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
176 judgments

Court registries

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176 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2025
The court upheld the respondent’s ownership, found the locus in quo proper, and affirmed general damages for trespass.
Land law – proof of title to unregistered ancestral land – reliance on occupation and visible monuments; Evidence – contradiction versus omission; Civil procedure – locus in quo – requirements, sketch plan and role of monuments over admeasurements; Damages – general damages for trespass, discretionary quantum and appellate interference.
17 September 2025
The appellants’ challenges to ownership, locus visit and damages fail; the trial court’s declaration, eviction and UGX 10,000,000 award are upheld.
* Land law – ownership of unregistered land – proof by ancestral title and visible monuments; admeasurement versus monuments. * Civil procedure – locus in quo – purpose, proper conduct, sketch plans and evidentiary role. * Evidence – contradiction doctrine: omission to state a detail is not a material contradiction. * Damages – general damages for trespass and denial of quiet enjoyment – discretionary award; appellate interference only for error of law or manifest error.
17 September 2025
An appeal court ordered a partial retrial due to defective locus in quo proceedings and inadequate evaluation of evidence in a land dispute.
Land law – Customary ownership – Evaluation of evidence – Defective locus in quo proceedings – Retrial – Proper procedure for court visits to disputed land – Inadequate identification of boundaries and features undermining judgment.
12 September 2025
August 2025
A possessory owner successfully challenged a fraudulently obtained certificate of title, securing cancellation and eviction of the defendants.
Land law – Possessory title – Customary tenure – Proof of abandonment – Fraudulent procurement of certificate of title – Trespass – Remedies for land disputes.
20 August 2025
July 2025
The order of compensation made without conviction in a criminal case was deemed a miscarriage of justice.
Criminal Procedure – Revision – Consent Order – Compensation in criminal proceedings – Irregular proceedings – Miscarriage of justice
31 July 2025
Magistrate's compensation order in theft case was invalid due to lack of legal basis and accused's participation.
Criminal law – Consent orders in criminal proceedings – Validity of reconciliation in criminal cases – Right to fair hearing.
31 July 2025
Court dismissed claims of rights violations in cattle grazing and settlement case, finding no acquired property rights.
Property rights - land tenure under customary law - pastoralism - constitutional rights limitations - rights to settle and graze cattle in Uganda.
28 July 2025
Possession and equitable interest over land lead to Plaintiff's favor against Defendants' trespass claim.
Customary land ownership – Claims of possession and equitable interest – Trespass determination based on unauthorized land entry.
10 July 2025
June 2025

 

30 June 2025
March 2025
The court allowed a separate suit challenging land sale legality for a non-party alleging ownership and fraud.
Civil procedure - Separate suit vs. appeal/review - Determining ownership and fraud when not a party to original proceedings.
27 March 2025

 

27 March 2025
Deputy Registrar lacked jurisdiction to hear a substantive application for leave to appeal, requiring judge's intervention.
Civil Procedure – Jurisdiction – Applicability of Registrar's powers – Substantive application requiring Judge's intervention.
27 March 2025

 

27 March 2025
High Court affirms judgment favoring respondent's ownership claim over appellant's adverse possession claim regarding disputed land.
Land Law – Adverse Possession – Ownership disputes – Gifts inter vivos – Evaluation of Evidence – Locus in Quo proceedings.
6 March 2025

 

6 March 2025

 

5 March 2025
Revocation of letters due to inventory failure; applicants denied administration without Certificate of no Objection.
Succession Law – Administration of Estate – Revocation of Letters of Administration – Requirement of Inventory Filing – Certificate of no Objection from Administrator General.
3 March 2025
February 2025

 

26 February 2025

 

20 February 2025

Criminal procedure—revision—illegal forfeiture—fair hearing—judicial discretion—vehicle seizure—wildlife offences—due process—judicial irregularity—costs

19 February 2025
January 2025
The court determined possessory title of disputed land belongs to Hajjati Zamzam's estate, dismissing appellant's ownership claims.
Land law – Possessory title – Validity of will and gift inter vivos – Historical land ownership control.
23 January 2025

Land Law—possessory title—gift inter vivos—evidence of ownership—occupation permits—ground rent receipts—bona fide occupant—Constitution of Uganda, Article 237(8)—succession rights—validity of wills—proof of ownership—evolution of land law in Uganda—transition from Crown Land to Public Land—legal framework for statutory leases—costs partially awarded.

23 January 2025
High Court dismisses stay of execution where applicants failed to show nugatory appeal or substantial irreparable loss.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution pending appeal; High Court inherent jurisdiction; Order 43(4)(3) CPR conditions — notice of appeal; no unreasonable delay; security for due performance (or costs); serious/imminent threat of execution; arguable appeal; risk of appeal being rendered nugatory; substantial loss; balance of convenience.
23 January 2025

 

13 January 2025
December 2024

 

18 December 2024
November 2024

Judicial review—internal remedies—exhaustion of statutory appeal process—section 57 Cap 262—status quo preservation—dismissal of university staff—appointment and tenure—stay of execution—injunction—prohibition—balance of convenience—substantial loss—irreparable injury—abuse of court process—mootness doctrine—statutory mandate—appeal rights—costs.

25 November 2024

 

25 November 2024
October 2024

 

16 October 2024

 

4 October 2024

 

1 October 2024

 

1 October 2024
August 2024

 

26 August 2024

 

26 August 2024

 

26 August 2024

 

26 August 2024

 

2 August 2024
July 2024

 

16 July 2024

 

12 July 2024
An appeal against a deputy registrar’s order filed after the seven-day statutory period without leave is incompetent and struck out.
Civil procedure – Appeal from registrar/deputy registrar – Proper procedure under Order 50 (motion on notice) not Order 48 – Time limit for appeals from registrar’s orders under Section 79(1)(b) (seven days) – Requirement to obtain leave to appeal out of time – Appeal struck out for non-compliance.
9 July 2024
Appeal against deputy registrar struck out for being filed out of time without leave.
Civil procedure — Appeal from registrar/deputy registrar — Procedure under Order 50 (motion on notice) not Order 48 endorsement — Time limit under Section 79(1)(b) (seven days) — Leave required for appeal out of time — Appeal struck out for non‑compliance.
9 July 2024
June 2024

 

26 June 2024
19 June 2024
18 June 2024

 

17 June 2024

 

13 June 2024
10 June 2024

 

9 June 2024
May 2024

 

30 May 2024

 

27 May 2024
27 May 2024