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
41 judgments

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41 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2023
20 December 2023
20 December 2023
20 December 2023
20 December 2023
20 December 2023
20 December 2023
Court excluded evidence on unpleaded Mirarikye, upheld respondent’s title to Kafuro, and reduced damages to UGX 5,000,000.
Civil procedure – pleadings – departure from pleadings – evidence on unpleaded land is inadmissible unless properly amended. Evidence – proof of documents – executant’s signature and authenticity must be proved under the Evidence Act before a document can establish title. Land law – unregistered land – burden and standard of proof for root of title and ownership on balance of probabilities. Possession – occupancy/development alone does not automatically establish ownership. Damages – appellate interference permissible where quantum is excessive.
19 December 2023
Respondents found in continued contempt for obtaining land titles over land they were ordered to vacate; must comply or face committal proceedings.
Civil contempt – continued contempt – elements: existence of lawful order, knowledge, wilful non‑compliance – repeated/sustained acts required. Enforcement – contempt court enforces compliance and may not revisit correctness of original order. Parties in contempt – barred from being heard in subsequent related applications until they purge the contempt. Land registration – processing and obtaining certificates of title over land subject to prior eviction orders may constitute continued contempt.
19 December 2023
Transfers effected after lease expiry and through fraud are void; suit dismissed as applicant lacked subsisting title.
• Limitation — discovery of fraud delays commencement of limitation period under Section 25 of the Limitation Act. • Land law — effect of expiration of a lease by effluxion of time; reversion to lessor (Uganda Land Commission). • Registration of titles — transfers procured by fraud or without proper authorization vitiate title; registrar’s actions without proper instructions are irregular. • Bona fide purchaser — purchaser aware of forgeries cannot claim protection.
19 December 2023
1 December 2023
1 December 2023
1 December 2023
1 December 2023
1 December 2023
November 2023
A restoration order to protect a wetland on registered land can be lawfully issued and enforced against the applicant.
Environment law – Wetland protection; public trust doctrine; National Environment Act (ss.36,67–70) – power to inspect, issue and enforce restoration orders without prior hearing; land title subject to environmental regulation; enforcement entry powers.
19 November 2023
10 November 2023
10 November 2023
October 2023
20 October 2023
20 October 2023
20 October 2023
20 October 2023
20 October 2023
12 October 2023
September 2023
6 September 2023
August 2023
An interim injunction preserving developments on disputed-use land upheld where prima facie case and balance of convenience favor applicant.
Civil procedure – Temporary injunctions – requirements: prima facie case, irreparable injury, balance of convenience; injunctions preserving developments on land where title not disputed; exercise of judicial discretion on interim relief.
31 August 2023
Appellate court ordered equal sharing of matrimonial land after correcting trial court's improper reliance on locus and submissions.
Family law — Division of matrimonial property; characterization of property as matrimonial or inherited; appellate re-evaluation of evidence; submissions not evidence; improper reliance on locus in quo; equal (50/50) sharing of matrimonial land.
31 August 2023
Plaintiff failed to prove guarantors liable for entire debt; guarantee covered only post‑execution loan.
Contract and guaranty law – guarantor’s liability depends on the terms of the guarantee and arises upon default of the principal debtor. Evidence – where matter proceeds ex parte and is set for formal proof, the plaintiff retains the burden to prove its case on the balance of probabilities; pleadings and submissions are not evidence. Interpretation of guarantee – contractual wording limits guarantor exposure to sums specified and dated in the guarantee. Procedure – failure to serve the estate of a deceased principal debtor may affect recovery options.
31 August 2023
Applicant granted divorce for cruelty; adultery unproven; custody and remaining matrimonial cattle awarded to applicant.
Family law – Divorce – Grounds: cruelty established on balance of probabilities; adultery allegation unproven due to lack of evidence; ex parte/formal proof principles apply; custody determined by best interests of the child; matrimonial property – non‑monetary contribution can justify award of livestock to spouse.
31 August 2023
A Section 17(2) dismissal is a final decree; the remedy is appeal, not reinstatement by application.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for want of prosecution – Section 17(2) Judicature Act – operates as final decree – not susceptible to reinstatement by Section 98/Order 52 application; remedy is by appeal.
31 August 2023
Applicant permitted to amend plaint to add facts for revocation of letters of administration; plaint disclosed a cause of action.
Civil procedure – Amendment of pleadings – Order 6 r.19 – amendments allowed to determine real questions in controversy unless they introduce new cause of action or cause injustice. Succession law – Revocation of letters of administration – Section 234(1) "just cause" includes defects in proceedings to obtain grant and may encompass failure to file a true and full inventory. Pleading – What constitutes disclosure of a cause of action – must show a right, its violation and defendant's liability.
31 August 2023
Appellate court upheld trial finding of respondent’s ownership and struck out argumentative grounds, dismissing appellant’s trespass claim.
Civil procedure – Memorandum of appeal – grounds must be concise and not argumentative – Order 43 r.1(2) CPR; Evidence – burden and standard in civil cases – proof on balance of probabilities; Property/land law – competing purchase claims and identity of vendor – admissibility/utility of name-declaration evidence (deed poll) and testimony of relatives; Appeal – first appellate court duty to re-hear and re-appraise evidence.
31 August 2023
Leave to appeal out of time granted where delay attributable to counsel's mistake; technical errors curable to promote substantive justice.
Civil procedure – Leave to appeal out of time; Section 79(1)(b) Civil Procedure Act – ‘sufficient cause’ and discretion; Affidavits by advocates – competence where deponent has personal knowledge; Submissions v. evidence – submissions not determinative; Misnomer – amendment curable; Affidavit contradictions – severance of offending paragraphs.
31 August 2023
July 2023
11 July 2023
11 July 2023
11 July 2023
May 2023
10 May 2023
April 2023
26 April 2023
20 April 2023
20 April 2023
March 2023
17 March 2023
17 March 2023