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.
18 judgments
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18 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
September 2018
Applicant must show a clear personal nexus before suing individual officials for alleged human-rights violations; AG otherwise remains proper party.
* Constitutional and civil procedure – Proper defendant for official acts – Attorney General and Government Proceedings Act – whether constitutional/statutory provisions bar suits against individuals for human-rights violations. * Human rights – Personal-capacity liability – requirement to establish a clear nexus showing individuals acted in their personal (not official) capacity. * Preliminary objections – striking parties – when individual respondents may be struck from proceedings pending demonstration of personal nexus. * Judicial discretion – court may later pierce the official veil and hold individuals personally liable if evidence supports personal liability.
28 September 2018
Refusal to release pre-entry exam scripts lawful; pre-entry examination is a valid, statutory admission criterion; application dismissed.
Administrative law; judicial review confined to decision-making process; no right to pre-entry exam scripts or marking scheme; Advocates Act authorises pre-entry examination as admission criterion; Law Development Centre wrongly joined as party; refusal to disclose scripts lawful; court will not substitute its view for statutory admissions function.
25 September 2018
Court permits holding of an Extraordinary General Meeting amidst quorum challenges due to shareholder's death.
Company law - Impracticability in calling company meetings - Court's power to order meetings - Change in shareholding due to shareholder death.
25 September 2018
Court orders provisional administration to protect Sunshine Agro Products from creditor enforcement and potential liquidation.
Insolvency Law - Provisional Administration - Appointment of Provisional Administrator - Protection of company assets and creditor interests.
25 September 2018
19 September 2018
An appeal filed without required leave was incompetent and struck out; advocate’s affidavit did not breach conduct rules.
Appeal procedure — Order 44 CPR governs appeals as of right; Order 6 r.30 CPR (strike-out) is limited to orders attacking absence of cause of action; appeals filed without required leave are incompetent. Advocates (Professional Conduct) Regulations — Regulation 9 does not bar affidavits limited to legal submissions and record facts.
19 September 2018
Employee continued by conduct; dismissal without statutorily required hearing/proof was unfair, award of damages and costs.
Employment law – employment by conduct and legitimate expectation of renewal – procedural safeguards before dismissal (Employment Act ss.65, 66, 68, 71) – employer's burden to prove reasons for dismissal – unfair termination – remedies: compensation, interest and costs; exemplary damages declined.
17 September 2018
Court orders foreign respondent to deposit security to prevent evasion and ensure satisfaction of potential judgment.
Civil procedure - attachment before judgment - necessity for security deposit in case of potential evasion by foreign respondent.
14 September 2018
Court ordered pre-judgment security after applicant showed reasonable cause that respondents might abscond or dissipate assets.
Civil procedure – Attachment/arrest before judgment – Section 64 Civil Procedure Act and Order 40 CPR – requirement of clear proof of risk of absconding or dissipation of assets – interlocutory security to preserve ends of justice.
14 September 2018
Plaint challenging judicial decision and advocates’ courtroom conduct barred by judicial and advocate immunities; plaint struck out with costs.
Judicial immunity – Article 128(4) and s.46(1) Judicature Act – acts done in exercise of judicial power; Advocate’s immunity – common-law litigation immunity and absolute privilege for statements in judicial proceedings; Pleading standard – whether plaint discloses cause of action; Civil Procedure – Order 7 r.11(d) rejection of plaint barred by law; Remedies – appeal, Judicial Service Commission, contempt, professional disciplinary bodies.
13 September 2018
The Town Clerk lawfully interdicted the applicant; transfer complaints were unfounded or premature and the application dismissed.
* Administrative law – Interdiction – power of Town Clerk under Public Service and Education Service Regulations; not ultra vires. * Interdiction vs suspension – interdiction is precautionary and does not attract full hearing; natural justice engaged at disciplinary stage. * Judicial review – premature intervention avoided where disciplinary process pending and no exceptional prejudice shown. * Transfers and postings – decision must be rational and in public interest; consultation requirement with school bodies held directory not mandatory.
13 September 2018

 

12 September 2018
Discretionary refusal to renew a fixed-term contract based on unsatisfactory appraisals is not subject to judicial review as illegitimate expectation.
Administrative law – Judicial review – Legitimate expectation – Discretionary renewal of fixed-term employment contracts – Procedural fairness – Reliance on performance appraisals and warning letters.
10 September 2018
Claim for ticket refunds dismissed due to inconsistent evidence and ticket terms limiting liability and requiring arbitration.
Contract formation – ticket purchase subject to terms and conditions; arbitration clause and liability exclusions; credibility of witness evidence; improper High Court venue for low-value claim; claim dismissed for failure to prove contract.
7 September 2018
Whether a pre‑Land Act sale was void for lack of spousal consent or vendor insanity.
Civil appeal — amendment of memorandum of appeal — leave required under Order 43 Rule 2; appeal time computation; Land law — spousal consent under s.39(1)(c)(i) Land Act non‑retrospective; capacity to contract — evidence of insanity must be contemporaneous and raised timely; evaluation of credibility and possession evidence.
7 September 2018
Extension of time to appeal granted where applicant promptly acted after learning of ex parte decree; appeal to be filed and fixed promptly.
Civil procedure – Extension of time to appeal – requirement of "good cause"; balancing access to justice and finality of litigation; appeals from ex parte decrees under s.67(1) Civil Procedure Act; mistakes of counsel not necessarily visited on litigant; discretion to grant extension with conditions to expedite finality.
6 September 2018
Court granted extension to file judicial review due to advocate's inadvertent error, imposing strict filing and hearing timetable and awarding costs to respondent.
* Administrative law – judicial review – extension of time under Rule 5(1) – discretionary relief where there is "good reason". * Civil procedure – enlargement of time – mistakes of counsel – distinction between negligence and error of judgment – when negligence should not be visited on litigant. * Balance between access to justice and finality of administrative action – prejudice and arguability as considerations. * Conditions may be imposed when granting extension to protect public administration.
6 September 2018
Court quashed NAADS's decision for excluding applicants from Tea Development MoUs as illegal, unconsulted policy change.
Administrative Law - Judicial Review - Illegality and procedural impropriety - Change in government policy without consultation - Certiorari and Prohibition orders granted.
4 September 2018