Supreme Court of Uganda

The Supreme Court of Uganda is the highest judicial organ in Uganda. It derives powers from Article 130 of the 1995 constitution. It is primarily an appellate court with original jurisdiction in only one type of case: a presidential election petition.

The Supreme Court is headed by the chief justice nd has ten other justices. The quorum required for a court decision varies depending on the type of case under consideration. When hearing a constitutional appeal, the required quorum is seven justices. In a criminal or a civil appeal, only five justices are required for a quorum.

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Plot M105, Kinawataka Road, Mbuya 1, Kampala, Uganda

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http://www.judiciary.go.ug/data/smenu/7/Supreme

9 judgments

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9 judgments

Citation	Judgment date
September 2025
Matovu & Matovu Advocates v Attorney General and Others (Miscellaneous Application No. 15 of 2025) [2025] UGSC 44 (26 September 2025) Supreme Court struck out applications for want of jurisdiction over Court of Appeal execution-related decision. Appellate jurisdiction — section 6(1) Judicature Act — appeals to Supreme Court only where Court of Appeal confirmed/varied/reversed High Court original- jurisdiction decision; Execution proceedings — decrees deemed of trial court — matters incidental to execution do not give rise to an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court; Interlocutory orders and review of execution-related orders are not ordinarily appealable to the Supreme Court; Filing directly in Supreme Court/Rule 41(1) issues — jurisdictional competence is determinative.	26 September 2025
John Byampangi and Another v John Kigoora (Miscellaneous Application 36 of 2020) [2025] UGSC 47 (24 September 2025) Application to extend time and validate late Notice of Appeal dismissed for inordinate delay and prejudice to the respondent. Supreme Court Rules – extension of time – service of Notice of Appeal – effect of counsel’s negligence – inordinate delay and prejudice where decree fully executed – certificate of public importance not a bar to seeking extension.	24 September 2025
Hassan Bassajjabalaba and Others v Legal Brains Trust (Constitutional Appeal No. 4 of 2020) [2025] UGSC 37 (18 September 2025) Supreme Court: Constitutional Court lacked jurisdiction—respondent's petition sought enforcement, not constitutional interpretation. Constitutional law – jurisdiction of Constitutional Court – Article 137(1) limited to interpretation of the Constitution; not a trier of contested facts or general forum for enforcement of rights. Constitutional v. enforcement remedies – distinction between Article 137 interpretation (declarations) and Article 50 enforcement (compensation/remedies). Article 119(5) – Attorney General’s legal advice on government contracts; where Supreme Court interpretation exists, further interpretation by Constitutional Court unnecessary and issues become matters of enforcement or mixed fact and law. Procedure – constitutional petitions must be concise and follow rules; prolixity and argumentative affidavits may be expunged but do not automatically invalidate a petition. Remedial scope – Constitutional Court may grant redress incidental to declarations but cannot substitute for fact-finding courts when disputes raise contested facts.	18 September 2025
Walakira Lawrence v Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 4 of 2022) [2025] UGSC 38 (18 September 2025) Article 23(8) requires explicit arithmetic deduction of remand time from determinate sentences; failure renders sentence illegal. Constitutional law – Article 23(8): mandatory arithmetic deduction of remand time from determinate sentences; indeterminate sentences (life, death) excluded; illegality of sentence for non-compliance; Supreme Court re-sentencing under section 7 Judicature Act; requirement that remand deduction be explicit, not vague.	18 September 2025
Semulema Leonard and Alideki Patrick v Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 70 of 2019) [2025] UGSC 42 (15 September 2025) The appeal is dismissed: the Court of Appeal properly resentenced the appellants; Supreme Court barred from revisiting sentence severity. Criminal law – Sentencing – Murder by mob action – appellate re-sentencing and consistency with precedent; Remorse – treated as a mitigating factor, not an aggravating one; Appellate jurisdiction – scope of Supreme Court on second appeal; Statutory limitation – section 5(3) Judicature Act bars appeals against sentence severity.	15 September 2025
Sentongo Patrick v Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 69 of 2021) [2025] UGSC 41 (15 September 2025) Second appeal: torture ground not entertained; electronic evidence authenticated; convictions and 10-year sentence upheld. Criminal law – second appeal — admissibility and authentication of electronic records under Computer Misuse Act s29(5)(b),(c); proof of user account creation and IP login trails; procedural rule barring fresh grounds (torture) not raised before Court of Appeal; Supreme Court jurisdictional limit on appeals against severity of sentence.	15 September 2025
Dr. Maj. Rtd Anthony Jallon Okullo v Attorney General (Civil Appeal No. 3 of 2020) [2025] UGSC 32 (11 September 2025) Court may vary rate but not type of agreed interest; 24% compounded over 25 years found unconscionable and reduced, with awards adjusted. Civil procedure – interest on contractual debts – scope of section 26(1) Civil Procedure Act: court may vary rate but not type of interest; compound interest; penalty clauses and unconscionability; assessment of compensatory interest and general damages for long delay in payment.	11 September 2025
Henry Wambuga ( Liquidator of African Textile Mills Limited in Liquidation) v Ranchhodbhai Shivabhai Patel and Mukwano Enterprises Limited (Civil Application 42 of 2021) [2025] UGSC 36 (10 September 2025) The Supreme Court clarified the right to fair hearing and due process when reviewing its own judgments, particularly regarding removal of a company liquidator and findings of fraud. Civil Procedure – Review of Supreme Court judgment – fundamental error – right to a fair hearing – removal of liquidator – proper construction of Companies Act regarding sale of company assets during liquidation – due process and jurisdiction of Supreme Court under insolvency law.	10 September 2025
Michael Robert Mugenyi v Irene Kalibala (Civil Appeal No. 24 of 2020) [2025] UGSC 33 (4 September 2025) Second appeal may include mixed law and fact; caveat freezes transfers and registration while subsisting, defeating purchaser protection. Supreme Court — second appeal jurisdiction — power to decide questions of law or mixed law and fact (no additional evidence); Land law — caveat under RTA freezes adverse dealings; Purchaser’s duty of due diligence — constructive notice; Registration effected while caveat subsists / contravening s.141 RTA is irregular and defeasible; Bona fide purchaser protection lost where purchaser had or ought to have had notice.	4 September 2025