HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

The Civil Division is a division of the high court. It's functions include: Hearing appeal cases from the Magistrates' courts in connection with torts committed against the person, Defamation, Bankruptcy and company winding up matters, Partnership matters,Companies matters, Real and personal property.

Physical address
Twed towers, along Kafu Road, Nakasero.
17 judgments
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17 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2012
Accusatory letter to authorities was defamatory per se; qualified privilege failed due to malice; damages awarded.
Defamation — libel per se — publication to interested parties — qualified (conditional) privilege — absence of private interest and actual malice — general damages, interest and costs awarded
5 December 2012
November 2012
Kampala Capital City Authority Act 2010 led to the lawful frustration of employment contracts without fault of either party.
Employment Law – Frustration of contract – Change in law and its impact on existing employment contracts – Doctrine of frustration applied to governmental restructure.
15 November 2012
October 2012
Plaintiffs' claims of negligence dismissed due to insufficient evidence linking the defendant to fire's cause.
Tort Law – Negligence – Damages – Res Ipsa Loquitor – Burden of Proof.
5 October 2012
September 2012
Appellate court upheld cancellation of an illegal sale of family land, ordering the appellant to vacate and refund the purchase price.
Land law — family land and limits on sale by administrator; validity of posthumous registration via Letters of Administration; evaluation of evidence on appeal; locus in quo visit not established; cancellation of illegal sale and restitution
21 September 2012
July 2012
Certificate of urgency to hear an internal party nomination challenge refused for lack of urgency and procedural defect.
Court vacation – Certificate of urgency – Internal political party nomination disputes – East African Legislative Assembly elections – Procedural completeness (attachment of decision sought to be quashed)
18 July 2012
June 2012
High Court set aside magistrate's dismissal where applicant appeared by principal officer and counsel was absent, ordering merits hearing.
Civil procedure — Revision under section 83 CPA — Dismissal for absence of counsel — Presence of principal officer — Material irregularity — Costs
20 June 2012
A Children and Family Court lacks jurisdiction over land disputes; its order was set aside and parties directed to the proper forum.
Jurisdiction — Children and Family Court — Land dispute — Court lacking jurisdiction to determine sale/ownership of land — Order set aside — Parties to proceed to proper forum — Costs: each party to bear own costs
18 June 2012
Appellant proved ownership by documentary and credible oral evidence; trial court's speculative reasoning reversed and vacant possession granted.
Land dispute – ownership of school land – evaluation of minor inconsistencies in witness testimony – weight of documentary records versus oral evidence – appellate review of credibility and speculative findings – trespass, vacant possession and permanent injunction
12 June 2012
Judicial review application dismissed due to unreasonable delay in challenging a civil service dismissal decision.
Judicial review - delay in application - dismissal from civil service - rules of natural justice - time-barred claims
1 June 2012
May 2012
Court set aside summary judgments for questionable service, allowed defences including set-off, and ordered applicants’ release.
Civil procedure – Revision of summary judgment – Validity of service of summons – Leave to defend in summary suits – Set-off as a triable issue – Access to justice – Setting aside judgment and execution orders – Release of civil prisoners
8 May 2012
April 2012
Whether a registered title procured with notice and misdescription can be impeached where the applicant had equitable interest and possession.
Registration of Titles Act s.176 – Fraud in procurement of registered title – Equitable interest arises on payment of premium – Notice by possession and objection – Misdescription and breach of audi alteram partem vitiating title – Remedies: declaration, cancellation of certificate, injunction, costs
30 April 2012
Court held State evictions unlawful, restored possession subject to Lokeris Line, and awarded damages and costs.
Land law – customary and leasehold title – validity of governmental eviction and compulsory acquisition – constitutional protection of property (Article 26) – necessity of lawful procedure and compensation – demarcation of boundary (Lokeris Line) – remedies including restitution, injunction, general and exemplary damages
25 April 2012
Whether customary and leasehold occupants were lawfully evicted by the State and what remedies follow for unlawful eviction.
Land law – customary and leasehold ownership – unlawful State eviction – constitutional protection of property (Art 26) – Lokeris Line demarcation – remedies: possession, injunction, general and exemplary damages
25 April 2012
The applicant's malicious prosecution claim was not res judicata and disclosed a cause against the respondent officer.
Civil procedure – Res judicata – malicious prosecution claim not barred where earlier suit was premature; Cause of action – acts beyond official duty may attract personal liability; Accrual of action – malicious prosecution claim arises after conclusion of prosecution; Preliminary objections – disallowed; Costs in the cause
19 April 2012
Whether the plaintiff validly entered a five-year employment contract and whether the defendant unlawfully breached it.
Employment law – formation and validity of fixed-term contract – resignation and transfer from prior employer – breach of contract by denial of employment and non-payment – IGG recommendation not binding on separate employer – frustration of contract – assessment of special and general damages and interest
12 April 2012
February 2012
The objector proved possession and interest, so attachment and the subsequent judicial sale were unlawful and set aside.
Execution/Attachment (Order 22) – Objection to attachment – Proof of interest and possession at date of attachment determinative – Judicial sale nullifiable where sale contravenes court directions and statutory procedure – Possession, not full title, is primary inquiry in objection proceedings
10 February 2012
January 2012
30 January 2012