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Citation
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Judgment date
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| February 2026 |
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Appeal allowed: sale did not vest ownership in unadministered estate, but open possession created an equitable, protectable interest.
Succession and land law — identity and misnomer — disputed execution of documents — burden of proof under Evidence Act (ss.66,101) — enforceability of transactions over unadministered estate land — equitable/possessory interests, acquiescence and protection against successors — trespass and possession.
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17 February 2026 |
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Equitable interest from a sale is protected against a purchaser with constructive notice; fraudulent double sale warrants restitution.
Land law – equitable interest arising from unpaid or unregistered sale; double sale and fraud; bona fide purchaser doctrine; constructive notice by occupation; equitable wrongdoing and pre-registration eviction; restitutionary remedies and refusal of specific performance.
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10 February 2026 |
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A subsisting judicial decree validating rectification sustains cancellation and adverse registration absent strict proof of fraud.
Land law – Registered title and indefeasibility – Effect of subsisting judicial decree directing rectification – Registrar’s ministerial role – Special certificate issuance and strict proof of fraud – Trespass as a continuing tort and limitation.
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10 February 2026 |
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Applicants granted leave to defend after respondent’s admission of partial payment created a triable dispute despite brief filing delay.
Civil procedure – Order 36 summary procedure – Leave to appear and defend where a genuine dispute as to quantum exists; admission of partial payment raises triable issue; short procedural delay excused by section 98 and Article 126(2)(e); failure to file written submissions does not bar determination.
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10 February 2026 |
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Administrative delay in issuing summons does not cause abatement where the plaintiff took the requisite procedural step in time.
Civil procedure – Abatement under Order 11A rules 1 and 6 – Meaning of "take out summons for directions" – actus curiae neminem gravabit; Affidavits vs pleadings – Order 6 rule 2; Jurisdiction of High Court – injunctive relief and proprietary land claims can attract High Court jurisdiction despite pecuniary limits of subordinate courts; Abuse of court process – striking out suits sparingly.
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10 February 2026 |
| January 2026 |
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Court corrected omission under the slip rule to declare both consolidated suits barred by res judicata.
Civil procedure – consolidation of suits – res judicata – judgment in rem – slip rule (Section 99 CPA) – consequential orders vs correcting omissions.
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29 January 2026 |
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Court granted leave to proceed ex parte against non‑filing defendants after effective substituted service; suit set down for proof against defending respondent.
Civil procedure – substituted service – effectiveness of service by publication pursuant to court order – Order 9 r.10 & r.11 CPR – proceeding ex parte where defendants fail to file defence – setting suit down for formal proof against remaining defendant.
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29 January 2026 |
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Estate land cannot be converted into private title post‑death; unauthorized registration and sale are void ab initio.
Succession law – Estate property vests in the estate on death – Unauthorized post‑death registration and sale void ab initio – Intermeddling with estate property – nemo dat quod non habet – Bona fide purchaser defence inapplicable to titles procured by illegality – Remedies: cancellation, eviction, injunction, damages and costs.
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20 January 2026 |
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Accused convicted of murder on eyewitness and post‑mortem evidence; canine evidence excluded; sentenced to 38 years, 9 months, 29 days.
Criminal law – Murder: elements (death, unlawful act, malice aforethought, causation) – Common intention – Admissibility and weight of sniffer/canine evidence – Accomplice (juvenile) testimony – Sentencing guidelines; fixed term imprisonment and remand set‑off.
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6 January 2026 |
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Unreliable sniffer-dog evidence and uncorroborated child testimony left the accused's alibi intact, resulting in acquittal.
Criminal law – murder elements – causation, malice aforethought; evidentiary caution for canine (sniffer) dog tracking – requirement for handler and dog training/certification; unsworn testimony of child of tender years requires corroboration; alibi and burden of proof.
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6 January 2026 |
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The accused convicted of aggravated robbery using a toy gun; acquitted of personation for failure to prove identity of personated officer.
Criminal law – Aggravated robbery – Elements: theft, violence/threat, possession of deadly weapon, participation – Imitation firearm (toy gun) may amount to deadly weapon if used to induce fear – Personation requires proof of the existence/identity of the person personated and intent to defraud – Remand period to be set off from sentence.
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6 January 2026 |
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Whether malice aforethought was proved; accused convicted of manslaughter for assault causing death and sentenced with remand set-off.
Criminal law – Homicide – Whether malice aforethought proved for murder; common intention and liability for assault causing death; conviction on lesser cognate offence (manslaughter); sentencing and remand set-off.
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6 January 2026 |
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Juvenile convicted of aggravated defilement; prosecution proved age, sexual act and identity; sentenced to detention with remand credit.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Elements: victim’s age, sexual act, identity – Proof beyond reasonable doubt – Medical corroboration of sexual abuse – Circumstantial evidence and identification – Sentencing of juvenile under the Children Act; detention as last resort and remand credit.
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5 January 2026 |
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Whether prosecution proved murder elements and appropriate custodial sentence; court convicted and sentenced the accused to 26 years, 10 months, 10 days.
Criminal law – Murder: elements — death, unlawful act, malice aforethought and causation; identification evidence in broad daylight; post-mortem corroboration; sentencing — death reserved for rarest cases, sentencing guidelines, remand credit.
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5 January 2026 |
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Accused convicted of aggravated defilement of a three-year-old; conviction based on child's unsworn testimony corroborated by medical report.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement (s.116 PCA) – Unsworn testimony of child of tender years – Requirement of corroboration by medical evidence and immediate complaint – Identification and caution where witnesses familiar with accused – Sentencing guidelines and remand deduction.
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5 January 2026 |
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Accused convicted of aggravated defilement of a five‑year‑old; medical and corroborative identification evidence proved guilt.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – proof of victim’s age – medical and parental evidence; proof of sexual act – PF3A medical findings; identification evidence and alibi – prior familiarity and corroboration; flight as corroboration; sentencing under s.116 and sentencing guidelines with remand deduction.
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5 January 2026 |
| December 2025 |
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Court allowed late filing of estate accounts and extended Letters of Administration for two years after finding sufficient cause.
Succession Act – extension of time to file inventory and accounts (s.273(1)) – extension of Letters of Administration (s.337(4)) – sufficient cause – no evidence of maladministration.
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22 December 2025 |
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Court revoked joint grant after co-administrator's death and appointed the surviving administrator with inventory obligations.
Succession law – Revocation and substitution of letters of administration; death of joint administrator as just cause (s.230(2)(d)); effect of extension of grant; appointment of sole administrator; duty to file inventory (s.273); exercise of inherent jurisdiction (s.98 Civil Procedure Act).
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22 December 2025 |
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Beneficiary consent and demonstrated administrative diligence justified a two-year extension of letters of administration.
Succession law – Renewal and extension of letters of administration – Section 256(3)(b) Succession Act – beneficiary consent and administrators’ diligence – leave to file final account out of time.
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22 December 2025 |
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Beneficiary disagreements in intestate succession justified extension of administration grant and late filing of inventory.
Succession Act s273(1) – duty to exhibit inventory; Succession Act s337(4) – extension of Letters of Administration; administrator’s delay – sufficient cause; intestate succession – beneficiary disagreement; discretionary relief to complete estate administration.
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22 December 2025 |
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Court extended Letters of Administration and allowed late filing of inventory due to squatters impeding estate administration.
Succession Act – extension of Letters of Administration (s.337(4)) – filing inventory and final account out of time (s.273(1)) – squatters on estate land as sufficient cause – discretionary relief of court.
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22 December 2025 |
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Fraudulently procured title was cancelled; plaintiff reinstated and awarded damages, with equitable payment for small plots in lieu of restitution.
Property law – Registration of Titles – Fraudulent procurement of title – Indefeasibility excepted where transferee guilty of fraud – Limitation Act s.25 (discovery of fraud) – Rectification and cancellation (Registration of Titles Act s.76) – Equitable monetary relief in lieu of restitution – Mesne profits and general damages.
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22 December 2025 |
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Registrar’s cancellation of lease was void for lack of statutory declaration and evidence; partial execution of vacant possession permissible.
Land law – Re-entry and cancellation of lease on mailo land – Registrar must be satisfied by statutory declaration and evidence of peaceful physical re-entry; administrative cancellation without substantial evidence is void. Civil procedure – Execution of decree – partial execution (vacant possession) allowed before taxation of costs; objector proceedings available only after attachment. Companies – change of name does not extinguish legal existence. Review – limited to error apparent, new evidence or analogous sufficient reason.
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12 December 2025 |
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Court granted interim injunction restraining respondent from dealing with disputed research forest land pending the main application.
Civil procedure – Interim injunctions – Inherent powers of the court to preserve status quo – Order 50 rule 3A – urgency and irreparable harm – limits on ex parte interim orders – land/title dispute involving research trials and forested land.
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10 December 2025 |
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Juvenile convicted of aggravated defilement; court imposed 12‑month conditional discharge under the Children Act.
Juvenile justice – aggravated defilement – plea of guilty – Children Act sentencing limits (s150(4), s139) – detention as last resort – conditional discharge ordered.
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8 December 2025 |
| November 2025 |
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Registered title does not displace lawful kibanja occupants; appellant failed to prove trespass.
Land law – Registered title vs lawful kibanja occupancy – Possession as foundation of trespass – Burden and admissibility of documentary and survey evidence – Procedural default of co-defendant not vitiating proceedings absent prejudice.
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27 November 2025 |
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Court renewed administrators' grant and allowed late filing of final inventory due to fraudulent transfer and beneficiaries' consent.
Succession Act – extension of Letters of Administration (s.337(4)) – leave to file final inventory/accounts out of time (s.273(1)) – fraudulent transfer of estate land – beneficiary consent – supervening circumstances as sufficient cause.
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13 November 2025 |
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Registration procured by fraud is void; cause of action for impeachment of title accrues on the date of registration entry.
Land law – limitation – cause of action for impeachment of title accrues on date of registration entry; Succession – identification of estate owner by residence and registry records; Fraud – burden and heightened standard to impeach title; Registration of Titles Act – registrations procured by fraud are void; Remedies – cancellation of title, declaration of ownership, nominal damages and costs.
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12 November 2025 |
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Plaintiffs proved negligence by a hired driver and employer held vicariously liable; substantial damages, interest and costs awarded.
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act – cause of action and locus standi; Road traffic negligence – duty of care and breach by dangerous overtaking; Vicarious liability – employer liable for employee’s tort committed in course of employment; Assessment of damages – special damages proved with receipts, global award for dependency where multiplier not practicable; Interest and costs follow judgment.
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12 November 2025 |
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Court set aside dismissal and reinstated estate suit after finding sufficient cause and valid affidavit of service.
Civil procedure – reinstatement of suit; Order 5 rule 1(3) – sufficient cause to set aside dismissal; service of process – affidavit of service as cure; substantive justice over technicalities; costs – each party to bear own costs.
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12 November 2025 |
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The applicant's suit dismissed for want of prosecution after failing to produce promised evidence or appear; costs awarded to respondent.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for want of prosecution – Order 17 rules 4 and 5 – failure to produce evidence or attend hearing – award of costs including travel expenses.
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12 November 2025 |
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A caveat cannot be summarily removed where respondents raise serious, disputed title and fraud allegations requiring a full trial.
Caveat law – Section 123(1) RTA – protectable legal/equitable interests; Section 124(1) RTA – summary removal limited where title and fraud are seriously disputed; Order 52 affidavits – governed by reasonableness and absence of prejudice; preservation of status quo pending substantive trial.
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11 November 2025 |
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Court set aside dismissal and reinstated suit due to mediation irregularities, file unavailability, and sufficient cause shown.
Civil procedure – Reinstatement of suit dismissed for non-appearance – Sufficient cause standard; mediation irregularities and improper service of consent; discretion under Order 9 r.17 and Section 98; promptness and bona fide prosecution.
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11 November 2025 |
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Appellate court affirms conviction and sentence for theft, finding sentence proportionate given aggravated breach of familial trust.
Criminal law – Theft – Sentencing – Breach of familial trust as aggravating factor; guilty plea and sentencing; appellate review of sentence; abandonment of unargued grounds on appeal.
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3 November 2025 |
| October 2025 |
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A consent judgment barred the director from personally reopening the company's land claim; cross-claim struck out.
Civil procedure – Consent judgment – Binding contractual effect equivalent to judgment on merits – Can be set aside only on grounds vitiating contracts (fraud, mistake, misrepresentation, lack of authority); Locus standi – Individual director cannot enforce corporate proprietary rights after company compromised them by consent; Strike out – Frivolous, vexatious claims and abuse of process.
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31 October 2025 |
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High Court grants divorce for cruelty, awards custody and maintenance to the applicant, denies respondent property interest and orders vehicle transfer.
Divorce jurisdiction – High Court’s concurrent jurisdiction in matrimonial causes where parties are Africans – Magistrates’ jurisdiction concurrent, not exclusive. Matrimonial grounds – cruelty established by protection order, contemporaneous records and panga incident; adultery not sufficiently proven. Children – best interests principle; primary custody to applicant, structured visitation, maintenance obligations. Property – certificate of title and evidence of sole contribution; no beneficial interest for respondent in registered land. Resulting trust – vehicle registered in respondent’s name held on resulting trust; transfer ordered. Costs – respondent ordered to pay taxed costs due to culpable conduct precipitating divorce.
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27 October 2025 |
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Whether a purported land sale was valid and a caveat alleging family interest constituted fraud and is removable.
Land law – sale versus loan – parol evidence rule – written sale agreement conclusive of parties’ intentions; Family land – definition under Section 39(4) of the Land Act – requirement of continuity of residence or sustenance; Caveat law – caveat removable where no legally cognisable interest; Fraud in civil law – dishonest conduct in land transactions justifying punitive damages and remedies.
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24 October 2025 |
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Court granted administrator extension to file estate inventory, accepting caregiving hardship as sufficient reason.
Succession law – Section 273(1) Succession Act – six‑month requirement to exhibit inventory – extension of time – family and caregiving hardship as sufficient cause.
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24 October 2025 |
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Defendant’s failure to pay and deliver unencumbered land amounted to fundamental breach; alleged novation unproven.
Contract law – exchange agreement – fundamental breach for failure to deliver agreed unencumbered land and consideration; Novation – burden of proof and admissibility of disputed document; Remedies – specific performance impracticable; substitutionary damages, general damages, interest and costs.
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24 October 2025 |
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The applicant was granted guardianship to sell jointly registered land to benefit the minors' welfare.
Children Act – Guardianship – Section 74 – Authority to sell property held partly in minors’ names. Child welfare principle – Section 3(1) – Paramountcy of child’s welfare in guardianship decisions. Jurisdiction – High Court’s original jurisdiction under Article 139(1) to entertain guardianship applications. Parental suitability – biological parent with parental responsibility as appropriate guardian. Conditions – proceeds to be applied strictly for minors’ welfare or invested for their benefit.
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23 October 2025 |
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Deputy Registrar exceeded jurisdiction by expunging a filed defence; court reinstated defence and set aside the ruling.
Civil procedure – Registrar’s jurisdiction – Order 50 CPR – Registrar may hear procedural/interlocutory matters but may not exercise adjudicatory powers to strike out pleadings; expunging pleadings is ultra vires. "Sufficient cause" – test requires bona fide, record-consistent explanation with proof; mere assertion (e.g., alleged incarceration) unsupported by evidence is insufficient. Finality of pleadings – courts should protect closed pleadings from indefinite reopening to prevent delay and prejudice.
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16 October 2025 |
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High Court lacks s.83 Civil Procedure Act revision jurisdiction over LC III judgments; challenge lies to the Chief Magistrate.
Local Council Courts – Jurisdiction – LC III decisions are governed by the Local Council Courts Act 2006; High Court revision under s.83 Civil Procedure Act applies to Magistrates' Courts only – Proper remedy against LC III judgments is appeal or supervisory application to Chief Magistrate – Procedural impropriety and lapse of time relevant to exercise of revisionary powers.
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16 October 2025 |
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A magistrate lawfully set aside an ex parte decree for lack of service, protecting the constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Civil procedure – Revision under section 83 CPA – limits of interference with magistrates' decisions. Civil procedure – Order 9 r.27 CPR – setting aside ex parte decree for insufficient service. Constitutional right – Article 28 right to fair hearing – judgment without service is a nullity. Evidence – Order 18 r.11 CPR – adoption of recorded testimony and locus in quo notes on resumed hearing.
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15 October 2025 |
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Applicant's strike-out succeeds; defence and counterclaim struck out for being filed out of time without leave.
Civil procedure — Order 8 r.1(2) — mandatory 15-day period to file defence — pleadings filed out of time without leave are irregular and null; administrative delay in court process does not invalidate service; negligence of counsel is no excuse without application for condonation; remedy: strike out and proceed to formal proof.
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7 October 2025 |
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Court approved a court-ordered survey report and expunged a later unauthorized forestry authority report.
Civil procedure – Consent judgment – Binding effect of consent and when it may be set aside (fraud, mistake, misrepresentation, public policy). Boundary determination – Court-ordered boundary opening by Commissioner of Surveys and Mapping – binding report. Functus officio – court’s inability to reopen matters conclusively settled by consent and an executed report. Expungement – unauthorized subsequent expert/survey report filed without court mandate is irregular and may be expunged.
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7 October 2025 |
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Plaintiff’s freehold title was declared fraudulently obtained; land held as public, vested in Buikwe District Land Board, occupants recognised.
Land law – conversion of customary tenure to freehold – requirement to prove customary interest; Registration of Titles Act – conclusive force of certificate of title but impeachable for fraud; public land and vesting in district land board; kibanja/occupancy rights and protection under Land Act; cancellation of title for fraudulent procurement.
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7 October 2025 |
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Prior criminal conviction does not automatically bar a civil claim to land; fraud can defeat res judicata, and trial findings were upheld.
Civil procedure — res judicata — interaction between criminal conviction and subsequent civil claim to land — fraud defeats res judicata — magistrate’s pecuniary jurisdiction — assessment of damages and credibility.
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6 October 2025 |
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Whether beneficiaries of an inter vivos gift can recover land after unlawful succession registration and obtain transfer and damages.
Land law – inter vivos gift and possession – succession administration – trust property and limitation (exceptions/postponement) – invalid re-administration/registration – remedies: cancellation of title, transfer, injunction, damages and costs.
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6 October 2025 |
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Whether the respondent lawfully terminated the haulage contract and unlawfully withheld payment to the applicant.
Contract law – haulage agreement – performance and breach; termination for convenience clause – validity, good faith and conscionability; proof of special damages – remoteness and necessity of precise evidence; assessment of general damages; interest and costs.
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6 October 2025 |
| August 2025 |
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Registrar must refer matters outside their jurisdiction to a judge rather than dismissing for want of jurisdiction.
Civil procedure – Registrar’s jurisdiction – Dismissal for want of jurisdiction – Referral to judge under Order 50 rule 7 – Special and exemplary damages – Consent judgment – Appropriate procedure when Registrar lacks jurisdiction.
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27 August 2025 |