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
43 judgments

Court registries

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43 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 1991
Custodial sentence for reckless driving upheld as deterrent; mandatory driving disqualification set aside for procedural omission.
Criminal law — Sentencing — Reckless driving — Deterrent imprisonment vs fines; duty to make inquiries before sentence; "special reasons" required before mandatory driving disqualification under section 65(1)(a).
17 December 1991

 

13 December 1991
November 1991
Chamber application to withdraw suit allowed, but costs awarded to respondent for avoidable expenses caused by applicant.
Civil procedure – Withdrawal of suit by chamber application – Applicant had received offer of relief prior to suit withdrawal – Award of costs to respondent for avoidable expense caused by applicant’s procedural conduct.
25 November 1991
Withdrawal of suit allowed and costs awarded to respondent because the applicant’s late, costly discontinuance caused avoidable expense.
Civil procedure – Withdrawal/discontinuance of suit – Appropriate procedure to discontinue and notification to registrar; Costs – costs follow conduct where party’s late or costly discontinuance causes avoidable expense; Property custody – respondent’s offer to grant management relevant to costs but substantive ownership and mismanagement not determined.
25 November 1991
October 1991

 

25 October 1991

 

11 October 1991

 

11 October 1991
September 1991

 

12 September 1991

 

3 September 1991
Court quashes convictions due to non-cognate charge and illegal default sentencing.
Criminal Law – Conviction without charge – Illegality of convicting on a non-cognate offence – Sentence exceeding statutory limits.
3 September 1991
August 1991

 

30 August 1991

 

20 August 1991
Convictions for witchcraft lacked evidence support; sentences set aside and release ordered.
Criminal law – Witchcraft Act – evidence required for conviction under sections 5 (1) for possession of articles and section 3 (1) for the practice of witchcraft – procedure in sentencing multiple counts.
20 August 1991
Court declared counter-claimant beneficial owner under resulting trust and set aside fraudulent re-transfer, ordering re-registration.
Trusts and equitable remedies – resulting trust where purchaser provides consideration but title taken in another's name – duties of trustee (loyalty, preservation, accounting) – fraudulent re-transfer null and void – equitable declaration of beneficial ownership and order to register title.
7 August 1991
Amendment imposing minimum sentence not applicable to offense committed prior to its commencement date.
Criminal Law – sentencing – application of amendments – retrospective application of sentencing guidelines – minimum imprisonment terms.
7 August 1991
Witchcraft convictions quashed due to insufficient proof of witchcraft practices or related articles.
Criminal law - Witchcraft Act - Invalid conviction - Lack of evidence for articles used in witchcraft - Misapplication of witchcraft practices.
6 August 1991

 

2 August 1991
July 1991
Review of improper child witness procedure and sentencing in an assault conviction.
Criminal law – evidence of a child witness – requirement for voire dire – definition of 'bodily harm' – legality of default sentencing terms.
22 July 1991
May 1991
Court set aside a judgment found to be obtained by misrepresentation and ordered a new trial, each party to bear own costs.
Civil procedure — Review of judgment — Order 42 Rule 1 and Section 83 Civil Procedure Act — Review permissible where judgment obtained by fraud or fundamental illegality — Ex parte judgment — improper procurement, misrepresentation or half-truths — res judicata (Section 7) examined where earlier judgment exists — remedy: set aside and rehearing ordered.
28 May 1991

 

24 May 1991
Court set aside ex parte judgment after discovery of a prior judgment and finding misrepresentation, ordering a new trial.
Civil procedure — Review — Order 42 Rule 1 and Section 83 — Discovery of prior judgment as ground for review; Res judicata (Section 7) — scope where parties differ; Ex parte judgments — setting aside for fraud/misrepresentation; Court’s inherent powers and public policy; New trial ordered; Costs.
16 May 1991

 

9 May 1991

 

7 May 1991

 

6 May 1991
Conviction after a guilty plea without entering conviction and with illegal default imprisonment was quashed and sentence set aside.
Criminal procedure – Plea of guilty – statutory requirement to record admissions and enter conviction (s.122(2) MCA); improper remand for sentence without conviction; no written judgment required after guilty plea – obligation to allow mitigation. Criminal law – Mandatory compensation for adultery offences – failure to order compensation. Sentencing – Default imprisonment limits for fines under s.192(d) MCA (as amended).
6 May 1991
On revision the court set aside an unlawful six‑month default term and substituted the statutory seven‑day default imprisonment.
* Criminal law – Sentencing – Default imprisonment limits under section 192(d) Magistrates Courts Act 1970 (as amended) – Illegal sentencing corrected on revision. * Criminal procedure – Revision – High Court power to set aside and substitute unlawful sentences. * Evidence – Conviction for failing to prevent a fire upheld as supported by record.
6 May 1991

 

3 May 1991

 

3 May 1991

 

3 May 1991

 

3 May 1991

 

3 May 1991
April 1991

 

18 April 1991

 

10 April 1991

 

3 April 1991
A guilty plea must be unequivocal, and default sentences must comply with statutory limits.
Criminal Law – Plea of guilty – Whether a vague plea can be cured by facts – Default sentence legality.
2 April 1991
March 1991
Review addresses sentencing legality and improperly admitted child witness evidence in theft and shop breaking conviction.
Criminal law – Conviction for shop breaking and theft – Confirmation of sentence requirements – Legal admission of child witness evidence – Default sentence legality.
25 March 1991
February 1991

 

26 February 1991

 

20 February 1991
January 1991

 

29 January 1991

 

25 January 1991

 

17 January 1991

 

12 January 1991
Amendment can cure date/statutory-notice defects and pleaded imprisonment may exempt a claim from limitation.
Civil procedure – amendment of pleadings; statutory notice to Attorney General for suits against Government; limitation periods for actions founded on tort against Government; disability (imprisonment) as ground to extend limitation; pleading requirements under Order 7 rule 6.
1 January 1991