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.
13 judgments
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13 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
March 2024
Consent judgments may be reviewed for error apparent on the record to include verifiable omitted beneficiaries, but non‑parties cannot be added.
Civil procedure – Review of consent judgment – Consent decrees amenable to review for mistake, illegality or ignorance of material facts – Order 46 CPR and Section 82 CPA – Verification of claimant entitlement required before inclusion – Non‑parties cannot be added by review.
28 March 2024
A genuine factual dispute over whether the alleged loan was paid created triable issues; unconditional leave to defend was granted.
Civil procedure – summary suit – Order 36 r.4 – leave to appear and defend – bona fide triable issue; Affidavits – commissioning – virtual appearance valid under ICT practice directions; Evidence – dispute over payment; parole evidence rule and admissibility of oral evidence to impeach written agreement.
28 March 2024
Applicant's amicus application dismissed for lack of impartiality and absence of novel legal contribution.
Amicus curiae — discretionary admission; requirements: neutrality and impartiality; must offer specialised expertise or novel legal points that assist the court; should not introduce new evidence; intervention must serve public justice.
25 March 2024
Cheque issued as security may be recalled; no landlord–tenant relationship established, appeal dismissed with costs.
Bills of exchange/cheques – conditional vs unconditional payments – issuance of a cheque as security; landlord–tenant relationship – proof of tenancy and subletting; recall/cancellation of cheque where no value or condition communicated to bank; appellate review – re-evaluation of evidence and witness demeanour.
15 March 2024
Mandamus denied because a Court of Appeal stay and disputed representation prevent enforcement of the taxed costs.
* Administrative law – Mandamus – requisites: clear right, corresponding duty, omission, and lack of adequate alternative remedy. * Civil procedure – Effect of appellate proceedings – subsisting stay of execution from Court of Appeal bars enforcement of orders in lower court. * Costs – enforcement of taxed bill of costs under Certificate of Order – entitlements contested where representation/instructions disputed. * Locus standi & propriety – bringing enforcement in the names of judgment creditors; opposing deponents’ interest to resist execution.
15 March 2024
An informer must prove a causal nexus between provided information and recovered tax to claim the 10% reward.
* Tax law – informer rewards – s.8 Finance Act 2014 – entitlement to 10% contingent on information leading to recovery * Requirement of direct evidence of causal nexus between information supplied and tax recovered * Burden of proof on claimant informer; risk of awarding rewards for routine or independently-initiated recoveries * Reliance on precedents requiring strict proof (Matagala; KB Serial)
13 March 2024
Applicant unlawfully detained and tortured in ISO safe houses; court awarded compensatory and exemplary damages, interest and costs.
Constitutional law — unlawful arrest and detention in non‑gazetted safe houses — torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment — Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act — vicarious and personal liability of the State and its agents — award of general and exemplary damages, interest and costs.
13 March 2024
Court issued mandamus directing treasury to pay approved pension arrears, interest and costs; denied two‑counsel certificate.
Judgment enforcement – consequential orders and mandamus – enforcement of computed pension arrears following prior court determinations; requirement of prior demand and clear legal right; refusal of certificate for two counsel where necessity not shown.
12 March 2024
Court dismissed company petition as incompetent due to an enforceable settlement, finding Companies Act relief not time‑barred.
Companies Act – minority/member protection and remedies; Limitation Act not applicable to company petitions; settlement, approbation and reprobation/estoppel; enforcement of settlement; competence of petition where prior settlement exists.
11 March 2024
Applicant failed to show real risk of respondents absconding; security under s64/Order 40 refused.
Attachment before judgment; security for appearance under section 64 CPA and Order 40 CPR; requirement of real evidence of intention to abscond or dispose of assets; effect of pending criminal proceedings and retention of travel documents on restraint of movement.
11 March 2024
A procuring entity may lawfully cancel procurement before award; a tribunal cannot force continuation and costs are discretionary.
Public procurement — Cancellation of procurement under section 75(1) PPDA Amendment Act 2021 — Tribunal review powers under sections 91I and 91K — Freedom of contract prevents compelling continuation of procurement — Costs discretionary.
4 March 2024
Application alleging police officers’ right to decent housing breached dismissed for insufficient evidence; State’s progressive measures deemed reasonable.
Socio-economic rights – access to adequate housing – justiciability and progressive realisation; minimum core content and reasonableness standard; available-resources doctrine; State obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil housing rights; burden of adducing specific, verifiable evidence; interpretation of police standing orders in context of resource constraints.
1 March 2024
Applicant failed to prove the state unreasonably breached police officers' right to decent housing; application dismissed.
Human rights – Socio-economic rights – Right to adequate housing – Justiciability; Minimum core content and progressive realisation; Reasonableness standard; State obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil; Police standing orders and available-resources doctrine; Evidential burden for public-interest socio-economic claims.
1 March 2024