Industrial Court of Uganda

The Industrial Court was established under the Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Act, 2006 Cap 224, Laws of Uganda, and section 7.  2006.

The Act was assentenced to on 24th May 2006; and commenced on the 07th August 2006 via a Ministerial statutory instrument.

The Court's jurisdiction ambit are labour disputes referred to it by a party to a dispute where a labour officer has failed to dispose of the dispute within 08 weeks under the court's regulations as requested under the act, disputes referred by the Labour officer at the request of the party or on the officer's own volition when is unable to resolve the dispute; or by responsible Minister on notice of an intended withdrawal of labour within 05 days. Appeals can also be filed against labour officers' decision under the Employment Act. The Court has no original jurisdiction over Labour disputes.

 

Physical address
Plot 25-27, off Martyr's way Ntinda. P.O.Box, 21456 Kampala.
14 judgments
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14 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 2024
Employment law—unlawful termination—right to fair hearing—defamation—reputation—procedural fairness—employer liability—damages assessment—aggravated damages—interest and injunction
29 October 2024
The claimant was constructively dismissed when respondents installed a replacement without hearing; damages and repatriation awarded.
Employment law – Constructive dismissal – appointment of replacement during subsistence of employment – failure to afford hearing – burden to prove abandonment – remedies: notice pay, severance, general damages, repatriation, certificate of service.
25 October 2024
Labour officer acted without jurisdiction in ordering reinstatement and general damages; matter remitted to the Commissioner for further management.
Employment law – Labour Officer jurisdiction – limits of remedies before Labour Officers – reinstatement reserved for Industrial Court (s70 EA) – general damages and legal costs not awardable by Labour Officer – appeals on mixed fact and law require leave (s93(2) EA).
25 October 2024
The claimant unlawfully terminated without notice, reason or hearing entitled to notice pay, severance and general damages.
Employment law – unlawful termination – termination without notice, reason or hearing – summary dismissal evidence expunged where witnesses absent – remedies: payment in lieu of notice, general damages, severance pay – costs awarded where employer culpable.
11 October 2024
Employer must pay salary for post‑retirement services accepted; post‑retirement re‑employment remains discretionary.
Industrial Court jurisdiction – post‑retirement re‑engagement disputes; discretion of appointments board under HR manual; employer liability to pay for services accepted post‑retirement; no automatic right or legitimate expectation to re‑employment; discrimination claim not proved; interest awarded at 10% p.a.
11 October 2024
Claimant's dismissal found substantively unlawful; awarded general damages and severance, but not prospective contract pay.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – procedural fairness in disciplinary hearings – requirement to prove substantive misconduct – assessment of remedies including general damages and severance; speculative claims for prospective contract earnings denied.
11 October 2024
Payroll‑deletion claim against a local government is contractual and dismissed as time‑barred under the three‑year CPLMPA limitation.
Employment law – contract of service – payroll deletion – claim treated as breach of contract not continuing tort; Limitation – actions against government/local authorities governed by CPLMPA s.3(2) – three‑year limitation; claim filed outside statutory period held time‑barred.
11 October 2024
A contractual claim for withheld public‑sector salary was time‑barred under the three‑year limitation for actions against local authorities.
Limitation — actions against Government/local authorities — Section 3(2) CPLMPA — three‑year limitation for actions founded on contract or tort. Employment law — employment contract (contract of service) — salary withheld — remedy contractual, not continuing tort. Limitation doctrine — continuing tort does not apply to extend accrual where claim is contractual
11 October 2024
11 October 2024
Dismissal was unlawful: employer varied charges post-hearing and failed to produce required investigation report, rendering dismissal unfair.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – procedural fairness – variance between disciplinary notice and termination grounds; failure to provide investigation report; substantive fairness – employer must prove verifiable misconduct; remedies – severance and general damages; interest; no costs.
11 October 2024
11 October 2024
Claimant unlawfully terminated without notice or hearing; awarded notice pay, general damages, severance and costs.
Employment law – termination of employment – unlawful termination where employer fails to give notice, reasons or hearing; summary dismissal – employer must prove procedural compliance; witness statements of absent witnesses expunged – cannot prove dismissal; remedies – payment in lieu of notice, general damages, statutory severance pay; costs awarded where employer culpable.
11 October 2024
Unlawful termination for alleged misconduct without a fair hearing; claimant awarded damages, severance, notice and costs.
Employment law – unfair and unlawful termination – procedural fairness and failure to hold disciplinary hearing; employer’s burden to prove misconduct; NSSF deductions claim requires documentary proof; remedies: general damages, severance pay, payment in lieu of notice, interest and costs.
4 October 2024
Employment Law – Bonding Agreement – Breach – Employer Compensation – Training Obligation – Reasonable Penalties – Court's Power to Reduce Interest – Costs Awarded – Counterclaim Dismissed
4 October 2024