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.
236 judgments
  • Filters
  • Judges
  • Alphabet
Sort by:
236 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
July 2018
Vacant possession granted after execution sale; committal declined to avoid double punishment; deposited proceeds released to respondent.
Civil procedure – execution and vacant possession – entitlement to possession following judgment and execution sale; committal to civil prison for obstructing possession; release of court-deposited sale proceeds; costs of execution proceedings.
12 July 2018
Electoral Commission erred by upholding refusal to nominate for lack of original academic documents; photocopies/verification suffice.
Parliamentary Elections Act – verification of academic qualifications – requirement of originals not prescribed – Electoral Commission responsibility to verify qualifications (timing for by-elections) – photocopies/UNEB verification acceptable – remedy: order to nominate and costs.
11 July 2018
Stay of execution denied where applicants showed no substantial loss, unreasonably delayed appeal filing and provided no security.
Stay of execution – Order 43 Rule 4 CPR – requirements: substantial loss, no unreasonable delay, security for due performance; Section 79 CPA – appeals to be filed within 30 days; delay and lack of security defeat stay application; immovable property considerations.
11 July 2018
Court reduces excessive instruction fees awarded in a taxation review application for contempt of court.
Review of taxation – instruction fees – assessment of reasonable fees – discretion of taxing officer – judicial review of taxation award
11 July 2018

 

11 July 2018
Habeas corpus cannot be used to challenge ongoing military criminal proceedings once the applicant has been produced in court.
Habeas corpus – scope limited to legality of arrest, imprisonment and production; not a vehicle to challenge ongoing criminal prosecutions or trial court jurisdiction; Court Martial jurisdictional objections to be determined by appropriate criminal or constitutional processes.
9 July 2018
Court dismissed a habeas corpus application challenging a civilian's trial in a military court, citing lawful detention procedures.
Constitutional and criminal law – habeas corpus – legality of detention – jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.
9 July 2018
Applicants granted extension and leave to appeal against contempt ruling due to incomplete ruling delivery.
Civil Procedure - Application for extension of time - Leave to appeal - Contempt of court implications on appeal rights.
9 July 2018
2nd respondent found in contempt of court for ignoring judicial order recognizing applicant's leadership role.
Contempt of Court – Recognition of Court Orders – Compliance by governmental bodies and third parties – Accountability and authority in contempt proceedings.
9 July 2018
Court allowed joinder of Attorney General & Uganda Investment Authority for complete settlement of environmental policy dispute.
Civil Procedure - Joinder of defendants - necessity for complete settlement - introduction of new parties permissible.
6 July 2018
High Court granted conditional stay of execution pending appeal, requiring deposit of Shs.20,000,000 as security for costs.
Stay of execution pending appeal; Order 43 CPR – conditions (substantial loss, no unreasonable delay, security); High Court jurisdiction to stay despite possible defect in notice of appeal; security for costs as discretionary condition; preservation of status quo to prevent appeal being rendered nugatory.
6 July 2018
Application to set aside ex parte judgment dismissed as res judicata and abuse of court process.
Civil Procedure - Ex parte judgment - Res judicata - Abuse of court process - Setting aside judgment
2 July 2018
Court ordered a meeting for share allocation after one shareholder's liquidation left a single shareholder unable to conduct it.
Companies Act – Liquidation – Impracticability to convene company meeting – Court ordered meeting to transfer shares
2 July 2018
June 2018
Court orders the release of disputed goods to the applicant subject to indemnity for third-party claims.
Customs law – release of goods – fraudulent consignee claim – indemnity against third-party claims.
29 June 2018
Belated, speculative transfer to seek higher damages dismissed as abuse of process causing prejudice to respondent.
Civil procedure — Withdrawal and transfer of suit — Sections 18 CPA and 218 MCA — discretion of High Court — dominus litis balanced against abuse of process — balance of convenience — belated and speculative claim for increased damages — prejudice to respondent — dismissal with costs.
25 June 2018
Applicant failed to meet statutory grounds to review a four-year-old consent judgment awarding transport allowances; application dismissed with costs.
* Civil procedure – Review of judgment – Section 82 Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 r.1 CPR – grounds: new evidence, error apparent on face of record, other sufficient cause. * Consent judgments – finality and review – delay/laches undermining review applications. * Alleged illegality of consent order – applicant must meet statutory review threshold to obtain relief.
22 June 2018
Applicant failed to establish grounds to review a four-year-old consent judgment awarding transport allowance; application dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure — Review of judgment — section 82 Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 rule 1 CPR — grounds: new evidence, error apparent on face of record, other sufficient cause — Consent judgments — delay/laches in seeking review — legality of awards of allowances under statutory scheme.
22 June 2018

 

22 June 2018
21 June 2018
Court set aside an ex parte summary judgment, applying Shah v Mbogo and ordering the matter to be heard on its merits.
* Civil procedure – summary judgment and setting aside ex parte judgments – discretion to set aside where injustice caused by accident, inadvertence or excusable mistake – Shah v Mbogo applied. * Civil procedure – want of prosecution – non-appearance and invocation of court’s power to strike out. * Procedure – unauthorised supplementary filings – expunged from record.
21 June 2018
20 June 2018
Judicial review dismissed where examination board gave notice and fair hearing before withholding results; each party to bear own costs.
Administrative law – Judicial review – Withholding/cancellation of examination results – Fair hearing and notice – Investigation of examination malpractices – Appropriateness of judicial review to interfere with statutory mandate.
20 June 2018
20 June 2018

 

17 June 2018
Court partially revised a taxed bill, reducing instruction fees, correcting VAT and arithmetic, allowing Shs 4,557,000.
* Advocates Act s.62 – review of taxation of costs – limited judicial interference with taxing officer’s discretion except in exceptional cases * Taxation – instruction fees – reasonableness for an application for leave to appeal * Taxation – copy costs – application of Sixth Schedule regulations to folios and copies * VAT on legal costs – requirement for certificate and correct basis for computation (only on taxable fees) * Taxation – arithmetic/clerical errors in bill of costs necessitating re-taxation
11 June 2018
Whether a judge should disturb a taxing officer’s costs assessment, including instruction fees and VAT computation.
Taxation of costs; judicial restraint in interfering with taxing officer; exception where wrong principle, manifest excess or arithmetic error; instruction fees; VAT limited to instruction fees; Sixth Schedule compliance.
11 June 2018
Court quashes public notice granting exclusive waste collection rights, mandates authorization of private collectors.
Judicial Review – Legality of public notices – Exclusive rights in waste management – Compliance with statutory provisions – Mandamus and certiorari reliefs.
10 June 2018
Compulsory retirement under non‑statutory Guidelines violated public servants' constitutional protections, meriting damages and terminal benefits.
Public service law – compulsory retirement – administrative Guidelines do not have force of law to remove public servants before statutory retirement age – Article 173 protection of tenure – Pensions Act entitlements – District Service Commission as organ of Local Government – remedies: terminal benefits, general and exemplary damages.
6 June 2018
The court granted leave to appeal after determining that applicants were denied a chance to contest an ex parte decision.
Civil Procedure – appeal – leave to appeal – grounds deserving judicial consideration – ex parte decisions – insufficient service of notice.
1 June 2018
Leave to appeal granted where consent judgment was set aside ex parte without service and counsel improperly acted as witness.
* Civil procedure – Leave to appeal – Order 44(2) CPR – grant where prima facie grounds/real prospect of success. * Consent judgments – nature as contract – setting aside and requirement for fair hearing/service. * Ex parte proceedings – effect of lack of service on fairness and right to be heard. * Professional conduct – advocate as witness and advocate – Advocates (Professional Conduct) Regulations (conflict/prohibition). * Equity – approbation and reprobation, attaining ends of justice.
1 June 2018
May 2018
Applicant’s cheque-based claim dismissed; respondent awarded damages for fraud, breach of trust and illegal execution.
Civil procedure – alleged debt by cheques – credibility of parties; breach of trust – theft of cheque leaves; execution and sale – fraud and illegality; remedies – damages, restoration/value and criminal investigation.
31 May 2018
Plaintiff’s cheque claims dismissed; court found theft and fraudulent attachment, awarded damages to defendant and ordered police investigation.
* Civil procedure – misuse of court process – fraudulent attachment and sale – court empowered to restore property or award compensation where sale is riddled with fraud and illegality. * Evidence – assessment of credibility – unsworn/uncorroborated plaintiff evidence versus consistent corroborated defence witnesses. * Trust and fiduciary breach – theft or misuse of company cheque leafs by a person with access during another’s incapacity. * Remedies – damages, costs and criminal investigation where civil acts are linked to alleged fraud.
31 May 2018
31 May 2018
Interlocutory mandatory injunction to seize disputed gaming machines denied where ownership and licensing were contested and balance of convenience favoured respondent.
Civil procedure — Interlocutory mandatory injunction — High threshold of proof; balance of convenience; preservation of assets; adequacy of damages — Licensing under Lotteries and Gaming Act relevant to ownership/possession dispute.
29 May 2018
High Court lacks original jurisdiction to hear judicial review of electoral complaints under Articles 61, 64 and s.15 ECA.
* Constitutional and electoral law – jurisdiction of High Court – Article 61(1)(f) and Article 64(1)–(4) – complaints and appeals against Electoral Commission decisions. * Administrative law – judicial review vs statutory appeal – propriety of remedy where statute prescribes appeal procedure (s.15 Electoral Commission Act). * Civil procedure – preliminary objection – incompetence for failure to follow prescribed constitutional/statutory process.
28 May 2018
Plaintiffs awarded repayment, loss-of-income compensation and general damages for breach/fraud arising from an oral vehicle supply agreement.
Contract — oral agreement to purchase buses — breach where plaintiffs paid but were deprived of value due to defendants' actions; Remedies — repayment of sums paid, compensation for loss of income, general damages, interest and costs; Fraud — false representation/omission found sufficient to justify restitution and damages.
28 May 2018

 

28 May 2018
An appeal cannot be premised on inherent jurisdiction; appellate rights must have statutory basis.
Civil procedure – Appeals – Appellate jurisdiction is statutory; no inherent appellate jurisdiction – Reliance on Section 98 Civil Procedure Act does not create a right of appeal – Appeal incompetent and dismissed with costs.
25 May 2018
A Magistrate Grade One lacked pecuniary jurisdiction because the land dispute exceeded its monetary limit.
Civil procedure – Revision under s.83 CPA – Jurisdictional limits of Magistrate Grade One (s.207 MCA) – Distinction between trespass and recovery of land – Requirement to state value of subject matter in plaint for pecuniary jurisdiction – Territorial jurisdiction of magistrates' courts.
25 May 2018

 

25 May 2018
Alleged phone hacking raised a triable privacy issue but insufficient evidence and public interest defeated interim injunctions.
Interlocutory injunctions — requirements (serious issue to be tried; irreparable harm; balance of convenience); Privacy — alleged unauthorised access to mobile communications; Hearsay inadmissible — media reports not proof of ongoing conduct; Regulatory relief — licence renewal not shown to be nexus to private privacy complaint; Public interest and prejudice to third parties in balance of convenience.
25 May 2018
Whether only employees employed on 15 May 1995 are entitled to reserved shares’ proceeds and related interest.
* Contract interpretation – written share subscription and shareholders agreement – parol evidence rule (Evidence Act ss.91–92) and effect of extrinsic variation by unilateral management decision. * Third-party beneficiary/privity – entitlement of intended beneficiaries to enforce contractual benefits. * Entitlement to proceeds from sale of reserved employee shares – employees employed at date of agreement (15 May 1995) only. * Dividends/payments – treatment of amounts paid into Provident Fund vs proceeds payable to beneficiaries. * Remedies – award of principal sum with interest (8% p.a.), refusal of exemplary damages and additional currency-depreciation interest.
22 May 2018
Court denies injunction request due to lack of ongoing rights violation and favors respondents on balance of convenience.
Civil Procedure - Temporary injunction - Privacy and telecommunication - Risk of irreparable harm - License renewal of telecommunication company
21 May 2018
Appellate court upheld dismissal under O.17 r.4 for failure to prosecute; alleged illness unproven and appeal dismissed.
* Civil Procedure — Order 17 Rule 4 — dismissal for failure to produce evidence; judicial discretion to decide suit immediately when a party fails to adduce evidence. * Leave to appeal — O.44/Civil Procedure — where leave previously granted, separate leave not required in same court. * Sufficient cause — alleged illness or counsel negligence will not excuse non-prosecution where illness is unproved and litigant remains passive. * Appellate review — first appellate court may re-appreciate evidence and assess exercise of trial discretion.
11 May 2018
High Court refuses revision: magistrate acted within jurisdiction; ex parte judgment lawful; applicant failed to prove wrong party.
Civil Procedure – Revision under section 83 CPA – scope limited to jurisdiction, illegality or material irregularity; ex parte proceedings lawful where party or counsel absent without valid reason; lis pendens under section 6 CPA; severance of false portions of affidavits; late submissions expunged.
10 May 2018
3 May 2018
3 May 2018
2 May 2018
Applicant’s special certificate of title procured by implied fraud; title cancelled, counterclaimant awarded damages and costs.
Land law – Registration of Titles Act (ss.70–72) – special certificate of title – issuance only where original/duplicate is lost or destroyed – alleged fraudulent procurement of special certificate; Evidence – burden and standard to prove fraud – fraud may be inferred from illegality and unexplained documentary inconsistencies; Succession – estate rights and letters of administration as defense to post-death transfers; Remedies – cancellation of tainted title, declaratory relief, damages, costs and interest.
2 May 2018
A student may inspect his exam scripts to verify results; court ordered disclosure under its inherent powers.
Examination law – Access to examination scripts – Candidate’s right to inspect handwritten scripts to verify results; Constitutional right to education (Art.30); Civil Procedure Act s.98 – inherent powers to order disclosure; Administrative fairness in examination processes.
2 May 2018