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
November 2024

Freedom from torture—privacy violations—equality and non-discrimination—articles 24, 27, 44(a), and 21(1) of the Constitution—arrest during Covid-19—personal liability—vicarious liability—general damages—punitive damages—interest—costs.

22 November 2024

Advocates' fees—Advocate-Client relationship—professional conduct—fee agreements—taxation of costs—remuneration regulations—reasonableness of fees—execution of decretal awards—client instructions—judicial oversight—legal services without advance fees—discretionary powers—advocate misconduct

20 November 2024

 

20 November 2024

Procurement law—review application—errors on record—procurement irregularities—breach of procurement laws—nullification of procurement process—fresh procurement directive—costs awarded.

20 November 2024

 

20 November 2024
Alleged torture and unlawful arrest unproven; no human-rights violation found and application dismissed.
Criminal procedure and human rights – alleged unlawful arrest and detention – torture claims require strict evidential proof; detention within 48 hours and at authorised station does not amount to human-rights violation; vicarious liability issues do not arise where no primary violation proven.
20 November 2024

Religious disputes—church autonomy—ministerial exception—religious question doctrine—ecclesiastical jurisdiction—fair hearing—justiciability—provincial constitution—exhaustion of internal remedies—judicial oversight—civil Court limits

20 November 2024
Exploration licence confers exclusive exploration rights; road works excavating minerals required compensation to the licensee.
Mining law – exploration licence confers exclusive exploration rights; minerals vest in Government but interference with exploration rights attracts compensation; Land Acquisition Act s.13 applies only after an award; limitation – cause of action and timing may depend on governmental advice/communications; remedies – proven special damages and general damages; constitutional protection of property (Art.26).
13 November 2024

Human rights—freedom from torture and inhuman treatment—freedom of press and media—assault on journalists—vicarious liability of government—compensation and general damages—public apology and non-repetition guarantees

13 November 2024
Discovery application dismissed as premature where applicant failed to show documents exist or are in respondent's custody.
Civil procedure – Discovery – Order 10 r.12 CPR and s.22 CPA – prerequisites for discovery: existence, relevance, possession – refusal where application is a fishing expedition or premature pending establishment of claim.
8 November 2024
Applicant failed to show sufficient cause to reinstate a suit dismissed for want of prosecution; application dismissed with costs.
Reinstatement of dismissed suit – dismissal for want of prosecution – sufficient cause – counsel’s negligence or absence – compliance with filing directions – Section 98 Civil Procedure Act; Order 9 r.23 Civil Procedure Rules – judicial discretion and docket management.
8 November 2024
Reliance on ECCMIS did not establish sufficient cause to reinstate a suit dismissed for failure to serve proper summons.
* Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – setting aside dismissal – sufficient cause required * Service of process – absence of affidavit of service – consequence of unserved summons (Order 9 r.19) * Government proceedings – summons must allow not less than 30 days under Government Proceedings (Civil Procedure) Rules * Electronic case management (ECCMIS) – reliance on notifications insufficient without due diligence
8 November 2024

Administrative law—judicial review—political party governance—extension of office terms—internal dispute resolution—non-justiciable political questions—premature suit—necessary parties—abuse of process—costs

8 November 2024
A council’s resolution attempting to rescind a freehold title and halt school redevelopment was ultra vires, irrational and procedurally unfair.
Administrative law – ultra vires acts; land law – limits on power to cancel title; judicial review – illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety; entitlement to certiorari and restitution of funds.
8 November 2024
Interlocutory Registrar rulings are not immediately appealable, and unexplained late appeals constitute abuse of process.
* Companies Act – Right of appeal – Section 173(3) – appeal lies against final determinations, not interlocutory rulings. * Civil Procedure Act – Limitation of appeals – Section 79(1)– appeals from registrar’s orders must be timely; section 79(2) on exclusion of time for making copies requires proof. * Civil procedure – interlocutory orders – not separately appealable; may be reviewed with final decision. * Civil procedure – abuse of process – unexplained delay in filing appeal may render appeal incompetent and abusive. * Administrative/Registrar practice – registrar should not suspend hearings solely because counsel threatens appeal.
8 November 2024
Court reduced manifestly excessive instruction fees in election-petition taxation, adjusting awards to reasonable levels.
* Taxation of costs – instruction fees in election petitions – application of sixth schedule (Regs. 6 and 9) to Advocates (Remuneration and Taxation of Costs) Regulations 2018 – interference with taxing officer only in exceptional cases where award is manifestly excessive or wrong in principle. * Factors: nature, importance, complexity, novelty, place, time expended, public interest and prevailing economics. * Election petition remuneration balanced against public interest not to deter candidates.
6 November 2024
Execution-related disputes between decree parties must be decided by the executing court; suit dismissed as to those defendants.
Civil Procedure Act s.34(1) – execution-related questions must be determined by executing court; Execution law – scope of forum for disputes arising from execution; Separate actions – limited exception permitting separate suits against court bailiffs/third parties; Abuse of process – repeat litigation discouraged; Costs – each party to bear own costs.
6 November 2024

Judicial review – University Tribunal decision – temporary injunctions – public body decisions – procedural irregularities – balance of convenience – University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Section 57(2) – judicial discretion – case consolidation – injunctive relief

1 November 2024