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.
19 judgments
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19 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
August 2015
High Court retains constitutional jurisdiction over employment disputes but referred the case to the Labour Officer for first-instance determination.
Employment law; High Court jurisdiction v. specialised tribunals; Section 93 Employment Act; Article 139 Constitution; referral to Labour Officer; access to justice
28 August 2015
Plaintiff proved indebtedness for goods supplied in a summary suit and obtained judgment on ex parte evidence.
Civil Procedure — Summary suit (Order 36) — Ex parte proceedings (Order 9 r.20) — Burden of proof in ex parte hearings — Sales of goods — Invoices, delivery notes and statement of account as evidence of indebtedness
27 August 2015
Court refused leave to appeal a procedural ruling and ordered completion of cross‑examination before disposing of preliminary objections.
Judicial review — case management — timing of preliminary points of law — trial judge’s discretion to sequence cross‑examination and disposal of preliminary objections; interlocutory appeals — leave to appeal against procedural rulings ordinarily refused absent substantive point of law; fairness — right to re‑examination after cross‑examination.
27 August 2015
Adverse possession and limitation barred the appellant's land claim; respondents' title and possession were affirmed.
Property law – Adverse possession – uninterrupted possession (1973–2010) conferring equitable title; Limitation Act s.5 – twelve-year bar to recovery of land; Civil procedure – locus visit discretionary where parties know location; Evidence – credibility and consistency; Sale agreements – evidentiary weight and authenticity; Obiter – constitutionality concerns about dowry refund transactions (Mfimu)
27 August 2015
Termination was unlawful for lack of a section 66 hearing; employer may not unilaterally vary contractual notice provisions.
Employment law – termination vs dismissal – application of section 66 (right to hearing) – unilateral variation of contract by HR manual – computation of length of service on transfer to successor authority – remedies for wrongful termination (notice, leave, gratuity, damages, refund of deductions)
27 August 2015
Cancellation of a land title quashed for failure to give statutory notice and a fair hearing despite IGG investigation.
Judicial review – procedural impropriety; natural justice – right to be heard; Land Act s.91(8) – statutory notice, public hearing and communication of decision; Inspectorate of Government – investigative mandate and recommendations; cancellation and reinstatement of certificate of title
26 August 2015
Whether an improperly constituted council meeting invalidated the plaintiff’s dismissal and affected his employment entitlements.
Employment law — validity of dismissal — constitution and quorum of statutory governing council meetings — promotion validity and salary scale adjustments — cessation of employer NIC scheme and transition to NSSF — entitlement to terminal benefits under standing financial regulations — contingent government-funded salary increments not payable by employer
25 August 2015
A cooperative society lacked cause of action to sue for members' pensions; pension rights are personal to individual pensioners.
Locus standi; cause of action; representative/associational standing; pension rights personal to beneficiaries; declaratory relief cannot cure absence of cause of action
25 August 2015
Court reduced excessive taxation awards, recalculated reasonable instruction fees and disbursements, and allowed appeal with costs.
Taxation of costs – instruction fees – Sixth Schedule rules on instruction fees and two-counsel enhancement – judicial restraint in interfering with taxing officers’ awards – necessity and reasonableness of disbursements and travel claims – consistency with precedent
24 August 2015
Review dismissed: Appeals Tribunal is constituted ad hoc and review prerequisites were not established.
Civil procedure — Review — Section 82 Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 CPR — requirement of new evidence or error apparent on the face of the record; Insurance (Amendment) Act 2011 s.92A — Insurance Appeals Tribunal constituted ad hoc; appeal versus review remedy
24 August 2015
High Court retains constitutional jurisdiction but employment disputes should be referred first to the Labour Officer and Industrial Court.
Employment law – Jurisdiction – Article 139 High Court’s unlimited original jurisdiction – Section 93 Employment Act requiring complaint to Labour Officer – Industrial Court appellate jurisdiction – statutory remedies do not oust constitutional jurisdiction – referral to Labour Officer
24 August 2015
Suit held not time‑barred; appellant lacked bona fide purchaser status due to notice and vendor's lack of title.
Limitation Act s.5 – accrual when trespass becomes apparent; bona fide purchaser for value – requirement of no notice and proof of vendor’s title; proof of vendor’s title where vendor is a caretaker; appellate re‑evaluation of evidence (Pandya principle)
21 August 2015
Negligent cash handling justified discipline, but dismissal was unlawful due to biased and procedurally unfair disciplinary hearing.
Employment law – Summary dismissal – Gross negligence in handling cash – Procedural fairness and apprehended bias in disciplinary hearings – Remedies: notice in lieu, general damages, interest and costs
20 August 2015
Whether summary dismissal was lawful where employer failed to follow procedures and ensure a fair disciplinary hearing.
Employment law – unfair/summary dismissal – natural justice in disciplinary hearings – employer's failure to implement procedures and train staff – remedies (notice, damages, severance, interest, costs)
20 August 2015
Court granted leave to appeal, allowing challenges to trial findings (including duress and undue influence), despite an oral application.
Civil procedure – leave to appeal – oral application for leave despite procedural rules – scope of appeal includes alleged duress and undue influence – appellate review of important legal questions
20 August 2015
A temporary revenue-collection contract existed; council lawfully ended it and the plaintiff owes Ushs.119,000,000 for unpaid remittances.
Contract law – existence and essentials (offer, acceptance, consideration, intention); Public procurement – administrative extension, ultra vires vs directory acts, direct procurement exception; Breach – acquiescence to parallel park and lawful expiry of temporal contract; Revenue counterclaim – recovery of unpaid remittances; Mitigation of loss and pleadings for interest
20 August 2015
Lease contract allocated all risks to the lessee; audit found lessee indebted and lessor may enforce security.
Finance lease; contract construction; clause allocating risk "from any cause whatsoever"; lessee bears loss and insurance duty; termination requires payment of contractual termination sum; bank write-off does not extinguish borrower liability; audit reconciliation; enforcement of mortgage and chattel security; interest and costs awarded
20 August 2015
Applicant’s challenge to an administrative transfer failed for lack of proven procedural unfairness or unlawful exercise of power.
Judicial review — prerogative remedies (certiorari, mandamus, prohibition) — administrative transfer of public servant — procedural impropriety / natural justice — legality of redeployment under Standing Orders — weight of Solicitor General’s opinion where no hearing afforded
19 August 2015
High Court set aside an illegal eight‑month imprisonment order imposed in execution of a civil decree against the applicant.
Civil procedure — Revision under s.83 CPA — Distinction between revision and appeal — Assessment of cause of action an appellate matter — Execution orders — Imprisonment in default of civil decree — s.42(1) CPA maximum six months — Illegal eight‑month sentence set aside
13 August 2015