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.
14 judgments
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14 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
January 2019

Administrative law—judicial review—professional regulation—retrospective application of rules—discrimination—breach of natural justice—right to fair hearing—locus standi—certiorari—decision of the Law Council quashed

25 January 2019
Absence of eviction procedures threatens rights to life, dignity and property; court ordered the respondent to produce consultative eviction guidelines.
Constitutional and human-rights law – Forced evictions – Absence of comprehensive procedural guidelines for evictions – Threat to rights to life, dignity and property (Arts. 22, 24, 26) – Obligation of State to adopt consultative eviction guidelines and eventual legislation; reference to UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-Based Evictions.
25 January 2019
Absence of eviction procedures threatens rights to life, dignity and property; court orders development of consultative guidelines.
Evictions – absence of procedural guidelines – threat to constitutional rights to life, dignity and property; State duty to respect, protect and fulfil rights; ICESCR declaration disallowed as overbroad; mandatory order for consultative development of eviction guidelines (refer to UN Basic Principles).
25 January 2019
21 January 2019
Reprimand based on a biased, procedurally improper disciplinary process violated natural justice and was quashed.
* Administrative law – judicial review – certiorari to quash disciplinary actions – illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety. * Natural justice – audi alteram partem and nemo judex – denial of hearing and apparent bias by a complaining accounting officer. * Public Service Commission – duty to investigate independently and to hear the affected officer before adopting recommendations. * Evidence – weight of Auditor General and DPP/Police communications in administrative disciplinary proceedings.
18 January 2019
Newspaper publication in widely circulated Kenyan papers can constitute effective substituted service on a foreign Commonwealth company.
* Civil procedure – Service out of jurisdiction – Substituted service vs. service on foreign defendants; Order 5 rr 18, 22, 24, 26 CPR. * Service by advertisement – Regional newspapers (East African, Daily Nation) as effective mode of service on Kenyan/Commonwealth company. * Affidavit requirements – Necessity to show attempts to trace and serve and reasons for substituted/out-of-jurisdiction service.
17 January 2019
Advertisement in widely-circulated Kenyan newspapers constituted effective service on a Kenyan company after leave to serve out of jurisdiction.
Civil procedure – Service out of jurisdiction – Order 5 rule 18 (substituted service) vs. rules for serving foreign Commonwealth nationals – court’s discretion under Order 5 rule 26 to determine mode of service – publication in widely-circulated foreign newspapers as effective service.
17 January 2019
Temporary injunction denied where no strong prima facie case or irreparable harm; balance of convenience favoured respondents.
Civil procedure – extension of time and interim relief; temporary injunction – requirements of prima facie case, irreparable harm and balance of convenience; striking out unnecessary respondent; dismissal of preliminaries lacking prejudice.
15 January 2019
Appellate court set aside an improperly granted divorce where parties had sought judicial separation; marriage restored.
Family law – Judicial separation v divorce – Pleadings and framing of issues – Court cannot grant relief not pleaded without amendment; evidence required under Divorce Act must be corroborated to higher civil standard; DNA evidence proving non-paternity relevant but not alone dispositive; consequential property and custody orders dependent on validity of decree.
14 January 2019
Termination upheld: commissioner must relinquish conflicting public office; Minister’s removal decision was lawful.
Administrative law; judicial review of removal from statutory commission; EOC Act appointment and removal; section 10 prohibition on holding public office; definition of public officer (article 175); NWSC directorship as public office; fair hearing and procedural fairness.
14 January 2019
Civil Procedure
10 January 2019
Appeal dismissed: trial court properly found respondents’ ownership/caretaking and appellants’ trespass; limitation and locus complaints failed.
Land law — trespass and limitation — s.5 Limitation Act; locus in quo procedure and evidential recording; assessment of oral evidence in unregistered land; caretaker/trusteeship of customary land; continuing trespass actionable.
8 January 2019
High Court may execute a Sharia Court decree and order vacant possession where the respondent fails to challenge the judgment.
* Enforcement – Execution of Sharia Court decrees – High Court jurisdiction under Judicature Act s33 and CPA s34 – Recognition of Sharia Courts under Constitution Art.129(1)(d). * Civil procedure – ex parte execution – effect of respondent’s non-appearance and failure to file reply after service. * Reliefs – vacant possession, surrender of certificate of title and delivery of chattels; costs awarded to successful applicants.
7 January 2019
High Court enforces Sharia Court decree granting applicants possession and title documents after respondent’s default.
* Enforcement – Execution of subordinate court (Sharia Court) decrees – High Court jurisdiction under Judicature Act s.33 and CPA s.34. * Civil procedure – Default by respondent after service – ex parte execution appropriate. * Succession/administration – Recognition and enforcement of appointment and property awards by Sharia Court.
7 January 2019