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.
28 judgments
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28 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2024
Dismissal without a hearing was illegal; certiorari granted and salary arrears ordered, but reinstatement and damages denied.
Administrative law – Judicial review – amenability of police disciplinary decisions – procedural impropriety and natural justice – certiorari to quash unlawful dismissal – mandamus and requisites – entitlement to pension/gratuity under Pensions Act – damages not awarded in judicial review without separate suit.
31 October 2024

Res judicata – contractual dispute – tort of detinue – wrongful retention of property – fraud and misrepresentation – limitation of actions – recovery of equipment and materials – dismissal with costs

31 October 2024
Claim for commercial rent arrears dismissed for unreliable evidence; non‑existent defendant struck out; corporate veil not pierced.
Commercial rent – proof of arrears – credibility and material contradictions in evidence; Misnomer – suit against non‑existent party struck out; Company law – lifting corporate veil – requires fraud/dishonesty or statutory grounds; Unchallenged evidence must be cogent and credible to support judgment.
31 October 2024

Judicial review – NSSF Select Committee Report – illegality – procedural impropriety – employment termination & prosecution directives – abuse of oversight power

31 October 2024
Employee injured while chasing a student found contributorily negligent; employer not liable; wedding car held to be a valid gift, return or compensation ordered.
* Employment law – scope of employment – whether an employee chasing a student was acting in the course of employment and employer liability; * Negligence – contributory negligence where employee voluntarily undertakes risky conduct; * Vicarious liability vs. workers’ compensation – appropriateness for employee personal injury claims; * Gifts – requirements for valid gift: intention, delivery and acceptance; * Remedies – restitution of gifted property or alternative compensation; costs apportionment.
31 October 2024
Duplicative suit splitting a cause of action was dismissed as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court process.
Civil procedure – abuse of process – splitting cause of action and duplicative suits; Cause of action – requirement to show operative facts and liability; Civil Procedure Act s.6 – pendency of earlier suit; Relief – dismissal with costs where proceedings are frivolous and vexatious.
25 October 2024

Applicability of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 2022 – expiry and non-renewal of fixed-term tenancy – beneficiaries' right to protect estate – enforcement of tenancy post-lessor's death – interpretation of termination and renewal clauses – automatic termination by effluxion of time – dismissal of appeal for lack of merit – tenant’s abuse of court process.

25 October 2024

Application to reopen case – new evidence – architectural plans – discretion of court to reopen closed cases – relevance and materiality of new evidence – exercise of due diligence – prevention of miscarriage of justice – impact on respondent’s rights – costs in the cause.

25 October 2024

Human Rights Enforcement – right to education – tortious claims vs. constitutional redress – exhaustion of internal remedies – abuse of court process – judicial restraint in university administration – procedural compliance – dismissal with costs.

25 October 2024

Execution of decree – limitation period – section 35 of the Civil Procedure Act – final vs. preliminary decree – pension dispute – stale claims – time-barred execution – Registrar’s orders upheld – application dismissed.

25 October 2024

Human Rights – negligence – Article 50 enforcement – public Interest litigation – mootness doctrine – abuse of process – defective products allegations – the distinction between tort and human rights claims – the role of statutory authorities – procedural requirements – dismissal for lack of cause of action.

24 October 2024

 

24 October 2024

Human Rights Violations – Torture – Arbitrary Arrest – Incommunicado Detention – Personal Liberty – Privacy – Freedom of Expression – Exemplary Damages – General Damages – Compliance with the Constitution

23 October 2024

 

21 October 2024
A registered proprietor without possession cannot succeed in trespass where the respondent holds possession through acquired bibanja.
Land law – possession and trespass – requirement that plaintiff be in possession to maintain trespass; Land Act protections for bibanja/lawful occupants; validity of title – effect of transfer formalities and company seals; impeachment of certificate of title for alleged fraud; evidentiary assessment of long occupation and adverse possession-related interests.
18 October 2024

 

17 October 2024

 

16 October 2024
Stay of execution granted pending appeal where appeals were arguable, execution threatened substantial loss, and existing security sufficed.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution under Order 22 rr.23 & 26 CPR – Test for stay: non-frivolous appeal with realistic prospects, imminent execution causing substantial loss, prompt application, and security for due performance – Court may accept existing security in related proceedings.
16 October 2024
Appellant’s late appeal admitted for good cause; negligence and special damages were properly proved and judgment upheld.
Civil procedure – timeliness of appeal – section 79 CPA – appellate discretion to admit late appeals for good cause; Tort – negligence – duty, breach (blocking of water channel) and causation; Evidence – circumstantial evidence admissible to prove wrongful act; Locus in quo – court may conduct visit and proceed ex parte when served party absent; Damages – special damages must be pleaded and proved but may be established by documents and cogent oral evidence.
15 October 2024

Breach of contract – mistaken admission of student – negligence in advising on academic and graduation requirements – void contract due to fundamental mistake – failure to clear student for graduation – university’s duty of care – award of special, general, and exemplary damages with costs and interest.

14 October 2024
High Court set aside magistrate’s orders as the matter exceeded the Grade I Magistrate’s UGX20,000,000 pecuniary jurisdiction.
* Revision — High Court powers under Section 83 CPA to call for and revise magistrates’ records; * Pecuniary jurisdiction — Magistrates Grade I limited to UGX 20,000,000; * Orders appointing personal representative and granting access to bank funds involve estate value and determine jurisdiction; * Proceeding without statutory jurisdiction is a nullity; * Factual merits of capacity findings are matters for appeal, not revision.
11 October 2024

 

11 October 2024
Court dismissed suit: seizure and disposal lawful, plaintiffs’ evidence discredited, no cause disclosed against URA.
Administrative law – seizure and disposal of goods under statutory Fisheries law; Civil procedure – plaint failing to disclose cause of action; Evidence – assessment of credibility where witness statements conflict; Customs/Transit – applicability of domestic fisheries regulations to goods detected as contraband while in transit; Abuse of process – frivolous and vexatious litigation.
11 October 2024
KCCA officers immune under statute; failure to include demarcated parishes in PDM not proved to be contempt.
* Administrative law – statutory immunity – section 81 KCCA Act shields staff and persons acting under Authority from personal civil liability for acts done in good faith. * Contempt of court – elements: existence of clear lawful order, notice, ability to comply, and failure to comply; burden shifts on willfulness/mala fides once order, service and non‑compliance shown. * Separation of functions – creation of administrative units and PDM allocation implementation lie with Minister/Ministry of Local Government, limiting KCCA officers’ mandate.
11 October 2024
Transfers made during a romantic relationship were not proven as investments or trust property; claim dismissed and each party bears own costs.
* Trusts – resulting and constructive trusts – requirement of specific property and clear intention to create trust; equity will not infer constructive trust absent sufficient evidence * Contract – oral agreements for significant sums require proof of terms and consideration; caution against converting personal/romantic conduct into commercial obligations * Gifts versus investments – transfers in intimate relationships may be deemed gifts absent clear contrary evidence * Mobile money transfers – evidentiary weight and need for corroboration * Costs – court exercised discretion to order each party to bear own costs given circumstances
11 October 2024

 

7 October 2024
Appellant declared winner after rival’s nomination invalidated for false oath and campaign bursaries deemed illegal inducement.
* Election law – nomination – Form EC7 – false statements under oath – invalid nomination and disqualification. * Election law – illegal practices – inducement/bribery – use of bursary scheme during campaign. * Civil procedure – court’s discretion to admit late filings/security for costs – waiver and miscarriage of justice. * Trial procedure – framing of issues – duty to afford parties opportunity to address issues; abandoned affidavits not evidence.
4 October 2024
Failure to conduct and document required detailed bid evaluation renders awards and contracts unlawful.
* Public Procurement – Evaluation procedures – Mandatory sequential stages (preliminary, detailed, financial) – requirement for Form 14 evaluation report and annexed minutes. * Administrative law – Appeal from PPDA Tribunal – scope limited to questions of law but includes misapplication of law to facts. * Remedies – setting aside awards and contracts where mandatory evaluation documentation is absent; refund of fees with interest and costs.
4 October 2024