Uganda Case Law

Apurinari Reagan and Another v Ruhiira Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Ltd

Apurinari Reagan and Another v Ruhiira Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Ltd (Civil Revision 15 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 459 (30 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 15 of 2024

Judge

Allan Nshimye, J

The High Court found that the Magistrate Grade One exercised jurisdiction not vested in law by enforcing an arbitral award, as only the High Court is empowered to enforce such awards under Section 35(1) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, read with Section 2(1) of the same Act. The application to enforce the award should have been made to the High Court, not the Magistrates Court. The admitted fact of the arbitration award did not confer jurisdiction on the Magistrate. Accordingly, the proceedings and orders of the Magistrate were set aside, and costs awarded to the applicants.

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• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Jurisdiction Of Magistrates
• Revisionary Powers
• Cooperative Societies Disputes

Kehooda & Another v Lyamujungu Cooperative Financial Services Ltd & Others (Revision Application 2 of 2025)

Kehooda & Another v Lyamujungu Cooperative Financial Services Ltd & Others (Revision Application 2 of 2025) [2025] UGHC 280 (14 May 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Revision Application 2 of 2025

Judge

Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, J

The High Court held that the Chief Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction to enforce the arbitral award, quashed the execution proceedings, and ordered fresh filing in the High Court.

• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Court Jurisdiction
• Revision Proceedings
• Execution Of Judgments
• Arbitral-award-enforcement
• Court-jurisdiction

Isabirye v Wakainja & 2 Others (Arbitration Cause 18 of 2023)

Isabirye v Wakainja & 2 Others (Arbitration Cause 18 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 131 (29 April 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Arbitration Cause 18 of 2023

Judge

Harriet Grace Magala, J

The court found that it had jurisdiction to recognize and enforce the arbitral awards because the parties had a valid arbitration agreement, and the applicant provided the necessary certified documents. The respondents participated in the arbitration proceedings, filed their defence, and did not object to the appointment of the arbitrator within the statutory period. Their current objections were deemed an afterthought and barred by waiver and estoppel. The respondents also failed to challenge the awards within the thirty-day period prescribed by law. The court held that the awards were enfor…

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• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Partnership Disputes
• Jurisdiction Of Court
• Challenge To Arbitrator Appointment

National Housing & Construction Company Limited v Ambitious Construction Company Limited

National Housing & Construction Company Limited v Ambitious Construction Company Limited (Miscellaneous Application 3105 of 2024) [2024] UGCommC 16 (20 February 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 3105 of 2024

Judge

Harriet Grace Magala, J

The court found that none of the grounds advanced by the applicant met the threshold for recusal under Rule 7 of the Constitution (Recusal of Judicial Officers) Practice Directions, 2019. The judge determined that both parties were accorded a fair hearing, with multiple extensions granted to the applicant for filing submissions. The allegations of bias, malice, and professional damage were unsupported by evidence and amounted to mere speculation. The court emphasized that dissatisfaction with a judicial decision does not constitute bias, and that the timing of the recusal application—raised o…

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• Recusal Of Judicial Officer
• Allegations Of Bias
• Fair Hearing
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Application For Review

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority v Central Plumbing Works Uganda Limited

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority v Central Plumbing Works Uganda Limited (Miscellaneous Cause 37 of 2023) [2024] UGHCCD 20 (25 January 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 37 of 2023

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court of Uganda set aside an arbitral award after finding the tribunal was improperly constituted because the chairperson was appointed contrary to the contract.

• Arbitration Agreements
• Public Procurement Contracts
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Variation Of Contracts
• Arbitration
• Arbitral-award-set-aside

National Housing & Construction Company Limited v Ambitious Construction Company Limited

National Housing & Construction Company Limited v Ambitious Construction Company Limited (Miscellaneous Cause 54 of 2023) [2023] UGCommC 147 (20 December 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 54 of 2023

Judge

Harriet Grace Magala, J

The court held that the application to set aside the arbitral award was filed out of time. The 30-day period for filing such an application under section 34(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act began on 9 May 2023, the date the award was delivered at CADER, as agreed by the parties in their procedural directions. The applicant filed the application on 9 June 2023, after the lapse of the mandatory 30 days, rendering the application incompetent and barred by law. The court emphasized that the Arbitration and Conciliation Act is a specific law that governs arbitration proceedings and compu…

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• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Setting Aside Award
• Computation Of Limitation Periods
• Court Intervention In Arbitration

Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership & Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Proprietary Limited v Commissioner Land Registration & 7 Others

Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership & Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Proprietary Limited v Commissioner Land Registration & 7 Others (Miscellaneous Application 2484 of 2023) [2023] UGCommC 137 (17 November 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 2484 of 2023

Judge

Ocaya, J

The court found that while Section 6 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act does not permit interim measures after the conclusion of arbitral proceedings, the High Court possesses inherent powers under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act and Section 33 of the Judicature Act to grant remedies necessary for the ends of justice. The Applicants demonstrated a real likelihood that actions by the 1st and 8th Respondents could impair or frustrate the enforcement of the arbitral award, including cancellation of mortgage entries and alteration of company shareholding. The court held that preserving…

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• Interim Measures
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Injunctive Relief
• Corporate Securities
• Land Title Disputes

Aya Investments Uganda Limited v Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited

Aya Investments Uganda Limited v Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (Civil Reference 20 of 2023) [2023] UGCA 276 (23 October 2023)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Reference 20 of 2023

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Monica K. Mugenyi, JA, Kihika ,JA

The Court of Appeal dismissed a civil reference after the underlying leave-to-appeal application was withdrawn, holding the reference had lost its basis.

• Stay Of Execution
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Withdrawal Of Application
• Contempt Of Court
• Appeal Rights
• Civil-procedure

Seremba (administrator of the estate of the late Yehana Kiwanuka) and Another v Ssembabule Balunzi Co-operatives Society Limited (Misc Cause 233 of 2022)

Seremba (administrator of the estate of the late Yehana Kiwanuka) and Another v Ssembabule Balunzi Co-operatives Society Limited (Misc Cause 233 of 2022) [2023] UGHCCD 207 (7 July 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause 233 of 2022

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court set aside a Uganda Cooperative Alliance decision that entertained an out-of-time appeal without proof of service, and upheld the arbitral award.

• Review Of Administrative Decision
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Natural Justice
• Appeal Out Of Time
• Natural-justice
• Appeal-out-of-time

Byamugisha v Shifa Love Wood

Byamugisha v Shifa Love Wood (Miscellaneous Application No. 50 of 2020) [2022] UGCommC 77 (29 August 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 50 of 2020

Judge

Kakooza, J

The High Court dismissed an application to stay execution of an arbitral award, holding that the applicant had not shown substantial loss, acted late, or offered security.

• Stay Of Execution
• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Security For Due Performance
• Delay In Application
• Substantial Loss Requirement
• Stay-of-execution