrar’s powers limited to expressly conferred matters.
6 October 2025
Failure to seek extension within 15 days after 21-day service period renders appeal and validation application incompetent.
Civil procedure — Service of process — Order 49 r.2 and Order 5 r.1(1)(a) CPR — Mandatory 21-day service rule — Extension of time must be sought within 15 days after expiry — Late application renders proceedings incompetent/nullity.
6 October 2025
September 2025
Application for bail in aggravated defilement case denied for failure to prove fixed abode and lack of certified medical evidence.
Criminal procedure – bail – aggravated defilement – application for bail pending trial – requirements for fixed place of abode – exceptional circumstances – grave illness and prison medical care – discretionary nature of bail – presumption of innocence versus risk of abscondment.
11 September 2025
Court grants bail in an aggravated robbery case, assessing fixed abode, sureties, and discretion despite lack of exceptional circumstances.
Criminal procedure – bail – aggravated robbery – discretion of court – fixed place of abode – substantial sureties – absence of exceptional circumstances – conditions for bail even in serious offences.
9 September 2025
A bail application in a murder and conspiracy case was denied due to insufficient proof of residency and substantial security concerns.
Criminal procedure – bail application – fixed place of abode – substantial sureties – discretionary grant of bail in murder and conspiracy cases – proof requirements for residence – presumption of innocence balanced with public and prosecutorial interests.
9 September 2025
Court grants bail to an accused in a capital offence after finding proof of fixed abode and substantial sureties.
Criminal procedure – Bail – Application for bail in aggravated defilement – Fixed place of abode – Substantial sureties – High Court jurisdiction – Presumption of innocence – Discretion of court in granting bail.
9 September 2025
August 2025
The court found a prima facie case of murder and aggravated robbery based on the accused's recent possession of stolen property.
Criminal law – murder and aggravated robbery – circumstantial evidence – doctrine of recent possession – sufficiency of prima facie case – standard for placing accused on defence.
13 August 2025
June 2025
4 June 2025