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
575 judgments

Court registries

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575 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 1993
2 September 1993
August 1993
30 August 1993
26 August 1993
26 August 1993
26 August 1993
Court restrained title registration pending resolution of a dispute over succession and beneficiaries’ caveat.
Succession law – certificate of succession – dispute over extent of estate and right to deal with residual land. Land registration – caveat – interim restraint on Registrar of Titles pending determination of ownership. Interim relief – preservation of status quo, risk of irreparable harm where registration would defeat pending litigation.
26 August 1993
July 1993
27 July 1993
20 July 1993
Whether a valid will existed and Letters of Administration granted despite it must be revoked.
Succession law – validity and attestation of wills (S.50(1) Succession Act) – requirements for witnesses – effect of beneficiaries’ post‑death agreement to set aside a will – revocation of Letters of Administration where a valid will was concealed or ignored – interaction of statutory succession and claimed Sharia distribution.
13 July 1993
5 July 1993
June 1993
Assessment of quantum for severe electrocution injuries to a child following admitted liability.
Personal injury—Electrocution causing severe burns and 60% permanent disability; liability admitted; quantum of damages—assessment of pain, suffering, loss of amenities and possible impotence; comparative authorities and caution against mechanical dollar-to-shilling conversion; award of Shs.16,000,000 plus interest and costs.
4 June 1993
Court awarded 16 million shillings for severe burn injuries and 60% permanent disability to a minor.
Personal injury — General damages — Severe burns to a minor resulting from fallen transmission lines — Medical report and court observation — Permanent disability assessed at 60% and probable impotence — Quantum determined by recent local authorities rather than strict dollar conversion — Award of Shs.16,000,000 plus interest and costs.
4 June 1993
A minor electrocuted by a fallen transmission line awarded Shs 16,000,000 for severe injuries and 60% permanent disability.
Personal injury — electrocution and burns — assessment of general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenities; permanent disability assessed at 60%; impotence likely though not conclusively proved; minor plaintiff; quantum guided by recent local authorities rather than strict dollar conversion.
4 June 1993
Court awarded substantial damages for severe electrocution burns to a minor, assessing 60% permanent disability and probable impotence.
Personal injury – electrocution and burns – assessment of general damages – permanent disability (60%) and probable impotence – dollar-conversion formula as guide, not mechanical rule – reliance on recent local authorities.
4 June 1993
May 1993
13 May 1993
The suit to reclaim government-controlled land under the Expropriated Properties Act, based on expired lease, was dismissed.
Property Law – Expropriated Properties Act – applicability to corporate trustees – lease expiration and repossession rights.
10 May 1993
Death proved and unlawful killing established, but provocation negated malice; conviction reduced to manslaughter and sentenced with remand credit.
Homicide — distinction between murder and manslaughter — requirement for malice aforethought; role of provocation in reducing murder to manslaughter. Evidence — dying declaration and eyewitness testimony may suffice to prove death and causation even without tendered post‑mortem report. Defences — provocation can reduce culpability; self‑defence requires proportionality and reasonable apprehension of death or grievous harm. Sentence — credit for time on remand when passing custodial sentence.
3 May 1993
Court convicted for rape, rejecting intoxication and mistake‑of‑fact defences and relying on medical and witness corroboration.
Criminal law – Rape – elements: penetration, lack of consent, identity; intoxication and mistake of fact defences; corroboration by medical evidence.
2 May 1993
April 1993
Whether a registered owner can be held vicariously liable when the vehicle had been sold and driven by a non-employee.
Tort — Motor accidents — Registered owner presumption under s.49 Traffic and Road Safety Act rebuttable by evidence of sale; vicarious liability requires proof driver was employee/agent; res ipsa loquitur and driver negligence; plaintiff sued wrong party; assessment of damages but claim dismissed.
30 April 1993
Extension of time to file notice of appeal granted where defendant lacked notice of judgment and court file was missing.
Appeal — extension of time under s.37(1)(a) Judicature Act — sufficient cause — non‑service of hearing notice for reserved judgment; missing court file in Registry — ex parte proceedings and prompt action upon receipt of judgment.
27 April 1993
March 1993
3 March 1993
Court appointed applicant guardian with authority to manage and deal with infant's land for the infant's benefit under court supervision.
Guardianship – appointment under section 9(a) of the Judicature Act; Infant property – management, development and disposal powers (mortgage, lease, sale) for infant's benefit; Court supervision – safeguarding infant's paramount interest when granting contractual powers to guardian.
3 March 1993
February 1993
Court granted adoption without parental consent due to circumstances, ensuring the child's best interest.
Adoption law - compliance with statutory requirements - best interest of the child - consent waiver due to absence.
26 February 1993
Adoption granted where applicant met statutory age/relationship requirements and adoption served the infant's welfare despite unavailable parental consent.
Adoption law – statutory age and relationship requirements; parental consent where parent deceased or whereabouts unknown; welfare of the child; prohibition of payment for adoption.
26 February 1993
16 February 1993
Consent locus visit and corroborative evidence upheld purchaser’s title; appeal dismissed.
Civil procedure – locus in quo visit – admission of additional evidence under Rule 23(3) – consent of parties – absence of counsel – no miscarriage of justice; Customary law – customary heir’s authority to dispose of land – evidentiary sufficiency of community recognition; Succession – intestacy and good title acquired from customary heir.
2 February 1993
January 1993
A caveat must be backed by a protectable interest; respondents lacked such interest, so caveats were removed.
Land law – Caveat – Validity requires a protectable legal or equitable interest (s.148 RTA); Administrator‑General’s distribution and issuance of succession/letters; registration by successors; beneficiaries carved out by distribution lack protectable interest to support caveats; related suit by a minor does not validate caveats not lodged on the minor’s behalf.
19 January 1993
Application for temporary injunction to seize disputed vehicle dismissed for failure to show irreparable harm and balance of convenience.
Civil procedure — Temporary injunction (Order 37 r.1) — Requirements: prima facie case, irreparable injury, balance of convenience — Possession dispute over motor vehicle — Need for affidavit/evidence of risk of wasting or vandalisation — Application dismissed; vehicle remains with defendant.
1 January 1993
December 1992
Court grants parents guardianship for infant's property sale when it's beneficial to children's welfare.
Infant guardianship – Sale of property – Welfare of infants – Power of High Court to appoint guardians and control estates.
18 December 1992
Appeal allowed: unexplained locus visit, unsworn evidence and improper admission of title deed prejudiced the appellant; retrial ordered.
Civil procedure – magistrates’ jurisdiction – when a Magistrate Grade I may act on evidence recorded by a Magistrate Grade II; locus in quo visits and proper reception of evidence. Evidence – reception of exhibits – requirement for formal tendering and opportunity for cross-examination before admitting title deeds. Land law – Magistrate may try disputes involving registered land but cannot order cancellation/rectification of certificate of title. Procedural fairness – unsworn evidence and unexplained deviation from trial record may vitiate judgment.
17 December 1992
7 December 1992
Revision of illegal sentencing order in an assault case clarifying acceptable punishment options under Ugandan law.
Criminal Law - assault occasioning actual bodily harm - sentencing - legality of fine and imprisonment options.
7 December 1992
Where a grant of probate is unsealed, a late caveat does not automatically defeat the petition; ownership disputes must be litigated separately, and probate may be granted with restrictions.
Succession law – probate and administration – caveats against grant of probate – effect of delay in lodging a caveat where grant not yet sealed – scope of court’s inquiry at probate stage limited to validity and execution of will; ownership disputes to be litigated separately – improper consolidation of related suits does not bar probate.
3 December 1992
November 1992
Appellate court reduced a harsh theft sentence after finding the magistrate relied on facts not before court and ignored mitigating factors.
Criminal law – Theft – Sentencing – Reliance on facts not in evidence is a misdirection – Consideration of antecedents, guilty plea and value of property required – Section 135(5) M.G.A. – Excessive sentence reduced to two months imprisonment.
30 November 1992
Sentencing for petty theft reduced where magistrate misdirected himself and failed to consider mitigating factors.
Criminal law – Sentencing – Misconduct in sentencing where magistrate relies on facts not on record; failure to consider mitigating factors (first offender, guilty plea, remand time) – Excessive sentence for petty theft – Reduction of sentence.
30 November 1992
26 November 1992
26 November 1992
26 November 1992
18 November 1992
A without‑prejudice settlement letter may be struck from the plaint, but a plaintiff may join uncertain defendants under Order 1 r.7.
Civil procedure – "without prejudice" correspondence – settlement negotiations privileged and inadmissible unless consent – striking privileged document from pleadings. Civil procedure – Pleadings – sufficiency of plaint – removal of privileged annexure does not necessarily deprive plaint of cause of action. Civil procedure – Joinder – Order 1 rule 7 permits joinder of multiple defendants when plaintiff is in doubt as to proper defendant. Civil procedure – Preliminary objections – factual disputes (e.g., venue/origin of cause) are matters for trial, not for summary striking out of plaint.
14 November 1992
Application to set aside execution warrants dismissed where execution was completed and procedural irregularities were not fatal.
Civil procedure – execution of arbitration awards and consent judgments; whether execution warrants tainted by procedural irregularity or fraud can be set aside; court’s power under section 101 Civil Procedure Act to set aside orders as abuse of process; mootness where execution already carried out; consequences of ambiguous consent orders regarding determination by independent experts.
5 November 1992
October 1992
28 October 1992
Pregnancy-related medical needs can constitute special circumstances to justify bail under section 14A of the Trial on Indictments Decree.
Criminal procedure – Bail under Trial on Indictments Decree s.14A – "Special/exceptional circumstances" – pregnancy and ante-natal medical needs as grounds – risk of absconding and witness interference must be proved.
23 October 1992
Applicant granted bail pending appeal due to non-frivolous grounds and risk of appeal becoming nugatory.
Criminal procedure — Bail pending appeal under s.217 MCA — requirement of exceptional circumstances — effect of guilty plea on right of appeal — arguability of grounds and risk of appeal becoming nugatory — whether an officer of a public company is a "public officer" under the Penal Code.
23 October 1992
Petitioner acquired Ugandan domicile; respondent’s adultery proved and Divorce Decree Nisi granted, no costs.
Divorce law – jurisdiction – domicile of choice acquired by foreign resident; Recognition of foreign marriage; Adultery – proof by admission and circumstantial evidence; Condonation and cessation of cohabitation; Decree Nisi granted.
22 October 1992
Petitioner domiciled in Uganda; adultery proved by admission and circumstantial evidence; decree nisi granted.
Divorce law — Jurisdiction — Domicile of choice established by residence plus intention to remain indefinitely; Recognition of foreign marriage; Proof of adultery — admission and circumstantial evidence on balance of probabilities; Condonation and discontinuance of cohabitation; Public-health considerations (AIDS) in assessing gravity of adultery.
22 October 1992
A court may cancel a fraudulently obtained certificate of title where a prior purchaser’s equitable title and possession are proven.
Land law – Registration of Titles – Equitable title and vesting orders (s.175) – long possession and purchase money as basis for equitable interest. Fraudulent acquisition of Letters of Administration and of registered title – certificate of title declared void. Civil procedure – Service irregularities and defective interlocutory judgments – substantive hearing permitted under O.9 R.8 and R.10; defective interlocutory orders set aside. Remedies – cancellation of certificate of title, damages, costs, and referral to DPP for criminal investigation.
22 October 1992
September 1992
25 September 1992
Application to reinstate applicant as a shareholder in company register dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Company Law – Rectification of Company Register – Shareholding Evidence – Insufficient Proof of Shareholder Status
25 September 1992
Fraudulently obtained letters of administration vitiate subsequent land transfer; court ordered cancellation and injunction.
Land law – gift inter vivos and continuous possession – effect on title; Probate and Administration – validity of letters of administration; Fraud – vitiation of grants and subsequent transfers; Registrar of Titles – court power to cancel title obtained by fraud; Pleading and proof of fraud in civil proceedings.
24 September 1992