HC: Anti corruption Division (Uganda)

 The Anti-corruption Division of the High court  was established in July 2008 by the Judiciary as a specialized Division to adjudicate corruption and corruption related cases. The Division commenced hearing cases in December 2008. 

The Establishment of the ACD was a deliberate step by the Judiciary, in response to demands by Government and other institutions engaged in fighting corruption, to take drastic action against the corrupt by strengthening the adjudicatory mechanism for fighting corruption.

The Principal Judge administratively set up the ACD, as a specialized Division of the High Court to adjudicate corruption cases. The Chief Justice would like to formally establish the ACD through a Practice Direction.

Physical address
Plot 8 Mabua Road, Kololo, Kampala- Uganda.
24 judgments
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24 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2025
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.
30 September 2025
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.
22 September 2025
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.
17 September 2025
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.
10 September 2025
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
8 September 2025
August 2025
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.
28 August 2025
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.
18 August 2025
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.
11 August 2025
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
11 August 2025
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.
11 August 2025
June 2025

 

16 June 2025
May 2025

 

27 May 2025
April 2025

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

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

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

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.

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

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

7 April 2025
March 2025

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

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.

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.

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

3 March 2025
February 2025

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

11 February 2025
January 2025

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.

14 January 2025