HC: Land Division (Uganda)

The Land Division is a Division created at the High Court Head office at Kampala.

The Division is charged with the following functions:Responsibility of supervising the work of Land Tribunals, the adjudication of all land related dispute fall under this Division. The land Division is established with three judges with a separate registry for the Division .There is a Registrar for the Land Division who doubles as the Registrar of the Land Tribunals. A desk office was also established under the office of the Registrar to handle the activities of the District Land Tribunals.

 

Physical address
Twed Towers, along Kafu Road, Nakasero, Kampala.
2,676 judgments
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2,676 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 2026
Registered title confirmed but long-standing occupants granted security of occupancy; eviction and damages denied.
Land law – registered title – indefeasibility and conclusive proof of ownership – security of occupancy – bona fide occupants with long possession – trespass – refusal of eviction, injunction, mesne profits and damages.
17 February 2026
A challenge to an Assistant Registrar’s order is incompetent by review; the proper remedy is appeal or revision to a Judge.
Civil procedure – challenge to Registrar/Assistant Registrar orders – proper remedy is appeal or revision to a High Court Judge (Order 50/Rule 8), not review under Section 82 CPA and Order 46 CPR; inherent jurisdiction cannot override specific statutory procedure.
13 February 2026
Application to appoint an administrator pendente lite and add the nominee as party dismissed for lack of connection to the estate.
Succession law — Administrator pendente lite — Letters of administration — Requirement to show nexus/connection to estate and inability/unwillingness of person entitled to administer — Adding representative as party to pending suit.
13 February 2026
Temporary injunction appeal dismissed as moot; Registrar erred on ownership but applicants failed to show irreparable harm.
Land law – temporary injunction – preservation of status quo – prima facie case and likelihood of success – irreparable injury – limits on interlocutory determination of ownership by Assistant Registrar – appeal rendered nugatory where status quo changed.
12 February 2026
Application to appoint estate administrators dismissed for non-appearance despite effective ECCMIS service; no costs.
Civil procedure — Electronic service via ECCMIS — Validation of hearing date constitutes effective service — Order 9 Rule 17 dismissal for non-appearance — Succession Act: appointment of estate representatives.
12 February 2026
Application for a certificate of title dismissed for non-appearance under Order 9, Rule 22; no costs ordered.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for non-appearance – Order 9, Rule 22 CPR SI 71-1 – Affidavit of service sufficiency – Application for certificate of title dismissed; no costs ordered.
11 February 2026
Appeal dismissed for non-appearance; ECCMIS validation deemed effective service, substantive land issues not determined.
Civil procedure – non-appearance – dismissal under Order 9, Rule 17; Electronic service – ECCMIS validation constitutes effective service; Appeal in land cause not determined on merits due to non-attendance.
11 February 2026
Application dismissed for non-appearance; ECCMIS notification deemed effective; no order as to costs.
Civil procedure — Non-appearance — Dismissal under Order 9, Rule 17 of the Civil Procedure Rules SI 71-1 — Electronic filing/service via ECCMIS — Validity of hearing notice and system validation — Costs: none ordered.
9 February 2026
January 2026
Application dismissed for want of prosecution where requisite pleadings were not uploaded on ECCMIS; court relied on its inherent powers.
Civil procedure — want of prosecution — failure to upload/file requisite pleadings on ECCMIS — inherent powers of the court under s.17(2)(a) Judicature Act and s.98 Civil Procedure Act — dismissal — no order as to costs.
30 January 2026
Applicants failed to prove possession and inability to trace the vendor; vesting order refused and application dismissed.
Land law — Registration of Titles Act s.151 — Vesting order — Requirements: registered title and payment, possession and vendor acquiescence, inability to obtain transfer because vendor dead/out of jurisdiction/untraceable — Registrar’s quasi‑judicial role — Delay as factor in discretionary relief.
29 January 2026
Application to strike out plaint dismissed for want of prosecution due to failure to prosecute and serve respondent.
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – failure to prosecute and non-service – inherent powers of court – Judicature Act s17(2)(a) and Civil Procedure Act s98.
29 January 2026
Late appeal validated but dismissed; prior veil-lifting justified attachment and execution, costs awarded to respondent.
Civil procedure – extension/validation of appeal period; res judicata – scope to include notices to show cause arising from earlier proceedings; amendments filed out of time without leave; lifting corporate veil – attachment of related assets; objector proceedings and execution.
29 January 2026
An appeal dismissed for want of prosecution after neither party complied with court directives under Section 17(2)(a).
Civil procedure – Dismissal for want of prosecution – Failure to comply with court directives – Section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act Cap 16 – Appeal dismissed.
29 January 2026
Suit dismissed for want of prosecution under Order 17 Rule 6(1) and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Civil procedure — Dismissal for want of prosecution — Order 17 Rule 6(1) CPR SI 71-1 — Inherent jurisdiction under Section 98 Civil Procedure Act — Plaintiff’s duty to prosecute diligently.
29 January 2026
Application dismissed for want of prosecution due to non‑compliance with court directives under Section 17(2)(a).
Civil procedure – Case management – Parties' failure to comply with court directives issued on ECCMIS – Dismissal for want of prosecution under Section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act, Cap 16.
29 January 2026
Application for property division dismissed for non-appearance; ECCMIS e-service recognized; no order as to costs.
Civil Procedure – dismissal for non-appearance – Order 9 Rule 17; Electronic service – ECCMIS validation constitutes effective service; Property – application for severance/partition dismissed on procedural grounds.
29 January 2026
Application dismissed for want of prosecution after parties failed to comply with court directives under section 17(2)(a).
Civil procedure — Dismissal for want of prosecution — Non-compliance with court directives — Section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act (Cap 16) — Case management and party obligations.
29 January 2026
Application for stay of execution dismissed for over two years' inactivity under Order 17 r 6(1) and inherent jurisdiction.
Civil procedure – want of prosecution – dismissal for inactivity under Order 17 r 6(1) – inherent jurisdiction s 98 – stay of execution – ECCMIS filing – service and prosecution duties.
29 January 2026
Suit dismissed for want of prosecution under Order 17, Rule 6(1) and inherent power; no order for costs.
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – Order 17, Rule 6(1) Civil Procedure Rules; inherent power of the court – section 98 Civil Procedure Act – plaintiff’s duty to prosecute – discretion as to costs.
29 January 2026
Stay of execution refused where applicant failed to show a prima facie appeal, imminent execution, or adequate security.
Civil Procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Requirements: prima facie likelihood of success, risk of substantial/irreparable loss, no unreasonable delay, security for due performance – Failure to prove appeal filed or willingness to provide security – Application dismissed.
29 January 2026
Suit dismissed for want of prosecution after over two years' inaction; no order as to costs.
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – Order 17, Rule 6(1) CPR – inherent power of court under section 98 CPA – failure to comply with court directions – no costs ordered.
28 January 2026
Suit dismissed for prolonged inaction under Order 17 Rule 6(1) and inherent powers; no order as to costs.
Civil procedure — Dismissal for inactivity — Order 17 Rule 6(1) CPR — Inherent powers — Section 98 Civil Procedure Act — Plaintiff’s duty to prosecute (Nilani v Patel) — No costs ordered.
28 January 2026
Res judicata overruled; court added the estate and appointed a beneficiary as administrator pendente lite; costs each party.
Succession Act – appointment of administrator pendente lite – addition of necessary parties under Order 10(2) CPR – res judicata not applicable where prior proceedings dealt with different reliefs – representation of deceased estate in land dispute.
28 January 2026
Court dismissed land suit for over two years of inaction under Order 17 Rule 6(1) and inherent powers; no costs ordered.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for inactivity – Order 17, Rule 6(1) CPR SI 71-1 – Inherent powers under section 98 Civil Procedure Act – Duty to prosecute claim expeditiously.
28 January 2026
Suit dismissed for non-prosecution after over two years of inactivity under Order 17 Rule 6(1) and section 98.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for non-prosecution – Order 17, Rule 6(1) CPR SI 71-1 – Inherent jurisdiction under section 98 Civil Procedure Act – Plaintiff’s duty to prosecute (Nilani v Patel).
28 January 2026
Suit dismissed for non-prosecution exceeding two years under Order 17, Rule 6(1) and the court’s inherent powers.
Civil Procedure — Non‑prosecution — Dismissal under Order 17, Rule 6(1) CPR — Inherent jurisdiction under Section 98 Civil Procedure Act — Duty to prosecute (Nilani v Patel).
27 January 2026
Applicant’s illness and alleged counsel negligence did not establish sufficient cause to reinstate the dismissed suit.
Civil procedure — Reinstatement of suit dismissed for want of prosecution — "sufficient cause" test — diligence of litigant — limits of excusing client for counsel’s negligence — effect of inordinate delay.
27 January 2026
Application dismissed for want of prosecution under Order 17 r6(1) and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for want of prosecution – Order 17, Rule 6(1) CPR – Section 98 Civil Procedure Act (inherent jurisdiction) – Duty on litigant to prosecute (Nilani v Patel).
27 January 2026
The respondent’s caveat was maintained where alleged fraud and ongoing litigation implicated the disputed land, preserving the status quo.
Caveat law – Section 123(1) and Section 124(2) Registration of Titles Act – caveatable interest and reasonable cause – allegations of fraud and chain of transfers – caveat to preserve status quo pending related litigation – certificate of title as prima facie evidence of ownership.
27 January 2026
Ex parte order set aside for lack of effective service on a jailed applicant, restoring right to be heard.
Civil procedure — service of process — non‑service while defendant confined in prison — requirement to serve officer in charge — sufficient cause to set aside ex parte order — right to fair hearing (Article 28).
27 January 2026
A beneficiary’s counterclaim challenging a land transfer is maintainable; locus and merits require trial, making dismissal premature.
Civil Procedure — interlocutory applications — strike out under s.98 CPA and Order 52 CPR — locus standi of a beneficiary to sue — counterclaim alleging fraudulent transfer of land title — premature application; merits to be determined at trial.
21 January 2026
Whether advocate-client instruction fees and disbursements are properly taxed under the Sixth Schedule and ECCMIS rules.
Taxation of costs – Advocate-client bill – Application of Advocates (Remuneration & Taxation of Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (Sixth Schedule) – instruction fees assessed by value and stage of proceedings – ECCMIS filings and certain meetings taxed off – disbursements allowed at scale.
8 January 2026
Declaratory decree ordering transfer cancellation is self-executing; Registrar rightly entertained execution complaint; application dismissed.
Land law – Execution of decrees – Declaratory orders as self-executing – Registration of Titles Act s.177 – Role of Commissioner of Land Registration – Registrar’s jurisdiction under Order 50 CPR – Contempt and abuse of process in execution proceedings – Lawfulness of possession following voluntary vacation.
2 January 2026
A stay of execution suspended the restoration obligation, so the respondent was not in contempt for non‑restoration.
Contempt of court — elements and standard of proof; effect of administrative interim orders and stays of execution on enforcement of decretal obligations; execution commenced but stayed; restoration costs claim stayed pending appeal.
2 January 2026
A caveat can be removed where the caveator relinquished interest by donation and transfer before death, making it redundant.
Land law – Caveat – Removal where caveator relinquished interest by donation and transfer prior to death – Registrar’s power under s.129 Registration of Titles Act – Proof by documentary and forensic evidence – Executors need not be sued where interest passed before death.
2 January 2026
December 2025
Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution due to undue delay under Order 43, Rule 31 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
Civil procedure — Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution — Undue delay — Order 43, Rule 31 CPR (SI 71-1) — Registrar to obtain judge’s directions — No order as to costs.
30 December 2025
Applicant’s review succeeded: court found an error apparent (annexures on ECCMIS) and added the applicant as defendant to protect his beneficiary interest.
Land law — review of court orders — error apparent on the face of the record where annexures were filed on ECCMIS but overlooked — joinder/addition of parties — beneficiary’s locus to protect estate interests — avoidance of multiplicity of suits.
30 December 2025
Court dismissed land suit for plaintiff's prolonged inaction, invoking inherent powers to prevent abuse and delay.
Civil procedure – Dismissal for prolonged inactivity – Inherent powers of the High Court (Judicature Act s17(2)(a); Civil Procedure Act s98) – Abuse of process – Duty of litigant to prosecute – Nilani v Patel authority.
29 December 2025
An out-of-time, incompetent notice of appeal defeats an application for stay of execution; application dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution pending appeal — Requirement of competent notice of appeal within prescribed time — Out-of-time notice renders appeal defective — No pending appeal to justify stay under Order 22 R.26/Order 43 R.4(2).
29 December 2025
Revocation of letters of administration warrants substituting the new administrator as defendant to protect the estate's interests.
Civil procedure – substitution of parties – Order 1 r.13 CPR – revocation of letters of administration – capacity of administrators – Succession Act s.176 – actions of former administrator bind the estate – summons to give evidence.
26 December 2025
Plaintiff lacked locus standi; land suit dismissed as an abuse of process and costs awarded to the first defendant.
Civil procedure — Locus standi — Challenge to plaintiff's standing to sue in land proceedings — Abuse of court process — Invoked defences: public policy, absolute immunity, advocates' immunity — Procedural dismissal and costs.
26 December 2025
Whether the applicant is entitled to taxation of an advocate–client bill after proper service and no reply.
Advocates Act — Taxation of advocate–client bill of costs — Service and statutory 30‑day response period — Failure to file affidavit in reply — Effect of uncontroverted averments — Order 12 r.3(2) CPR.
23 December 2025
Court reinstated a suit dismissed for failure to extract summons for directions, exercising discretion despite counsel’s negligence.
Civil procedure — Reinstatement of dismissed suit — Order XIA r.6 (failure to extract summons for directions) — Discretionary relief — Neglect/mistake of counsel — Reopening miscellaneous application.
22 December 2025
Caretaker-occupier cannot claim adverse possession; continued occupation after eviction notice constitutes trespass against the applicant.
Land law – leasehold title and renewal – caretaker occupation – adverse possession (animus and consent) – tenant at sufferance – trespass – invalid sale of public/leasehold land – cancellation of freehold offer – mesne profits (proof required) – general damages and eviction.
22 December 2025
Application dismissed for want of prosecution for failure to comply with court directives under Section 17(2)(a).
Civil procedure – Dismissal for want of prosecution – Non-compliance with court directives issued via electronic case management system – Application dismissed under Section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act, Cap. 16.
18 December 2025
Court set aside dismissal and reinstated the applicants' appeal, finding sufficient cause to excuse non‑prosecution.
Civil procedure — Dismissal for want of prosecution — Reinstatement — Sufficient cause — ECCMIS notices and administrative file transfers — Counsel’s inadvertence excused in interests of justice — Balancing prejudice and right to fair hearing.
18 December 2025
Stay of execution pending appeal refused for unreasonable delay, failure to show irreparable harm, and absence of security.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Requirements: notice of appeal, triable issue with realistic chance of success, irreparable loss, balance of convenience, absence of undue delay, and provision of security – Undue delay and lack of security disentitle applicant to stay – Eviction generally reversible and compensable by damages absent exceptional circumstances.
17 December 2025
Appeal for interim injunctive relief dismissed as overtaken by events after withdrawal of the underlying suit; no costs.
Civil procedure – Appeal rendered academic – Withdrawal of underlying suit by consent – Interim injunctions – Appeal dismissed as overtaken by events – No order as to costs.
17 December 2025
Application to set aside ex parte order dismissed for want of prosecution under Section 17(2)(a).
Procedure — Setting aside ex parte order — Non‑compliance with court directives on ECCMIS — Dismissal for want of prosecution under Section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act Cap 16.
17 December 2025
Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution due to failure to comply with court directives under section 17(2)(a).
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – non‑compliance with court directions – ECCMIS filing – section 17(2)(a) Judicature Act, Cap 16.
16 December 2025