HC: International Crimes Division (Uganda)

The International Crimes Division is a special Division of High Court of Uganda which was established in July 2008. Hon. Justice James Ogoola a Principal Judge of the High Court as he then was pursuant to Article 141 of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 established War Crimes Division (now THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMES DIVISION OF THE HIGH COURT).

Considering the civil wars and a series of other internal conflicts, which Uganda has experienced in the recent past, it decided to establish the ICD to try the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity including commanders of the LRA and other rebel groups.

Physical address
Plot 8 Mabua Road, Kololo, Kampala- Uganda.
16 judgments
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16 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2025
Applicants' attempt to nullify trial for alleged torture was dismissed as res judicata and improperly brought against "Uganda".
Human rights enforcement — victim of torture — prior judicial declarations — res judicata — suability of the DPP/"Uganda" in civil enforcement suits — Attorney General as proper party — retrospective application of Human Rights (Enforcement) Act 2019 barred — abuse of court process and multiplicity of suits.
27 October 2025
August 2025
The accused was acquitted of trafficking and defilement charges due to unreliable identification and unresolved contradictions in evidence.
Criminal law – Aggravated trafficking in children – Defilement – Standard of proof – Single identifying witness – Contradictory testimony – Reasonable doubt – Acquittal due to unreliable identification evidence.
18 August 2025
July 2025
Court refused bail for an applicant charged with terrorism, citing unresolved risks and failure to meet legal bail prerequisites.
Bail – Anti-Terrorism Act – mandatory bail after 180 days – effect of committal – fixed place of abode – substantial sureties – risk of absconding – gravity of offence – procedural requirements for bail in terrorism cases.
28 July 2025

 

14 July 2025

 

10 July 2025
June 2025
Applications for bail in terrorism and child trafficking cases dismissed for lack of substantial sureties and high flight risk.
Criminal law – bail – considerations for bail – gravity of offences – terrorism and trafficking – substantial sureties – flight risk – public interest.
30 June 2025

Terrorism—confirmation of charges—aggravated robbery—murder—belonging to a terrorist organisation—Rome Statute standard—admission of ADF membership—participation in cross-border attacks—Lhubiriha Secondary School Attack—Queen Elizabeth National Park ambush—tourists—recent possession—command role & training at Domain Camp—motivated by political retaliation—ballistics & forensic reports—confirms charges—amendment of indictment ordered—committed for trial

30 June 2025

Human Rights – Extradition – Rule of Speciality – Torture – Fair Trial – Personal Liberty – Prolonged Detention – Public Parading – Property Rights – Res Judicata – Functus Officio – Non-Retroactivity – ICD Rules – Pre-Trial Orders – Constitutional Reference

23 June 2025
Conviction in several counts of trafficking, defilement, and operating an unapproved home; acquittals due to insufficient evidence.
Criminal law - Trafficking in children - Unapproved children's home - Sexual exploitation - Burden of proof - Credibility of victim testimony.
20 June 2025
Bail was refused for an applicant facing terrorism charges due to lack of exceptional circumstances, fixed abode, and substantial sureties.
Criminal procedure – Bail – Anti-Terrorism Act – Exceptional circumstances – Fixed place of abode – Substantial sureties – Public interest – Absence of exceptional grounds justifying release – Gravity of offence.
2 June 2025
May 2025
Court confirms terrorism charges for trial, finding sufficient evidence of unlawful possession of explosives and intent to influence government.
Criminal procedure – Pre-trial confirmation of charges – Standard of 'substantial grounds to believe' – Terrorism – Unlawful possession of explosives and intent to influence government or intimidate public – Role of electronic and forensic evidence – Group criminal acts via political association.
22 May 2025
March 2025
Bail was denied as the applicant lacked exceptional circumstances and substantial sureties for serious terrorism and murder charges.
Criminal law – Bail application – Terrorism and murder charges – Exceptional circumstances – Substantial sureties – Public interest and balancing of rights – Refusal of bail.
24 March 2025

Terrorism—murder—public prosecutor assassinated—politically motivated killing—anti-terrorism act—public intimidation—common intention—confession—witchcraft—phone data evidence—identification parade—mobile network clusters—international crimes—confirmation of charges

24 March 2025

Human rights—torture—inhuman and degrading treatment—terrorist financing charges—right to personal liberty—detention in unauthorized facility—delay in producing suspects to court—access to lawyers and next of kin—remedies—compensation

20 March 2025

Terrorism—electricity infrastructure vandalism—terrorist financing—terrorist organization—use of mobile money transfers—substantial grounds—pre-trial confirmation—call data evidence—rebel group recruitment—ICD jurisdiction.

17 March 2025
January 2025
Court found the applicant was illegally detained over 48 hours but dismissed torture claims due to lack of evidence.
Constitutional law – enforcement of human rights – wrongful detention exceeding statutory period – burden of proof in torture and inhuman treatment claims – proper party to sue in actions against the state – remedies in human rights enforcement.
21 January 2025