Uganda Case Law

LABX Scientific Ltd v Katakwi District Local Government and Attorney General

LABX Scientific Ltd v Katakwi District Local Government and Attorney General (Miscellaneous Cause No. 02 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 174 (19 June 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause No. 02 of 2025

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The High Court found a valid arbitration agreement in a government supply contract, but declined to appoint an arbitrator directly and referred the parties to arbitration.

• Arbitration Agreement
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Enforceability Of Contracts
• Jurisdiction Of Appointing Authority
• Payment Obligations

Smile Communications Uganda Limited v ATC Uganda Limited

Smile Communications Uganda Limited v ATC Uganda Limited (Miscellaneous Application 2314 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 57 (2 January 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 2314 of 2023

Judge

Ocaya, J

The High Court granted leave to appeal in a commercial dispute concerning arbitration, finding the proposed appeal raised arguable and novel issues.

• Leave To Appeal
• Arbitration Agreements
• Jurisdiction Of Court
• Stay Of Proceedings
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Abuse Of Process

Tumo Technical Services Limited v China Railway 18th Bureau (Group) Co. Limited

Tumo Technical Services Limited v China Railway 18th Bureau (Group) Co. Limited (Civil Suit 432 of 2022) [2023] UGCommC 141 (24 November 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 432 of 2022

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The High Court held that the parties’ contract contained a clear arbitration clause, found no basis to treat it as inoperative, and dismissed the suit.

• Arbitration Clause Enforcement
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Arbitration Agreement Performance
• Arbitration-clause-enforcement
• Appointment-of-arbitrator

TMA Architects and Another v Prome Sonsultants

TMA Architects and Another v Prome Sonsultants (Miscellaneous Cause 80 of 2023) [2023] UGCommC 44 (27 February 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 80 of 2023

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

The High Court upheld an arbitrator’s jurisdiction, finding the parties validly varied their arbitration clause to ICAMEK and had delayed too long to object.

• Arbitration Agreement Variation
• Kompetenz Kompetenz
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Party Autonomy
• Contractual Modification
• Waiver And Estoppel

Captain. Joseph v D and D International Uganda Limited

Captain. Joseph v D and D International Uganda Limited (Miscellaneous Application 1626 of 2022) [2023] UGCommC 41 (19 January 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1626 of 2022

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

High Court dismissed an application to vacate an arbitrator’s interim protection order, holding that court intervention in ongoing arbitration is tightly limited.

• Arbitration Procedure
• Interim Measures
• Jurisdiction Of Arbitral Tribunal
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Delay In Arbitral Award
• Arbitration-procedure

Christian Counselling Fellowship v Ibinonga Construction & General Merchandise

Christian Counselling Fellowship v Ibinonga Construction & General Merchandise (Miscellaneous Application No. 1269 of 2020) [2023] UGCommC 8 (11 January 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 1269 of 2020

Judge

Abinyo, J

The application to set aside the arbitral award was dismissed because it was filed outside the statutory 30-day period prescribed by section 34(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The supporting affidavit was struck out for being sworn by a person without express authority from the applicant company, contrary to Order 3 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules. Additionally, portions of the affidavit were found to be argumentative and non-compliant with Order 19 Rule 3. Without a valid affidavit in support, the application was rendered incompetent and dismissed.

Source excerpt

• Arbitral Award Challenge
• Affidavit Validity
• Limitation Periods
• Appointment Of Arbitrator

Ambitious Construction Company Limited v Uganda National Culture Center

Ambitious Construction Company Limited v Uganda National Culture Center (Miscellaneous Application No. 441 of 2020) [2022] UGCommC 83 (26 September 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 441 of 2020

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The High Court referred a contractual dispute to arbitration, appointed Praxis Conflict Centre to assign an arbitrator, and closed the suit after finding the application proper.

• Arbitration Agreement
• Stay Of Proceedings
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Arbitration
• Stay-of-proceedings

LAMAC General Services (U) Ltd & Ors v Pegasus Technologies Ltd

LAMAC General Services (U) Ltd & Ors v Pegasus Technologies Ltd (Miscellaneous Application No. 1285 of 2021) [2022] UGCommC 31 (2 June 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 1285 of 2021

Judge

Rwakakooko, J

The court found that all Applicants, as defendants in the main suit, have locus standi to seek a stay and referral to arbitration under Section 5 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The absence of a company resolution authorizing the 2nd Applicant to swear an affidavit on behalf of the 1st Applicant was a procedural defect, but did not render the application fatally defective, as the affidavit remained credible for the 2nd Applicant. The arbitration clause in the contract was found to be operative and enforceable, with the mechanism for appointment of an arbitrator clearly set out. The R…

Source excerpt

• Stay Of Proceedings
• Arbitration Agreement Enforcement
• Contractual Obligations
• Locus Standi
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Remedies And Costs

Welhai International Economy and Technical Cooperative Company Limited v Hansa Engineering Services Limited

Welhai International Economy and Technical Cooperative Company Limited v Hansa Engineering Services Limited (Miscellaneous Cause No. 3 of 2020) [2020] UGHC 144 (23 July 2020)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause No. 3 of 2020

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

The High Court set aside an arbitral award after finding the arbitrator was not properly appointed and the applicant was denied proper notice and a fair hearing.

• Arbitral Award Setting Aside
• Arbitrator Jurisdiction
• Notice Of Arbitration
• Natural Justice In Arbitration
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Appointment Of Arbitrator

Pile Corporation Ltd v Twed Property Development Ltd (CAD/ARB/ 4 of 2018)

Pile Corporation Ltd v Twed Property Development Ltd (CAD/ARB/ 4 of 2018) [2018] UGCADER 2 (9 February 2018)

Court

Center for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution of Uganda

Case number

CAD/ARB/ 4 of 2018

Clause 10 of the agreement between the parties constitutes a valid arbitration agreement under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The reference to 'failure of arbitration' does not render the clause inoperative, as the intention of the parties was to resolve disputes through arbitration first, with recourse to courts only upon failure of the arbitral process. The applicant's reference to mediators in correspondence is an error attributable to counsel and does not affect the enforceability of the arbitration clause. The respondent's refusal to cooperate in the appointment of arbitrators doe…

Source excerpt

• Arbitration Clause Interpretation
• Party Autonomy
• Appointment Of Arbitrator
• Mediation Vs Arbitration