HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

The Criminal Division is Responsible for hearing all serious criminal offences referred to it by the Magistrates' Courts. According to the Principal Judge's Circular, except for Commercial Court Judges who must attend to only Commercial Court cases, the rest of the Judges of the High Court who are based in Kampala are members of the Criminal Division irrespective of the other Divisions of the High Court that they belong to.

Each of the above judges is supposed to do, at least, one High Court Criminal Session in a year at Kampala

Physical address
High Court Building at Plot 2, the Square.
4 judgments
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4 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 2020
Jurisdiction—cyber Harassment—digital footprint evidence—fair trial rights—non-derogable rights violation—witness summons compliance—visual-audio link procedure—constitutional interpretation of fair trial provisions—burden of proof in criminal appeals—application of Section 11(2) Human Rights Enforcement Act
20 February 2020
Appellate court set aside both conviction and acquittal after finding the trial court lacked jurisdiction under the Computer Misuse Act.
Computer Misuse Act (2011) – Cyber Harassment (s.24) and Offensive Communications (s.25) – elements: wilful and repeated electronic communication and disturbance of peace/ privacy with no legitimate purpose. Burden and standard of proof – prosecution must prove every ingredient beyond reasonable doubt
Jurisdiction – lack of trial court jurisdiction vitiates proceedings and may require setting aside convictions and acquittals. Appellate review – duty to re‑evaluate evidence but constrained by jurisdictional and procedural defects
20 February 2020
17 February 2020
17 February 2020