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
September 2020
Court refused interlocutory injunction in defamation suit, finding possible defences and enforceability concerns precluded prior restraint.
Defamation – interlocutory injunctions – extraordinary remedy granted only in the clearest of cases where statements are unarguably libelous and no defence could possibly apply. Defamation – defences – justification/truth and documentary evidence may preclude pre-trial restraints. Civil procedure – discretion to grant injunction – requirement to show irreparable harm and intention to repeat publication. Jurisdiction/enforceability – limitations on enforcing foreign libel orders in the United States (SPEECH Act) relevant to practical relief.
28 September 2020
Occupier liable for visitor’s injury caused by uncovered manhole; proved medical expenses and modest general damages awarded.
Occupiers’ liability – duty of care to lawful visitors – liability for injuries from uncovered manhole, inadequate lighting and absence of warnings; proof of special damages must be specific and strictly proved.
28 September 2020
A Minister’s statutory instrument was quashed for failing to consult stakeholders and exceeding delegated powers under the Electricity Act.
Administrative law – delegated legislation – judicial review of statutory instruments for illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety. Public participation – statutory and legitimate expectation to consult under s.62 Electricity Act and Article 8A/Principle X. Ultra vires – inconsistency with parent Act and approved Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan. Procedure – failure to follow Cabinet/ Public Service Standing Orders when making statutory instrument. Governance – board composition, accountability and Public Finance Management implications.
25 September 2020
23 September 2020
Employees failed to prove entitlement to additional termination benefits; suit dismissed with no order as to costs.
Employment law – employer-employee relationship; termination benefits and severance; entitlement to accrued leave; conditional salary increments under collective agreement; workwear and payment in lieu; workers' compensation procedure and proof; NSSF contribution enforcement.
18 September 2020
Applicants failed to prove entitlement to additional retirement-related benefits; suit dismissed for lack of proof.
Employment law – employer–employee relationship – statutory severance and terminal benefits under Employment Act 2006; leave and leave pay – proof of application and employer denial; repatriation provisions; workers’ compensation – necessity of medical proof and statutory procedure; NSSF remittance disputes – for NSSF to pursue.
18 September 2020
Whether a written MOU was varied by conduct and whether the plaintiff proved unpaid entitlements; suit dismissed.
Contract variation – written MOU varied by subsequent conduct, emails and payment vouchers – validity under section 67 Contracts Act. Parol evidence rule – limits on extrinsic evidence to add, vary or contradict a written instrument and its exceptions. Standard of proof on civil balance of probabilities when evaluating contract variation and allegations of breach. Proof of statutory remittances (PAYE/NSSF) and evidential weight of account-holder’s conduct and documents.
18 September 2020
Cancellation of the applicant’s advertising licence without a hearing breached contract and legitimate expectation; respondent liable, damages awarded.
Contract/licence – permission to advertise on public service vehicles; Administrative law – revocation of licence, legitimate expectation and fair hearing; Vicarious liability of the State for acts of licensing authority and police; Remedies – special and general damages, interest, costs; Injunction refused where no subsisting licence.
18 September 2020
Court dismissed employment and malicious prosecution claims, finding procedural fairness, reasonable suspicion, and no malice; costs to defendants.
Employment law – jurisdiction between Labour Officer and High Court; unfair dismissal – procedural fairness and reasonable suspicion based on police investigation; limitation – Labour Officer time limits not automatically binding on High Court proceedings; tort – malicious prosecution requires absence of reasonable cause and presence of malice; withdrawal of prosecution may constitute termination in favour of accused.
18 September 2020
Employees entitled to unpaid overtime and unpaid weekly rest day; other leave claims not proved; lost documents and res judicata not fatal.
Employment law – unpaid overtime and shift work – entitlement where hours exceed statutory limits; Employment law – weekly rest day – pay entitlement where rest day withheld despite salary-like payment; Discovery procedure – failure to formally tender documents and retain duplicates does not automatically vitiate trial; Res judicata – prior labour officer award limited to specific issues does not bar fresh suit on other employment claims; Evidence – burden to prove payment or entitlement lies on party asserting it; Leave claims – requirement for documentary proof (leave applications, medical certificates) to succeed.
18 September 2020
Disconnection unlawful without proof of meter tampering; respondent failed to justify claimed bill; applicant awarded general damages.
Electricity supply — unlawful disconnection — absence of evidence of meter tampering where meter and keys were under supplier control; Billing — estimation of unregistered consumption — supplier must explain computation; Damages — special damages require precise proof; general damages for loss of use; interest and costs awarded.
18 September 2020
Review application against order freezing and reallocating account funds dismissed for lack of aggrieved status and insufficient grounds.
• Civil procedure – Review under s.82 Civil Procedure Act and O.46 r.1 CPR – requirements: person aggrieved, new evidence, error apparent on face of record or other sufficient reason. • Definition of "person aggrieved" – legal grievance required; wrongful deprivation or affectation of title. • Evidence and interlocutory findings – memorandum of understanding and prior rulings establishing affiliation to Ponzi scheme justify freezing of accounts and compensation orders. • Company law – lifting corporate veil where shareholder affiliation to fraudulent scheme is shown. • Anti‑Money Laundering Act – accountable persons’ due diligence and tracing suspicious transactions.
18 September 2020
Applicant’s judicial review dismissed: NEC lawfully halted and re‑ran grassroots party elections; internal remedies not exhausted.
Administrative law – judicial review of internal party decisions; exhaustion of internal remedies under Rule 7A; party NEC powers to supervise and take over grassroots elections; procedural fairness and COVID‑19 related filing delays.
18 September 2020
An applicant seeking to restrain police investigations must show a prima facie case; courts avoid injunctions against public authorities.
Civil procedure – Temporary injunctions – Applicant must show prima facie case, balance of convenience and probability of success; courts cautious about injunctions against public authorities. Constitutional law – Police investigatory functions under Article 212 – public interest in prevention and detection of crime. Evidence – Affidavit must disclose material facts and evidence to justify interim relief.
14 September 2020