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.
23 judgments
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23 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
April 2014
Review application alleging new evidence and counsel’s error dismissed for lack of competent grounds and missing decree.
Civil procedure – Review – Section 82 CPA and Order 46 r.1 CPR – grounds: discovery of new evidence, mistake apparent on face of record, other sufficient reason; Affidavit formalities – undated jurat not fatal; Requirement to attach signed judgment/decree to review application; Mistake of counsel not a ground for review; Res judicata and locus.
30 April 2014
Originating summons inappropriate where disputed factual issues about title, contractual validity and remedies require a full trial.
Land law – Contract of sale – Appropriateness of originating summons under Order 37 CPR – expired lease and defective title – disputed factual issues (status of property, rights passed, sale vs offer) require full trial, not resolution by affidavit.
30 April 2014
A consequential s.177 RTA order requires proof that specific plots were decreed to and recovered by the applicant against the registered proprietors.
Registration of Titles Act s.177 – consequential orders; requirement that land be recovered by proceedings against the registered proprietor; cancellation of title requires proof of fraud or registrar error; caveats removable only by court order; necessity to join caveator/registered proprietors for fair hearing.
30 April 2014
A purported sale was a loan; subsequent transfers were fraudulent and the purchaser’s title was tainted by false declarations.
* Property law – money‑lending versus sale – deposit of title as security; * Fraud and forgery in land transfers – effect on title; * Bona fide purchaser for value without notice – burden of proof; * Registration of titles tainted by fraud; * Remedies: damages, mesne profits, costs.
30 April 2014
Construction adjacent to leased premises breached quiet enjoyment, allowing the tenant to rescind the lease and discharge future obligations.
* Landlord and tenant – tenancy agreement – covenant of quiet and peaceful possession – breach by landlord’s adjacent construction causing noise and dust. * Contract law – classification of term – condition versus warranty – importance of extrinsic circumstances and purpose of lease. * Remedies – rescission for breach of condition – effect of rescission on future obligations (notice, rent, repairs). * Evidence – credibility and timing of explanations in cross-examination relevant to breach findings.
30 April 2014
29 April 2014
An appeal against orders under Order 52 CPR requires prior leave; absence of leave renders the appeal incompetent and struck out.
Civil procedure – Appeals – Orders under Order 52 CPR not appealable as of right – leave required under Order 44 rules 2–3 – failure to obtain leave renders appeal incompetent and incurable; oral application for leave unsupported by record is ineffective.
22 April 2014
A beneficiary may sue to recover estate land; suit not time‑barred where cause accrued at the sale in 2002.
* Limitation Act – accrual of cause of action in land claims – cause of action accrues on adverse transaction (sale) giving rise to claim.* Succession Act s.264 – scope – does not bar beneficiaries from suing to protect their estate interest where an administrator has been appointed.* Evidence – validity/attestation of will – factual issue not decidable on preliminary objections.
19 April 2014
Buyer’s purported purchase failed where land had been previously sold; judgment on admission requires an on-record application.
Land law – sale of land – prior sale by administrator to third party including beneficiary’s parcel – effect on subsequent purported sale; Civil procedure – Order 13 r.6 CPR – judgment on admission requires an application on record; Restitution – unjust enrichment and remedy where vendor misrepresents title; Pleadings – incorporation of annexures into pleadings.
16 April 2014
Applicant failed to prove proprietary interest; registration by the second respondent procured by fraud and damages awarded.
Land law — proprietary rights of spouses during subsisting marriage — proof required for equitable or beneficial interest; Trusts — three certainties for creation of trust; Registration — caveat removal, registrar procedure, and impeachment of title for fraud; Remedies — damages where cancellation not ordered because third party not before court; Costs apportionment.
16 April 2014
The applicant cannot hold the director personally liable; landlord awarded re‑entry, arrears, mesne profits and damages.
* Land law / Tenancy – breach for non‑payment of rent – landlord’s right to re‑enter and claim vacant possession; mesne profits for post‑judgment occupation. * Company law – corporate veil – director’s signature and issuance of cheques do not automatically create personal liability absent guarantee or lifting of the veil. * Civil procedure – default and failure to produce evidence – court may proceed under CPR r.0.17(4). * Remedies – arrears, mesne profits, general damages, costs and interest.
15 April 2014
Whether UNRA became liable for land-acquisition compensation for the Northern By-pass under the UNRA Act and 2012 Transfer Regulations.
Land law – cause of action – requirement that plaintiff prove a right, its violation and defendant’s liability – UNRA Act and Transfer of Assets and Liabilities Regulations 2012 – successor liability for assets and liabilities – mistaken party sued not necessarily abuse of process.
14 April 2014
Appellate court found trial magistrate mis-evaluated evidence, held respondent trespassed and granted applicant reliefs and costs.
Land law — ownership and possession — Kibanja/equitable interests vs legal title; Trespass — unlawful entry and remedies; Appellate review — duty to determine framed issues and re-evaluate evidence; Documentary evidence — interpretation, admissibility and reliance on surrounding circumstances; Judicial notice and assessment of credibility.
11 April 2014
Court granted a temporary injunction to preserve the applicant’s possession of disputed land pending trial.
Land law – interlocutory relief – temporary injunction to preserve status quo pending trial; possession evidence; American Cyanamid principles – prima facie case; irreparable harm; balance of convenience; costs in the cause.
11 April 2014
Court granted vesting order under Section 167 RTA after applicant proved payment, possession, acquiescence and vendor untraceability.
Land law – Vesting order under Section 167 RTA – Conditions: registered land, full payment, purchaser’s possession, vendor’s acquiescence, transfer unexecuted due to vendor’s death/untraceability – Registrar ordinarily first point of contact – Court may grant vesting order where Registrar/advice directs court application.
11 April 2014
Registration obtained by fraud is void; administrator entitled to cancellation and re-registration of the estate’s title.
Land law – Registered title – Fraudulent procurement of registration – Actual dishonesty required; defaulting transferees’ allegations deemed admitted. Equitable interest – Purchaser acquires equitable title despite unregistered transfer; administrator entitled under Succession Act s.279. Registration of Titles Act s.176(c) – Cancellation/ejectment for fraud. Registration obtained by fraud is void/impeachable.
10 April 2014
Plaintiff failed to prove marriage or that the property was matrimonial; mortgage held lawful and suit dismissed with costs.
Evidence Act s.106 – burden to prove facts especially within party’s knowledge; customary marriage proof; Mortgage Act s.2 – definition of matrimonial home; Land Act (s.38A) – family land and ordinary residence; mortgagee’s prudent inquiry and spousal consent; admissibility and probative value of statutory declarations and documentary evidence.
10 April 2014
Applicant failed to prove a serious question or irreparable harm; interim injunction dismissed with costs.
Land — interim relief — temporary injunction — requirements: serious question to be tried, irreparable harm, balance of convenience — status quo assessed as at filing — allegations of fraudulent title and trespass to be determined at trial — caveat vacation speculative.
8 April 2014
Section 91’s appeal right does not bar High Court suits; the Commissioner can be sued and the plaint shows a cause of action.
Land law – Registration of Titles – Section 91 appeal provision directory; High Court jurisdiction preserved; Commissioner for Land Registration may be sued; pleadings alleging fraud and forged documents can disclose a cause of action against third parties.
7 April 2014
Court struck out respondent's late submissions and granted a limited injunction protecting applicants' customary land occupation pending trial.
Civil procedure – Irregular late filing and abandonment of preliminary objection struck off – Interim relief – Principles for temporary injunction (American Cyanamid) – Prima facie case and proof of title for registered land – Protection of occupation under customary tenure – Preservation of status quo balanced against national security and refugee settlement obligations.
4 April 2014
The applicant's s110 tax charge was valid and the respondent's right to redeem was foreclosed unless taxed sum is paid within six months.
* Tax law – Income Tax Act s110 – registration of charge/interest over land as security for unpaid tax. * Tax procedure – Income Tax Act s99 – mandatory written objection procedure to assessments and consequences of non-compliance. * Mortgage law – Mortgage Act s8 – foreclosure of mortgagor’s right to redeem and court-ordered payment period not exceeding six months. * Finance Act 2008 – effect of tax amnesty on arrears prior to 1 July 2002. * Remedies – sale by private treaty where redemption not made within court-fixed period; costs awarded to successful applicant.
3 April 2014
Wrong procedural form not fatal; taxation largely upheld but certain unlawful or duplicate items struck off, costs awarded to respondent.
Costs – Taxation of bills – Limits on appellate interference with taxing officers’ assessments; ex parte taxation permitted under Rule 54 where party repeatedly defaults; procedural irregularity (wrong appeal procedure) not fatal where court has jurisdiction and no prejudice.
2 April 2014
Equitable mortgage upheld; mortgagee’s transfers and Registrar’s cancellation were fraudulent and void; title reinstated and US$680,000 refund ordered.
Equitable mortgage — deposit of title and caveat creates equitable mortgage; mortgagee’s conversion of security into sale without foreclosure is fraud — equity of redemption protected; bona fide purchaser protection lost where purchaser had actual or imputed notice; Registrar’s cancellation of title and dismissal of caveat without hearing ultra vires and contrary to natural justice; remedy: declarations, cancellation of transfers, reinstatement of registered proprietor, refund of agreed debt (US$680,000), injunctions and costs.
1 April 2014