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.
8 judgments
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8 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 2025
Application for execution dismissed as moot after respondent supplied a valid bank guarantee; instruction point held res judicata.
Bank guarantee — execution of decree — renewal and adequacy of security; Mootness doctrine — matter overtaken by events; Res judicata — challenge to counsel's instructions to appeal; Industrial Court procedure — dismissal of application as moot; Delivery of ruling by Registrar.
27 February 2025
Contempt claim dismissed; court found just cause for non‑repatriation and ordered Ministries' assessment and repatriation/reimbursement timelines.
Civil procedure – Contempt of court – Elements and intermediate standard of proof; Employment law – Court’s power under Section 8(3)(d) LADASA and Section 34(1) CPA to make compliance directions; Contempt powers to be used sparingly; Repatriation enforcement and assessment by Ministries of Public Service and Works and Transport.
27 February 2025
Claimant entitled to severance on medical retirement; pension claim dismissed; loan rescheduled; repatriation and nominal damages awarded.
Labour law – early medical retirement – entitlement to severance under Employment Act s.86(c) and employer policy; computation formula one month’s salary per year of service; pension fund contributions and trustees’ administrative deduction; repatriation entitlement; loan rescheduling on medical retirement; statutory penalty under s.91 requires criminal conviction.
24 February 2025
Employee allowed early medical retirement is entitled to severance; severance computed at one month’s salary per year served.
Labour law – medical early retirement – entitlement to severance under Employment Act s.86(c) and employer policy; timing and weight of independent medical reports; calculation of severance (one month’s salary per year served); pension fund management and trustees’ role; repatriation entitlement; employer’s duty to reschedule staff loans; statutory penalty for non‑payment of severance requires criminal proceedings.
24 February 2025
Employee medically retiring early entitled to statutory severance and repatriation; pension, arrears and aggravated damages largely dismissed; loan rescheduled.
Labour law – Medical retirement and terminal benefits; entitlement to severance under Employment Act 2006 s.86(c) and employer policy; computation of severance (one month per year); statutory penalty for non-payment is criminal (DPP); pension fund remittances and trustees’ administration charges; entitlement to repatriation; loan rescheduling on medical retirement; awards of general damages and interest.
24 February 2025
Employee who retired on medical grounds entitled to severance (1 month per year), repatriation, loan rescheduling, and damages with interest.
Employment law – Early medical retirement – entitlement to severance under Employment Act s.86(c) and employer policy – delayed independent medical reports cannot defeat severance where employer accepted retirement and failed to offer lighter duties – severance computed as one month's salary per year of service; pension contributions and trusteeship; repatriation; loan rescheduling; interest; costs.
24 February 2025
Whether a fixed‑term contract’s non‑renewal or workplace conduct amounted to constructive dismissal and the correct remedies.
Employment law – fixed‑term contracts – effluxion of time v constructive dismissal; requirement of fair hearing and available remedies; contractual notice versus statutory minimum; computation of leave and severance; appellate review of discretionary Labour Officer awards; procedural flexibility and admissibility of electronic evidence before Labour Officers.
21 February 2025
Termination citing "factors beyond employer's control" without justification or procedure was unlawful; claimant awarded damages and costs.
* Employment law – unfair/summary termination – "factors beyond employer's control" must be particularised and proved; absence of proof renders termination unfair. * Procedural rights – where reasons relate to misconduct or performance a hearing is required; operational/business reasons attract their own procedure. * Remedies – general and punitive damages may be awarded for unlawful termination; severance and statutory penalties depend on statutory criteria. * Jurisdictional note – overlap between labour/termination claims and workers’ compensation claims raises forum allocation issues.
21 February 2025