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
210 judgments

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210 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2025
Circumstantial evidence failed to exclude reasonable hypotheses of innocence; accused acquitted of aggravated robbery.
* Criminal law – Aggravated robbery – elements: theft, violence/threat, possession of deadly weapon, and participation by accused. * Evidence – Circumstantial evidence – must be strong and exclude reasonable hypotheses of innocence. * Evidence – Identification – absence of positive identification fatal to prosecution where case is circumstantial. * Evidence – Flight/conduct at arrest – cannot alone constitute sufficient incriminating evidence without corroboration.
21 October 2025
Accused acquitted: prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case due to lack of identification and evidential nexus.
* Criminal law – No‑case-to‑answer – test for prima facie case (Uganda v Alfred Ateu; Bhatt v R). * Identification evidence – absence of direct identification or basis for suspicion insufficient to proceed. * Evidential nexus – mere arrest and unproduced alleged weapon do not establish participation in murder or aggravated robbery.
20 October 2025
Possession/use of a deceased’s SIM card alone insufficient to prove accused guilty of murder and aggravated robbery.
Criminal law – Murder and Aggravated Robbery – Circumstantial evidence – Use/possession of deceased’s SIM card – Malice aforethought established as to killing but insufficient evidence to link accused to offences; alibi and alternative hypothesis considered.
20 October 2025
September 2025
Court convicted four of eight accused for murder, aggravated robbery and attempted murder; four acquitted for insufficient evidence.
* Criminal law – murder – elements: death, unlawful act, malice aforethought and causation – proven by post-mortems and eyewitness evidence. * Visual identification – caution required; court to assess light, distance, familiarity, duration, number of assailants and masking. * Alibi – prosecution duty to disprove; failure to disprove requires acquittal. * Aggravated robbery – theft during violent attack with deadly weapons; proved. * Attempted murder – intention and overt act established by assaults on survivor. * Common intention – participation in same criminal enterprise renders participants liable for related offences.
19 September 2025
Court set aside an ex parte judgment where applicants proved non-service of summons and sufficient cause for non-appearance.
Civil Procedure – Setting aside ex parte judgment – Effective service of summons – Sufficient cause for non-appearance – Consent to judgment – Rights of parties where non-service alleged.
10 September 2025
August 2025
A claim was dismissed where plaintiffs lacked both authority and personal interest in land registered solely to the defendant.
Civil procedure – cause of action – standing to sue – plaint must disclose plaintiff's legal or equitable interest – requirement for power of attorney when suing on behalf of another – dismissal of suit lacking cause of action.
29 August 2025
A customary gift of land does not require a written deed and may be proven by exclusive possession and use by the donee.
Land law – Customary land – Gift intervivos – Requirements for valid gift of land under customary law – Evidence of exclusive possession – Appeal – Grounds of appeal must be specific and not general.
22 August 2025
Technical errors in court filings may be cured to allow substantive justice, with procedural remedies taking precedence over strict technicalities.
Civil procedure – execution – defective written statement of defence – validation and curability of technical defects – powers and jurisdiction of registrars – abuse of court process – contempt – importance of substantive justice over technicalities.
12 August 2025
July 2025
Court affirms eviction in favor of applicant following unchallenged judicial sale, dismissing objections of pending appeal and procedural issues.
Civil Procedure – Judicial sale – Execution of decree – Warrant of vacant possession – Legal effect of pending appeal on execution process.
25 July 2025
22 July 2025
22 July 2025
22 July 2025
Court grants two-year extension for both administration and filing deadlines in estate matter with beneficiary consent.
Succession Law - Extension of Letters of Administration - Time extension for filing inventory and accounts - Beneficiary consent and interest considerations.
17 July 2025
17 July 2025
The High Court quashed a conviction based on a defective guilty plea and a failure to consider remand period.
Criminal Law – Appeal against conviction – Legality of plea taking – Conviction based on defective plea – Remand period consideration.
16 July 2025
16 July 2025
14 July 2025
14 July 2025
14 July 2025
14 July 2025
14 July 2025
Loss of employment does not relieve a borrower of repayment obligations under a personal loan agreement.
Contract law – Loan agreements – Whether loss of employment frustrates contract or relieves borrower of liability – Unsecured loans – Personal liability upon default – Award of interest and costs.
14 July 2025
A supplier was awarded payment for spares and services provided under an oral contract, with corporate liability limited to the company beneficiary.
Contract – Oral contract for supply of goods and services – Breach of contract – Corporate personality – Proof of debt and services rendered – Remedies and interest.
11 July 2025
Extension of time granted for filing estate inventory and accounts due to diligent asset distribution efforts.
Succession Law – Time extension for filing inventory and final accounts – Sufficient cause for delay – Beneficiaries' consent.
10 July 2025
The court granted a two-year extension of the Letters of Administration, emphasizing beneficiary interest and legal compliance.
Succession Law – Extension of Letters of Administration – Sufficient cause for extension – Interest of beneficiaries and compliance with law.
8 July 2025
June 2025
30 June 2025
30 June 2025
30 June 2025
Court extends Letters of Administration, clarifies pension is unaffected by expiry of grant terms.
Succession Law – Letters of Administration – Extension beyond initial period – Pension unaffected by expiration of grant.
17 June 2025
Court dismisses application to halt burial based on insufficient evidence of legal marriage, favoring deceased's known wishes.
Temporary injunction – burial disputes – preservation of status quo – determination of burial sites based on wishes of deceased
16 June 2025
Grant of temporary injunction hinges on prima facie merit conserving burial rights over technical familial relations.
Civil Procedure - Temporary Injunction - Criteria for granting; Prima Facie Case - Significance in family disputes; Burial Rights - Considerations beyond legal marriage.
16 June 2025
May 2025
19 May 2025
The accused was found guilty of aggravated defilement, with the court confirming all elements beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Offence of aggravated defilement – Proof of victim's age – Identification of accused as perpetrator.
19 May 2025
19 May 2025
The court sentenced a father to 38 years for murdering his son, deducting time already served on remand.
Criminal law - Murder - Sentencing - Aggravating and mitigating factors in the sentencing process - Discretion of the court in imposing a sentence.
19 May 2025
19 May 2025
The court convicts the accused of aggravated defilement of a 7-year-old, rejecting his alibi through credible witnesses.
Criminal Law – Aggravated Defilement – Proof of victim's age, sexual act, and perpetrator identity beyond reasonable doubt.
19 May 2025
19 May 2025
19 May 2025
Court finds the accused guilty of aggravated defilement of a minor, dismissing his alibi defense.
Criminal law - Aggravated defilement - Minor victim under 14 years - Identification of the accused - Sexual act evidence.
16 May 2025
16 May 2025
14 May 2025
The accused was convicted of aggravated defilement after proof of underage sexual activity and HIV positive status.
Criminal Law – Aggravated defilement – elements to be proven: the victim under 18, accused HIV positive, act committed by accused.
14 May 2025
The court convicted and sentenced the accused for murder, finding circumstantial evidence established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – murder – circumstantial evidence – burden and standard of proof – alibi – malice aforethought – sentencing guidelines – deduction for time on remand.
9 May 2025
9 May 2025
Court convicts one accused of murder based on eyewitness identification, acquitting the co-accused for lack of proof.
Criminal law – murder – ingredients – identification of accused – single identifying witness – evaluation of alibi – mob justice – sentencing guidelines – mitigation for first-time offenders.
9 May 2025
The accused was convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence and sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment, with credit for time spent on remand.
Criminal law – Murder – Standard and burden of proof – Circumstantial evidence – Disproof of alibi – Sentencing upon conviction for murder – Application of sentencing guidelines.
9 May 2025
Court convicted and sentenced an HIV-positive accused for aggravated defilement of a 15-year-old girl, imposing a 24-year sentence.
Criminal law – Aggravated defilement – Proof of sexual act with minor – HIV-positive accused – Corroboration of complainant’s evidence – Sentencing principles for aggravated defilement cases.
9 May 2025
A conviction for aggravated robbery was secured by eyewitness and dog evidence; co-accused acquitted for lack of proof.
Criminal law – Aggravated robbery – elements of offence – identification evidence – use of deadly weapon – corroboration by dog evidence – defence of alibi – standard of proof.
9 May 2025
8 May 2025