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.
2,688 judgments
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2,688 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
March 2026
Stay of execution denied for unreasonable delay and because the notice of appeal did not cover the judgment sought to be stayed.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution — Order 43 r.4(3) requirements (pending appeal, no unreasonable delay, security) — Appeal must relate to the judgment sought to be stayed — Delay and lack of supporting notice of appeal renders stay application incompetent.
10 March 2026
A prior consent judgment by beneficiaries barred relitigation of the same land claim; suit dismissed as res judicata and counterclaim halted.
Res judicata — Consent judgment — Beneficiaries' rights — Land registration and transfers — Order 6 r.28 points of law — Halting counterclaim pending review of consent decree.
10 March 2026
February 2026
Applicant failed to prove substantial loss or provide security; stay of execution pending appeal denied.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Requirements: notice of appeal and steps to prosecute, substantial loss, no unreasonable delay, security for due performance – Balance of convenience – Imminent execution/self-executing orders – Burden of proof for substantial loss and security.
27 February 2026
Application to substitute deceased judgment creditor failed because the appeal abated for lack of timely pendente lite substitution.
Civil procedure – Substitution of parties – Death of a party – Order 24 Rule 4 CPR – Abatement of proceedings where no application to substitute legal representative is made; Succession law – Section 214 Succession Act – joining administrators pendente lite; Execution – enforcement of trial-court awards devolving to estate; Appellate procedure – invalidity of posthumous appellate awards where appeal against deceased has abated.
27 February 2026
27 February 2026
Application to review attachment was dismissed as res judicata, moot, and an abuse of court process; costs awarded to respondent.
Civil procedure — review of execution — attachment and judicial sale — res judicata and abuse of process — mootness of review where judicial sale completed; lifting corporate veil and scope of execution.
26 February 2026
Application to review a Registrar's interlocutory order was procedurally improper; electronic service was valid and application dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure — Review under Order 46 vs appeal under Section 79(1)(b) — Electronic service (WhatsApp) valid under Practice Directions 2019 — Temporary injunction — Fraud allegations require oral evidence.
26 February 2026
Applicant set aside ex-parte judgment due to defective substituted service and was allowed to defend the suit.
Civil procedure – Substituted service – Exceptional remedy; Order 5 Rule 20 – Non-service and setting aside ex‑parte proceedings; Order 9 Rule 27 – sufficient cause; right to fair hearing; leave to file defence out of time.
23 February 2026
Slip rule applied to correct clerical error: "25 acres" amended to "25 Hectares" despite a pending appeal.
Civil procedure – Slip rule (sec. 99 CPA) – Correction of clerical/typographical errors – Manifest intention of the court – Exercise of slip rule notwithstanding pending appeal – No prejudice to third‑party rights.
23 February 2026
High Court lacks first-instance jurisdiction to revoke a registered trust; the Minister has primary authority under the Trustees Incorporation Act.
Trust law – Revocation of registered trust – Jurisdiction under Trustees Incorporation Act s.17 – Minister’s power to terminate incorporation and direct disposal of assets – High Court limited to appellate jurisdiction – Arbitration clause considered but not engaged where no dispute (Arbitration and Conciliation Act s.5(1)(b)) – Ex parte application dismissed.
19 February 2026
The applicant failed to prove ownership; trespass and compensation claims against the respondent were dismissed.
Land law — Trespass and compulsory acquisition — Burden of proof on plaintiff to prove ownership/possession — Documents marked for identification are inadmissible unless exhibited — Certificate of title not conclusive unless admitted in evidence.
18 February 2026
Applicants appointed personal representatives and granted 14 days to amend plaint to add current proprietor; costs each party to bear own.
Succession law – appointment of personal representatives for pending litigation; Civil Procedure – extension of time to amend pleadings (Order 6 r19, r25); protection of estate’s locus standi; service/notification error; avoidance of multiplicity of suits.
17 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
An Article 50 constitutional motion is inappropriate for disputed land ownership and fraud allegations; such matters require an ordinary plaint.
Constitutional law – Article 50 enforcement – competency where ownership is disputed; Civil procedure – fraud allegations must be pleaded with particulars and tried in ordinary suit; Land law – disputed title and registration; Relief by constitutional motion inappropriate for contested factual disputes.
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
Payment under a consent judgment and possession vested equitable ownership; administrator’s subsequent registration was fraudulent and must be rectified.
Land law – Equitable ownership from payment under consent judgment – Fraudulent procurement of administrator registration – Rectification of land register – Cancellation of entries obtained by fraud – Damages for legal uncertainty.
12 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