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.
13 judgments
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13 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
January 2015
Whether a foreign worker recruited by deception is a trafficked person and entitled to special, general and punitive damages.
Employment law – breach of contract – failure to provide agreed managerial role, allowances and emoluments. Trafficking in persons – recruitment by deception – foreign worker declared a trafficked person under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009. Damages – award of special, general and punitive damages; exemplary damages awarded for oppressive conduct. Procedure – substituted service and ex parte proceedings where defendants absented themselves.
30 January 2015
A licensee deprived of use of market-built premises is not barred by a prior consent order and is entitled to compensation, not eviction.
Market redevelopment project; licence vs proprietary interest; consent decree and res judicata; municipal liability for delegated committee actions; unlawful deprivation; damages and costs award.
30 January 2015
Suspension beyond statutory period and dismissal without a fair hearing held unlawful; employee awarded salary, benefits and damages.
Employment law — suspension and dismissal — employer’s duty to afford hearing (s.66 Employment Act 2006) — suspension limited to four weeks (s.63) — employer must prove reason for dismissal (s.68) — remedies for unfair termination: unpaid salary, notice pay, accrued leave, severance, damages, provident fund.
30 January 2015
Unlawful termination conceded; contractual handbook governs severance and paid sums in Exh D.1 satisfy all due claims; costs awarded.
Employment law – unlawful termination (no hearing) – contractual staff handbook governs severance calculation – statutory severance formula absent – payment in lieu of notice and end-of-service benefits – relief limited to pleaded claims.
29 January 2015
A power of attorney terminates on the principal’s death; agents cannot continue litigation without probate authority.
Power of Attorney – termination on principal’s death; agency — agent’s authority ceases at death; probate procedure — letters of administration/executor required to pursue estate claims; preliminary objection — capacity and competence to sue; cause of action against advocate — triable but not determinative once POA invalidated.
27 January 2015
Judicial review cannot be used to stop DPP investigations; DCTs ordered released to Insurance Regulatory Authority with access preserved.
Judicial review — limits on using review to restrain prosecutorial investigations; custody and release of Duplicate Certificates of Title (DCTs); interim protective measures; prohibition of transfers during pending investigations.
22 January 2015
An appeal and subsequent High Court decision founded on a jurisdictionally defective, time‑barred appeal are nullities and reviewable.
Civil procedure – Review under s.82 Civil Procedure Act and O.46 CPR – Appeals tainted by res judicata, lack of leave and time‑bar – Jurisdictional defect – Illegality renders subsequent appellate decisions null and void.
22 January 2015
Regulatory guidelines without statutory authority cannot lawfully bar practising under a chosen firm name; refusal infringed constitutional rights.
Administrative law – regulatory guidelines versus subsidiary legislation – guidelines lacking statutory basis have no force of law. Subordinate legislation – byelaws/regulations require statutory authority and proper procedure (Statutory Instrument, ministerial approval). Constitutional rights – right to practise profession (Article 40(2)), equality/non-discrimination (Article 21), fair administrative treatment/hearing (Articles 42 and 44). Remedies – declaratory relief, order for renewal, compensation under Article 50, costs.
19 January 2015
Applicant failed to prove locus standi or redemption; trial court’s credibility findings and dismissal upheld, appeal dismissed with costs.
Land law – succession and locus standi; whether claimant is dependent/beneficiary under Succession Act; proof of redemption of mortgaged land; evaluation of witness credibility and documentary evidence; appellate review (Pandya v R) upholding trial court findings.
13 January 2015
Documentary agreements and conduct estop respondent from orally varying title; appellant entitled to quiet enjoyment.
Evidence — Parol evidence rule — Sections 91 and 92 Evidence Act — oral evidence inadmissible to contradict written agreements absent exception. Property — Title and possession — long possession and documentary agreements support right to quiet enjoyment. Estoppel — Conduct and acceptance of part of land may estop party from reclaiming full title. Appellate review — First appellate court duty to re-examine evidence where trial findings rest on impressions.
12 January 2015
Applicants exercising powers under Article 230(2) are amenable to judicial review; an interim ex parte order granted without mandatory notice was set aside.
Judicial review – public law remedy – locus standi of Inspector General/Inspectorate to be joined to judicial review proceedings under Article 230(2) and Inspectorate Act; issue estoppel – distinguishability and right to be heard; interim ex parte injunction – mandatory notice under O.37 r.3, illegality and vacation of order.
9 January 2015
Whether the defendant validly terminated the dealership for contractual breaches and whether the plaintiff’s security deposit is refundable.
Contract law – Exclusive dealership agreement – condition precedent to contract (payment of Shs.28,000,000) – performance targets – bounced cheques – contractual right to supply/takeover for supply failures – termination under express clauses – interpretation of ambiguous refund clause contra proferentem – refundable security deposit with interest – dismissal of other damages claims.
9 January 2015
A plaintiff company lacking proprietary interest and representative authority cannot sue for cancellation of title or related reliefs.
Civil procedure – Order 7 r.11 CPR – rejection of plaint for failing to disclose a cause of action; Representative actions – Order 1 r.8 CPR – capacity to sue on behalf of others; Land law – tenants’ locus to seek cancellation of title; Inspectorate/IGG report – enforcement by Registrar of Titles; Pleading – general damages require pleaded right/infringement.
8 January 2015