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Citation
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Judgment date
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| September 2025 |
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Court convicted district officers for causing financial loss, money‑laundering and conspiracy after irregular IFMS salary payments led to proven loss.
Anti‑corruption – Causing financial loss – irregular IFMS payments processed by a system super‑user and successive approvers; knowledge/’reason to know’ inferred from circumstantial evidence and failure to verify source documents; loss quantified at Ushs 247,934,074. Anti‑money laundering – proceeds of crime – recipients directed to withdraw and hand over funds; intentional assistance and acquisition by public officers. Conspiracy – agreement inferred from coordinated actions to effect and recover illicit payments.
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30 September 2025 |
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Applicant failed to show due diligence or materiality to admit additional public documents on appeal; application dismissed.
Criminal procedure — Additional evidence on appeal (s.41 CPC) — principles: not available at trial, relevance, credibility, potential to create reasonable doubt — due diligence required — public/prosecution-held documents — appeal not a rehearing.
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22 September 2025 |
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A fresh memorandum after dismissal for want of prosecution is incompetent; reinstatement requires an application showing sufficient cause.
Appellate procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – restoration of appeal – requirement to apply to restore and show sufficient cause – filing a fresh memorandum after dismissal is incompetent; appellate rules (Rule 66(5) CA, Rule 62(5) SC) instructive.
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17 September 2025 |
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Trial magistrate misapplied the no‑case standard; prosecution’s circumstantial evidence insufficient, appeal dismissed.
Criminal law – no‑case-to‑answer/prima facie standard – correct test at close of prosecution; Arson – elements and proof; Circumstantial evidence – must exclude reasonable innocent explanations; Identification and suspicion insufficient for conviction.
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10 September 2025 |
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High Court lacks jurisdiction to set aside a perfected plea bargain; only appellate or statutory remedy may overturn conviction.
* Criminal procedure – Plea bargaining – limits of judicial review; functus officio doctrine
* Judicial review – amenability and jurisdiction: supervisory review limited to subordinate courts and public/quasi‑administrative bodies
* Time limits – extension of time for judicial review in interests of substantive justice
* Comparative law – Kenya and Tanzania statutory powers to set aside plea bargains versus absence of equivalent Ugandan provision
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8 September 2025 |
| August 2025 |
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An appellate court set aside acquittals and convicted respondents for causing financial loss, theft, and conspiracy to defraud a public entity.
Criminal law – Causing financial loss – Theft – Conspiracy to defraud – Statutory duties of public officers – Sufficiency of evidence – Accomplice corroboration – Role of directors in receipt and control of fraudulent funds – Equal application of criminal liability regardless of public office.
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28 August 2025 |
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A magistrate's order for re-commencement of a trial after file transfer is interlocutory and not subject to High Court revision.
Criminal procedure – revision – interlocutory versus final orders – transfer of trial and re-commencement before successor magistrate – section 144 Magistrates Courts Act – proper initiation of revision process – fair trial rights.
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18 August 2025 |
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Stay of execution pending appeal requires applicants to set out intended grounds of appeal in pleadings or affidavits.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Requirement to show arguable grounds of appeal – Pleadings must set out intended grounds of appeal – Discretionary remedies.
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11 August 2025 |
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A remanded advocate charged with money laundering was granted bail, having proved a fixed abode, compliance, and substantial sureties.
Criminal procedure – Bail application – Discretionary grant of bail – Fixed place of abode – Abscondment – Substantiality of sureties – Economic crimes – Presumption of innocence – Conditions precedent for bail in money laundering cases
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11 August 2025 |
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Committal orders are not final and cannot be revised by the High Court; prosecutorial discretion over committals is unfettered.
Criminal procedure – Revision – Jurisdiction of High Court – Final orders – Committal to High Court – Discretion of Director of Public Prosecutions – Whether committal proceedings are amenable to revision.
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11 August 2025 |
| June 2025 |
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16 June 2025 |
| May 2025 |
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27 May 2025 |
| April 2025 |
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Criminal law—theft—conspiracy to defraud—lack of mens rea—no common intention—prosecution failed to link accused to fraudulent scheme—key accomplices not called as witnesses—accused acquitted
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30 April 2025 |
Criminal procedure—private prosecution—money laundering—role of Magistrate—police investigation—application for restraining orders—no prima facie case—neutrality of magistrate—appeal dismissed
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25 April 2025 |
Criminal law—causing financial loss—electronic fraud—money laundering—corruption—abuse of office—USD 8.5 million fraud—USD 8.2 million recovered—bail—substantial securities and sureties—application allowed with strict conditions
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22 April 2025 |
Human rights—torture—unlawful detention—right to liberty—burden of proof—evidence standard—detention beyond 48 hours—detention in police custody—personal liability—public accountability—compensation—criminal trial upheld—no proof of torture.
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14 April 2025 |
Criminal law—corruption—asset recovery—restraining order—mortgagee interest—priority of registration—review—complicity—reasonable suspicion—Anti-Corruption Act—Section 62—legal interest—third party rights—stay lifted—order set aside
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11 April 2025 |
Criminal law—causing the making of a false document—East African Community Customs Management Act—obtaining money by false pretenses—conspiracy to defraud—proof of documentary evidence—defective charges—admissibility of exhibits—role of customs officers—standard of proof—setting aside conviction and sentence
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7 April 2025 |
| March 2025 |
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Obtaining money by false pretence (UGX 18,500,000,000)—conspiracy to defraud (UGX 1,270,000,000)—money laundering—use of false identity—conviction & sentence
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18 March 2025 |
Bail—corruption—money laundering—fixed abode—substantial sureties—remand period—presumption of innocence—discretionary power—parity of bail—monitoring through technology—conditions precedent—judicial notice of MPs’ financial standing.
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17 March 2025 |
Bail—presumption of innocence—right to apply for bail—corruption—causing financial loss—abuse of office—electronic fraud—money laundering—judicial discretion—substantial sureties—flight risk—interference with investigations—fixed place of abode—public interest—national financial security—bail terms—conditional release.
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3 March 2025 |
Corruption—public official—solicitation and acceptance of gratification—bribery—evaluation committee—due diligence—contract awarding—digital forensics—WhatsApp evidence—recorded conversation—conviction—sentencing—fine and imprisonment—ban from public office
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3 March 2025 |
| February 2025 |
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Criminal procedure—advocate—right to a fair hearing—trial delay—abuse of court process—judicial discretion—case management—prosecution misconduct—failure to enforce surety bonds—costs
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11 February 2025 |
| January 2025 |
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Criminal law—causing financial loss—section 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act—erroneous bank credit—utilization of funds without verification—knowledge or reason to believe loss would occur—circumstantial evidence—burden and standard of proof—intent to cause loss inferred from conduct—actual loss proved—conviction.
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14 January 2025 |
| December 2024 |
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3 December 2024 |
| November 2024 |
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Dealing with suspect property—misuse of public resources—iron sheets allocation—ministerial accountability—predicate offence—knowledge of illegality—prima facie case—defense required
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27 November 2024 |
Anti-Corruption Act—Restraining orders—Dissipation of tainted property—Reasonable belief—Ownership and possession of property—Ex parte applications—Jurisdiction —Burden of proof at restraint stage—Prevention of asset disposal—Link to alleged crime—Compensation and confiscation orders.
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27 November 2024 |
| October 2024 |
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15 October 2024 |
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Applicant remanded over 180 days entitled to bail; court imposed stringent financial security and reporting conditions.
Criminal procedure – Bail – Article 23(6)(c) Constitution – Remand in custody over 180 days without committal – Right to bail; Sufficiency of sureties and security; Seriousness of alleged bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy; Onerous bail conditions to mitigate flight risk.
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2 October 2024 |
| August 2024 |
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The applicant's bail was denied due to significant flight risk and inadequate substantial sureties amid multiple serious charges.
Bail — Trial on Indictments Act s.15(4) — fixed place of abode; admissibility of electronic records (Electronic Transactions Act); substantial sureties; prior bail compliance; multiplicity of pending charges and flight risk — stringent conditions required; bail refused for insufficient sureties and security.
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20 August 2024 |
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5 August 2024 |
| July 2024 |
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High Court lacked jurisdiction to stay execution of a compensation order pending a criminal appeal to the Supreme Court.
Criminal appeals – stay of execution – Rule 6(2)(a) Judicature (Supreme Court Rules) vests Supreme Court with power to suspend execution; Civil Procedure Act s.34(1) relates to execution matters but does not confer jurisdiction where decree is contested on appeal; jurisdictional objections may be raised at any stage; parties cannot confer jurisdiction.
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23 July 2024 |
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A conviction for personation and fraud was partly overturned for lack of proof of forgery, with sentence reduced and compensation upheld.
Criminal law – personation – personating a public officer – sufficiency of evidence for forgery – fair hearing – compensation for crime proceeds – sentencing discretion – use of property as security for compensation in criminal cases.
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12 July 2024 |
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Applicant failed to prove matrimonial interest or possession; objector application dismissed though execution proceedings were competent.
Civil procedure – objector proceedings under Order 22 Rules 55–57; execution is a process not an event; Section 44 Civil Procedure Act – attachment of saleable property; Land Act s.38A(4) – family land and spousal interests; burden of proof – objector must prove marital interest and possession.
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10 July 2024 |
| April 2024 |
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A diploma‑holding road inspector's report and false accountabilities can support embezzlement conviction; sentence upheld.
* Criminal law – Embezzlement – False accountability and disbursement of public funds for no work as evidence of embezzlement. * Evidence – Expert/opinion evidence – Diploma‑holding road inspector competent to assess road maintenance works; expert opinion is advisory. * Administrative law – Engineers Registration Act not a bar to inspection evidence by diploma holders. * Sentencing – Appellate restraint where sentence falls within guidelines; caution on using lack of remorse.
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17 April 2024 |
| February 2024 |
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Court discharged accused found mentally incapable to stand trial and discontinued related proceedings.
Mental capacity to stand trial – psychiatric evidence establishing dementia/neurocognitive impairment – Trial on Indictments Act s45 and constitutional limits on detention – discharge/discontinuance of proceedings to prevent abuse of process.
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20 February 2024 |
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Court finds separate prosecutions concerned distinct transactions and refuses injunction against Inspectorate's prosecution.
* Constitutional and criminal procedure – right to a fair trial – pretrial summonses and production orders – when investigatory summonses by Inspectorate of Government prejudice fair trial rights. * Joinder and multiplicity of prosecutions – test for "same transaction" and "same character" – when separate prosecutions amount to abuse. * Human Rights (Enforcement) Act 2019 – jurisdiction to entertain allegations of human‑rights infringements arising from pending criminal proceedings. * Inspectorate of Government powers – constitutional investigatory and prosecutorial competence (Article 230).
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19 February 2024 |
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A custodial sentence for embezzlement was adjusted to deduct time spent on remand, but found neither harsh nor excessive.
Criminal law – sentencing – embezzlement – failure to deduct remand period from sentence – appellate review of illegality – discretion in sentencing – harshness and appropriateness of prison terms – powers of appellate court to substitute sentences.
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19 February 2024 |
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Court stayed criminal trial pending a human-rights appeal alleging violation of non-derogable fair-trial rights.
Human Rights (Enforcement) Act 2019 – stay of criminal proceedings pending human-rights appeal; alleged violation of non-derogable fair-trial rights; mandatory stay when question arises under s.8; appellate priority under s.16; stay granted where appeal is arguable to prevent nugatory proceedings.
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7 February 2024 |
| November 2023 |
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Whether alleged police misconduct, non-disclosure and media coverage vitiated the applicant's right to a fair trial.
Human rights enforcement — pre-trial disclosure of material and exculpatory evidence; prosecutorial discretion and selective prosecution; allegations of torture and standard of proof; media reporting and the accused's right to a fair trial.
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28 November 2023 |
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Court dismissed allegations of torture, non-disclosure and prejudicial media, finding no breach of fair trial rights.
* Criminal procedure – pre-trial disclosure – Article 28(3)(c) Constitution – prosecution duty to disclose material and exculpatory evidence; Aniket Patel authority; trial court discretion on materiality and availability. * Constitutional law – prosecutorial discretion – Article 120(5) – selective prosecution allegations. * Human rights – freedom from torture – Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012 – elements and burden of proof. * Fair trial – right to counsel and notification of reasons for arrest – procedural breach not automatically fatal. * Media law – freedom of expression vs. presumption of innocence and trial fairness.
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28 November 2023 |
| October 2023 |
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Conviction for corruption quashed due to lack of corroborative evidence and unreliable prosecution testimony.
Criminal law – corruption – elements of offering gratification to a public official – standard of proof – evidential requirement – necessity of corroboration – failure to call key witnesses undermines prosecution case – importance of direct evidence in bribery cases.
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23 October 2023 |
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The court affirmed acquittal due to insufficient evidence proving the respondent authored or caused the making of false documents.
Criminal law – making false documents – East African Community Customs Management Act – evidentiary requirements – authorship of documents – standard of proof – acquittal upheld for insufficient evidence.
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22 October 2023 |
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Accused acquitted where prosecution failed to prove funds were proceeds of crime and statutory declaration procedures were not followed.
Money laundering — possession of large cash at port of entry — requirement to prove knowledge that funds are proceeds of crime — prima facie case test — statutory declaration at ports (s.10 AMLA; Reg.10 SI 2015) — procedural irregularity where immigration officers did not escort traveller to customs — inadmissible/hearsay and inadequate investigation undermining prosecution.
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4 October 2023 |
| July 2023 |
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Court dismissed attempt to revise plea-bargain order to forfeit goods based on uncharged Tobacco Control offences.
* Criminal procedure – Plea bargain – scope and effect – court constrained to terms and offences charged under the statute of conviction.
* Forfeiture – Orders for forfeiture must derive from offences charged and convicted; cannot be imposed for different uncharged offences.
* Due process – Presumption of innocence – cannot be circumvented by revising orders to punish for offences not tried.
* Remedies – Applicant may initiate separate proceedings under other statutes notwithstanding a plea bargain.
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17 July 2023 |
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The court granted conditional bail to applicants charged with corruption and financial crimes, imposing strict surety and reporting requirements.
Criminal procedure – bail application – Anti-Corruption Act – sufficiency of sureties – imposition of strict bail conditions – presumption of innocence – bailable offences – risk management in financial crime cases.
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12 July 2023 |
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Court held prosecutions of political leaders lawful; no constitutional rights violation shown and application dismissed.
Constitutional law – locus standi under Article 50(2); criminal liability of political leaders – no automatic immunity; prosecutorial discretion and individual culpability; alleged piecemeal prosecutions and consolidation; no demonstrated violation of fair trial or other constitutional rights.
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4 July 2023 |
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Challenge to criminal investigations of political leaders over diversion of relief items dismissed; no immunity or rights breaches found.
* Constitutional law – enforcement of rights – Article 50(1)–(2) – locus standi to apply on behalf of others.
* Criminal law / constitutional immunity – political office-holders not categorically immune from investigation or prosecution.
* Administrative/procedural law – prosecutorial discretion and investigation-driven charging decisions; consolidation of files premature.
* Human rights – alleged infringements (liberty, fair hearing, equality, movement, participation) not established on the evidence.
* Remedies – declaratory reliefs, injunctions and damages unavailable absent demonstrated rights violations.
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4 July 2023 |
| June 2023 |
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Forgery conviction quashed for lack of expert testimony; causing financial loss and compensation order upheld.
Criminal law – forgery – handwriting expert report inadmissible/insufficient without expert testimony; Criminal law – causing financial loss – public officer liable where supporting documents facilitate bogus payment; Evidence – appellate rehearing and re-evaluation of credibility; Compensation – magistrate's power under s197 MCA to order restitution.
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15 June 2023 |
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A request to stay criminal proceedings pending a human rights application was dismissed for lack of prima facie case and irreparable harm.
Criminal procedure – stay of proceedings – Human Rights Enforcement Act – requirements for stay – prima facie case – irreparable harm – locus standi – balance of convenience – DPP’s prosecutorial mandate.
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8 June 2023 |