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Citation
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Judgment date
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| October 2025 |
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Challenge to party primary cancellation dismissed as overtaken by events and therefore moot.
Administrative law – Judicial review – amenability and exhaustion of internal remedies; Elections – cancellation and fresh primaries; Mootness – application overtaken by events; Procedural impropriety vs correctness of decision; Party dispute resolution and tribunals' errors.
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22 October 2025 |
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Government may verify beneficiaries of representative judgments to prevent fraud without unlawfully interfering with execution.
Executive verification of beneficiaries; allegations of fraud in representative suits; use of security agencies to verify identities lawful to protect public funds; no interference with execution of court judgments where verification is justified.
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22 October 2025 |
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Habeas corpus dismissed where State denies custody and applicants are treated as missing persons.
Habeas corpus – constitutional non-derogable remedy – burden to produce detainee – returns and searches – absence of custody evidence – missing persons and missing-person investigations.
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22 October 2025 |
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Interdiction of a Head of Department was unlawful and procedurally improper; interdiction quashed, charges quashed, damages awarded.
Judicial review – administrative decision – interdiction of senior public officer – amenability to review; Illegality – disciplinary control and removal of Heads of Department reserved to the President – interdiction by non‑appointing authority ultra vires; Procedural impropriety – failure to give fair hearing, failure to frame charges and consult Solicitor General; Contempt – charging/prosecuting despite interim court order; Remedies – certiorari, prohibitory injunctions, quashing of charges, damages and costs.
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21 October 2025 |
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Contempt application dismissed because the applicant lacked authority to represent the claimants, so merits were not considered.
Contempt of court — elements: lawful order, knowledge, ability to comply, disobedience; Standing/locus — authority to represent multiple claimants in contempt proceedings; Civil procedure — failure to prove representation justifies dismissal without addressing merits.
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21 October 2025 |
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Application for stay of execution dismissed as overtaken by events following taxation reference decision; no costs ordered.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution — Application overtaken by events after taxation reference determination — Dismissal with no costs.
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20 October 2025 |
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Applicant admitted debt and failed to raise a triable issue; leave to defend dismissed and summary judgment entered for the plaintiff.
Summary procedure — Leave to appear and defend — Order 36 rule 3(1) — Bona fide triable issue required — Affidavit sufficiency — Admission of debt — Contractual terms not establishing defence — Entitlement to summary decree on refusal of leave.
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19 October 2025 |
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Stay of execution denied because applicant failed to show a prima facie likelihood of success on appeal.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Requirements under Order 43 r.4 – necessity of pending appeal, likelihood of success, absence of unreasonable delay, and security. Appellate procedure – Likelihood of success as primary consideration – importance of annexing grounds of appeal to enable assessment. Equity – Balance of convenience – protection of successful party’s fruits of judgment and compensability by monetary relief.
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18 October 2025 |
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Judicial review available where a party tribunal rescinded a declaration and re‑tallied votes without affording a fair hearing.
• Judicial review – amenability of political party organs and internal election tribunals; public body status of political parties.
• Administrative law – grounds for review: illegality, irrationality (Wednesbury), and procedural impropriety (natural justice).
• Functus officio – returning officer/district registrar lacks power to rescind a declared result once declared; errors fall to the tribunal.
• Procedural fairness – re‑tallying or verification exercises affecting rights must afford affected candidate opportunity to participate or witness.
• Remedies – certiorari to quash tribunal decision and mandamus to compel issuance of party flag/card.
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17 October 2025 |
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The High Court lacks appellate jurisdiction over UCA Board decisions; the applicant's appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Cooperative Societies Act – Arbitration and appeals – Sections 142 and 144 – Interpretation of "court" – forum for disputes concerning registered societies – appellate jurisdiction as creature of statute – limits of inherent jurisdiction of the High Court – jurisdictional nullity.
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16 October 2025 |
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High Court lacks jurisdiction to stay or suspend a criminal contempt sentence for scandalising the court; remedy is appeal.
Contempt of Court – classification – distinction between civil (remedial) and criminal (punitive) contempt. Scandalising the court – public statements/tweets as criminal contempt capable of undermining public confidence. Procedure and remedies – criminal contempt sentences are fixed and the sentencing court becomes functus officio; remedy lies in appeal. Indirect (not in the face of court) contempt can nonetheless be criminal where it scandalises the judiciary.
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16 October 2025 |
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Temporary injunction granted where society’s council constitutionality and fairness of meetings are in dispute.
Administrative law; injunctions – preservation of status quo pending trial; society governance – constitution of Council under s.9 Uganda Law Society Act; requisitioned meetings – interplay of s.16(1) and s.16(2); natural justice – right to fair hearing in removal/censure; disqualification by sentence – Regulation 15(2)(e).
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16 October 2025 |
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Defendants breached sale and refund agreements; plaintiff awarded UGX 68m refund, UGX 30m damages, interest and costs.
Contract law – land sale – failure to deliver vacant possession – breach of contract and entitlement to rescission and refund. Evidence – burden on plaintiff to prove on balance of probabilities; admission and weight of documentary evidence (PEX1, PEX3, PEX4). Remedies – repayment of purchase price, general damages, interest (commercial and court rates), and costs. Civil procedure – defendants’ non‑attendance and non‑compliance; proceeding ex parte under Order 9 rule 20.
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13 October 2025 |
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Judicial review inappropriate to decide substantive appointment rights; applicant used wrong procedure and application was time‑barred.
Judicial review — amenability — procedural impropriety, illegality and irrationality — supervisory remedy not for determining substantive appointment rights — time‑bar under Judicature (Judicial Review) Rules (three months).
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13 October 2025 |
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Assignment of tenancy without landlord’s prior written consent amounted to trespass; eviction, damages and injunction granted.
Landlord and Tenant — Assignment/subletting — Prior written consent required by tenancy clause; Trespass — unlawful occupation after tenancy expiry; Unauthorized permanent structures — no compensation to trespasser; Remedies — eviction, special and general damages, interest, injunction, costs.
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13 October 2025 |
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Cancellation of title without statutory notice or hearing was procedurally irregular; certiorari and mandamus granted.
Land law; judicial review; procedural fairness and natural justice; Section 88 Land Act notice and hearing requirement; illegality and ultra vires administrative action; certiorari and mandamus as remedies.
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13 October 2025 |
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Court pierced the corporate veil and held directors personally liable for deliberately frustrating execution of a valid judgment.
Company law – Corporate personality – Piercing the corporate veil where company used to frustrate execution of a valid decree or to evade legal obligations. Civil procedure – Execution of decrees – Scope and effect of Section 34(1) Civil Procedure Act; executing court’s powers and when a fresh suit may be entertained. Jurisdiction – Pecuniary limits of Magistrate Grade I; award within jurisdictional limits. Remedies – Personal liability of directors where company is used as instrument to defeat judgment enforcement.
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13 October 2025 |
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Official Receiver exceeded statutory powers by halting liquidation over a disputed, unsubstantiated creditor claim.
Judicial review – administrative law – amenability and scope; Insolvency law – liquidator’s discretion to admit/reject proofs of debt (s.9; Reg.176); limits on Official Receiver’s investigatory powers (s.203; Insolvency (Investigation & Prosecution) Regs) – ultra vires intervention; remedies – certiorari, mandamus, prohibition; damages not ordinarily available in judicial review.
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13 October 2025 |
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No interim injunction where title was lawfully cancelled; no status quo, no prima facie case, and balance of convenience favours respondent.
Land law – Interim injunctions – Status quo – Cancellation of title under Land Act s91 – Judicial review – Prima facie case – Irreparable harm – Balance of convenience – Judicial restraint of statutory functions.
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8 October 2025 |
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Court authorized personal representatives to convene an EGM under s138 to appoint directors and regularize company affairs.
Companies Act s138 — court power to order meetings where it is impracticable to convene under articles; Standing of personal representatives to seek court-ordered meeting; Inherent equitable jurisdiction of High Court to prevent corporate collapse; Adequacy of notice by publication; Relief to appoint directors and regularize company affairs (filing of annual returns).
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8 October 2025 |
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Court granted habeas corpus on reasonable-ground affidavit alleging forcible removal and secret detention.
Habeas corpus — reasonable grounds standard under s.34 Judicature Act — particularised affidavit required; naming state officers; remedy for alleged unlawful or secret detention.
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8 October 2025 |
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Counter claimant entitled to UGX 146,060,000 and UGX 10,000,000 damages for breaches by the 1st and 3rd counter defendants.
Contract – loan agreement – failure to repay and failure to perform payment terms under a memorandum of loan settlement – breach established; Contract – collaboration agreement – unauthorized release of stock held as security – breach established; Remedies – award of principal, general damages, interest (on damages) and costs; No award of interest on principal where criteria for compound interest not met.
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7 October 2025 |
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Interim injunction denied for failure to show imminent threat or irreparable harm from continued office occupancy.
Administrative law — public service appointment and continuation after retirement; Interim injunction — requirements: prima facie case, substantive application, imminent threat/irreparable harm; Public interest and continuity of government services; Balance of convenience — no compelling reason for interim relief.
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2 October 2025 |
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Habeas corpus granted where a police officer alleged unlawful military detention without charge or production to court.
Constitutional law – Habeas corpus – Article 23(9) inviolable; Judicature Act s.38(a) – prerequisites for writ of habeas corpus; Civil procedure – joinder/striking out respondents (Order 1 r.10(2)); Detention without charge or production – deprivation of personal liberty.
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2 October 2025 |
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Contempt application dismissed because applicant failed to prove the respondent had effective knowledge of the court order.
Contempt of court – civil contempt – elements: lawful order; knowledge of order; disobedience – knowledge must be proved clearly and beyond reasonable doubt – non‑party liability – proof of service/notice required.
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2 October 2025 |
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Court granted a limited interim injunction preventing the EC from declaring the party’s executive committee expired, but refused to order nominations.
Electoral law – interim injunction – conditions for interim relief – balance of convenience and public interest under Article 61(2) – party organs and sponsorship of candidates – court’s inherent equitable powers (Section 37 Judicature Act; Section 98 Civil Procedure Act).
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1 October 2025 |
| September 2025 |
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Applicant's claim that respondent's police complaint caused unlawful arrest lacked a cause of action and was dismissed.
Constitutional and civil procedure law — Cause of action — Order 7 Rule 11 — Complainant's liability for arrest/prosecution — Police and DPP discretion — Malicious prosecution/private prosecution principles.
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30 September 2025 |
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Applicant proved breach of contract; awarded unpaid principal, general damages, interest and costs.
Contract law – breach of contract and recovery of unpaid sums; evidential burden in ex parte proceedings – reliance on invoices and bank statements; abandonment of defence by non-attendance (Order 9 Rule 20); damages under s.67(7) Contracts Act; award of interest and costs.
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26 September 2025 |
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Court ordered register rectification, transmission of deceased member's shares to the applicant, and reversion of missing shares to company.
Companies Act s.121 – rectification of members' register – death as sufficient cause for removal; Transmission of shares to legal personal representative – Succession Act s.176 and company articles; Reversion of missing shareholders' shares to company to be held in trust; Registrar of Companies directed to effect rectification; Court intervention where absence of directors/members prevents normal transfer mechanisms.
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24 September 2025 |
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A prima facie judicial‑review case does not justify a mandatory interlocutory injunction when compliance is impractical and damages are adequate.
Civil procedure – Temporary mandatory (interlocutory) injunctions – extraordinary discretionary remedy – requirements: prima facie case, irreparable injury, balance of convenience, and compliance capability. Administrative law – Judicial review – effect of pending review on election/nomination processes and availability of interlocutory relief. Electoral law – party nomination/denomination and verification of candidates’ eligibility based on national identification records. Natural justice – complaint of denial of hearing before alteration of biodata.
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18 September 2025 |
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Interim injunction denied for failure to prove irreparable harm and because balance of convenience favored current SACCO management.
Civil procedure – Temporary injunction – Tests: prima facie case; irreparable injury; balance of convenience; status quo to be preserved – Judicial review – process versus merits – Cooperative Societies governance and interim relief – Jurisdiction/arbitration issues reserved for main suit.
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17 September 2025 |
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Application to strike out suit dismissed: timely amended plaint cured lack of written authority and discloses a cause of action.
Civil procedure – sufficiency of plaint to disclose a cause of action; amendment of plaint under Order 6 r20; written authority for next friend under Order 32 r1; competence of suit involving a minor; whether amendment cures procedural defects.
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15 September 2025 |
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Court varied a consent order to replace land‑title security with a 30‑day deposit of the decretal sum, subject to conditions.
Civil procedure – Variation of consent order – Substitution of immovable property security with deposit of decretal sum. Security for due performance – Encumbrance removal conditioned on receipt of decretal sum. Public interest and urgency – land acquisition for relocation of landslide‑prone communities. Costs – applicants to bear application and encumbrance removal/restoration costs if non‑compliant.
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15 September 2025 |
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Temporary injunction granted to restrain respondent from publishing alleged defamatory statements against the applicant pending trial.
Defamation – interlocutory relief – temporary injunction to restrain further publications pending trial Requirements for temporary injunction – status quo, prima facie case, irreparable injury, balance of convenience Freedom of expression (Art.29) vs protection of reputation – limitation under Art.43 Non-appearance/reply by respondent treated as implicit admission
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12 September 2025 |
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A Ministry Rewards & Sanctions Committee hearing and recommendation can lawfully support the Education Service Commission’s dismissal of an education officer.
Administrative law – judicial review – amenability of public bodies; Public service discipline – Rewards & Sanctions Committee authority; Education Service Commission Regulations (2012) – Regulation 28 & 34 – Commission may act on Ministry recommendations; Natural justice – fair hearing satisfied by Ministry committee hearing when Commission properly considers recommendation.
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12 September 2025 |
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Court grants temporary injunction restraining reallocation of market property pending resolution of ownership dispute.
Civil Procedure — Temporary injunction — Requirements for grant — Prima facie case with probability of success — Irreparable harm — Balance of convenience — Procedural irregularity — Authority to depone affidavit on behalf of multiple applicants.
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10 September 2025 |
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High Court granted habeas corpus to test lawfulness of private rehabilitation confinement despite spousal sponsorship and asserted statutory compliance.
Habeas corpus – detention in private rehabilitation facility – lawfulness of confinement – spousal sponsorship and consent – safeguards under the Mental Health Act – High Court jurisdiction to assess liberty and order production for independent assessment.
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9 September 2025 |
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Court set aside manifestly low taxed instruction fee and recomputed it under the Advocates' remuneration regulations.
Advocates (Remuneration and Taxation of Costs) Regulations – Sixth Schedule – computation of instruction fees where subject-matter exceeds UGX 100,000,000; Taxation of costs – manifestly low awards and error of principle; Taxing Master’s discretion – must be exercised judicially; Unchallenged affidavit – failure to file reply and evidential effect; Remedy – setting aside and re-computation of taxed fees.
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8 September 2025 |
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Limitation periods for contract or employment disputes do not bar proceedings challenging compulsory public interest retirement under public service law.
Employment law – Public service – Compulsory retirement in public interest – Applicability of limitation periods – Statutory versus contractual claims – Judicial discretion to prioritize substantive justice over technicalities.
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8 September 2025 |
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The court ordered the production of the applicant, suspected of military detention, by issuing a writ of habeas corpus.
Habeas corpus – unlawful detention – personal liberty – remedy for unlawful arrest or detention – military custody – requirement to produce detainee before court under constitutional protections.
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5 September 2025 |
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Court suspends new outdoor advertising rates, finding them irrational, but upholds local authority’s power to impose fees by ordinance.
Administrative law — Judicial review — Local government powers — Taxes and fees — Distinction between taxes and fees — Lawful authority to impose outdoor advertising fees by ordinance — Procedural fairness — Rationality of administrative action — Excessive and irrational fee increases — Suspension of implementation pending review.
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4 September 2025 |
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Court set aside orders for pension and gratuity where the decree awarded relief not granted in the operative judgment.
Civil procedure – Review – Error apparent on the face of the record – Decree including reliefs not granted in the judgment – Effect of prior ex parte judgment being set aside – Proper extraction of decrees and subsequent execution proceedings.
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3 September 2025 |
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Application for contempt and mandamus dismissed for lack of proof of intentional disobedience and absence of verified claims.
Civil procedure – Contempt of court – Elements of contempt – Mandamus – Prerequisites for writ of mandamus – Impossibility of performance as a defense – Consent judgments and duty of verification.
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3 September 2025 |
| August 2025 |
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Court dismissed judicial review of party tribunal retally, finding the tribunal acted within its regulatory powers and accorded a fair hearing.
Judicial review — political party tribunal decisions — amenability; exhaustion of remedies where tribunal decisions are final; natural justice — right to fair hearing and participation; NRM Election Regulations 2025 — power to order retally and rely on Declaration of Results (DR) forms; grounds of judicial review — illegality, irrationality, procedural impropriety.
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29 August 2025 |
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Leave to appeal a preliminary ruling was denied where no substantial legal question was demonstrated, enabling the main suit to proceed.
Civil procedure – Leave to appeal – Interlocutory orders – Preliminary objection – Cause of action – Corporate separateness – Requirements for grant of leave – Factual versus legal issues – Abuse of process and delay – Magistrates Court Act, Civil Procedure Act, and case law considered.
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28 August 2025 |
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Court amended a prior order to correct an omitted part of a company's name due to a clerical error.
Civil Procedure – correction of errors – amendment of court order to insert omitted part of company name – powers of court to correct clerical errors – Companies Act – proper procedure for correction – effect of clerical mistake in court process.
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28 August 2025 |
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Court struck out suit for non-appearance, lack of authority to sue for party, and no disclosed cause of action.
Civil procedure — striking out for non-appearance (Order 17 r 4); Locus standi — authority to sue on behalf of a registered political party; Representative order required (Order 1 r 8); Intellectual property — absence of trademark/registration defeats claim to exclusive use of a symbol; Corporate personality — individual leaders not personally liable for acts of separate corporate entities; Regulatory jurisdiction — political party identity disputes generally within Electoral Commission remit.
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27 August 2025 |
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A public officer’s second interdiction following new criminal charges is lawful under the Public Service Regulations and Standing Orders.
Administrative law – Judicial review – Interdiction of public officers – Lawfulness and procedural requirements of interdiction upon criminal charges – Whether a public officer may be interdicted a second time following new charges – No requirement for hearing before interdiction – Regulation 38 of the Public Service Commission Regulations and Public Service Standing Orders considered.
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27 August 2025 |
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A Grade I magistrate's decision rendered beyond its pecuniary jurisdiction is a nullity and is set aside; costs denied.
Civil procedure – Pecuniary jurisdiction – Magistrate Grade I limit – Section 207(1)(b) Magistrates' Courts Act. Jurisdictional defect – Judgment made without jurisdiction is a nullity and not curable by revision. Revisionary powers/inherent jurisdiction – cannot confer jurisdiction where statute denies it; distinguishable from cases of excessive awards. Costs – denied where application raised tactical forum-shopping based on known jurisdictional defect.
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27 August 2025 |
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The operator of a fuel station was held strictly liable for injuries caused by escaped fuel, but damages were substantially discounted for exaggerated claims.
Tort – liability for injury – strict liability – Rylands v Fletcher – inherently dangerous substance – escape – contributory negligence – damages – personal injuries – assessment of damages.
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25 August 2025 |