Uganda Case Law

Katsinde George and Another v Rubarekyera George and Others

Katsinde George and Another v Rubarekyera George and Others (Civil Application No. 184 of 2025) [2025] UGCA 246 (23 July 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 184 of 2025

Judge

John Mike Musisi, JJA/JCC

The court found that the applicants had complied with procedural requirements by first seeking a stay in the High Court. The appeal raised serious and arguable questions of law and fact, including fraud, principles of bonafide purchase, powers of the commissioner for land registration, and the quantum of damages. The applicants demonstrated that they would suffer irreparable harm if evicted, as the land is their home and sole source of livelihood, and the harm could not be adequately compensated by damages. The balance of convenience favored the applicants, who would suffer most if the applic…

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• Stay Of Execution
• Eviction Orders
• Fraud In Land Transactions
• Bonafide Purchaser Principle
• Cancellation Of Title
• Assessment Of General Damages

Charles Wasswa Lugali Semakula v Amirali Karmali

Charles Wasswa Lugali Semakula v Amirali Karmali (Civil Appeal No. 95 of 2014) [2025] UGCA 171 (16 May 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 95 of 2014

Judge

Kiryabwire, JA, Kibeedi, JA, Gashirabake, JA

The Court of Appeal found that the Respondent lawfully acquired the suit property after proper repossession by Waljee (U) Ltd under the Expropriated Properties Act, as evidenced by a valid certificate of repossession. The Appellant's interest was not protected by law, as he failed to establish lawful occupation or consent from the registered owners, and his challenge to the repossession process was an afterthought not raised at trial. The removal of the Appellant's caveat was lawful, as the statutory notice was issued and the Appellant failed to act within the prescribed period, resulting in…

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• Expropriated Properties Act
• Repossession Of Land
• Caveats And Registration
• Trespass To Land
• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Assessment Of General Damages

Mabale Growers Tea Factory Limited v Bamyamooti

Mabale Growers Tea Factory Limited v Bamyamooti (Civil Appeal 37 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 844 (29 August 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 37 of 2023

Judge

Mugabo, J

The High Court dismissed a civil appeal over unpaid tea leaf deliveries and upheld general damages for breach of contract, with costs to the respondent.

• Breach Of Contract
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Agency And Authority
• Evidence Evaluation
• Breach-of-contract
• General-damages

Ojune and Another v Ogwere

Ojune and Another v Ogwere (Civil Appeal 60 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 819 (16 August 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 60 of 2023

Judge

Adonyo, J

The High Court, as the first appellate court, exhaustively re-evaluated the evidence and found that the respondent's case for ownership of the suit land was more consistent and credible than the appellants', whose evidence was riddled with contradictions regarding the size, boundaries, and inheritance of the land. The court found no irregularity in the conduct of the locus in quo proceedings, as the trial magistrate followed the required procedures and gave all parties the opportunity to clarify their evidence. On the issue of general damages, the court held that while the respondent was enti…

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• Customary Land Ownership
• Trespass To Land
• Burden Of Proof
• Assessment Of General Damages

Semambo v Tumukunde

Semambo v Tumukunde (Civil Appeal 38 of 2018) [2024] UGHCCD 117 (17 July 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 38 of 2018

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The High Court found that the trial Chief Magistrate properly evaluated the evidence, correctly rejected the unreliable valuation report, and based the award of general damages on uncontested evidence of property destruction by the Appellant. The court clarified that general damages do not require the same proof as special damages and are awarded at the court's discretion to compensate for the natural consequences of the wrongful act. The appellate court will only interfere with such an award if it is based on a wrong principle or is manifestly excessive or inadequate, which was not the case…

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• Assessment Of General Damages
• Oral Rental Agreements
• Evidence Evaluation
• Damages For Property Destruction

Omongin v Otim

Omongin v Otim (Civil Appeal 49 of 2022) [2024] UGHC 682 (17 July 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 49 of 2022

Judge

Adonyo, J

The High Court upheld the finding that the respondent owned the disputed land, but reduced general damages from UGX 10,000,000 to UGX 500,000.

• Land Ownership Dispute
• Inheritance Of Unregistered Land
• Trespass To Land
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Land-ownership-dispute
• Unregistered-land

Numu Birisi v Bahungule and Another

Numu Birisi v Bahungule and Another (Civil Appeal 39 of 2023) [2023] UGHCCRD 156 (28 July 2023)

Court

HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 39 of 2023

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

The High Court dismissed a land appeal, upholding registered title ownership and finding no need for a locus visit, but reduced general damages from UGX 15 million to UGX 8 million.

• Ownership Of Registered Land
• Locus In Quo Visits
• Evaluation Of Evidence
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Land-ownership
• Registered-title

Nunu Birisi v Bahungule and Another

Nunu Birisi v Bahungule and Another (Civil Appeal 39 of 2023) [2023] UGHCLD 357 (28 July 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 39 of 2023

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

The High Court dismissed an appeal over ownership of land in Hoima, upheld the trial court’s findings, and reduced general damages from UGX 15 million to UGX 8 million.

• Ownership Of Registered Land
• Locus In Quo Visits
• Evaluation Of Evidence
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Land-disputes
• Locus-in-quo

Irumba Kaija and Another v Richard Tooro

Irumba Kaija and Another v Richard Tooro (Civil Appeal No. 199 of 2016) [2021] UGCA 58 (23 August 2021)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 199 of 2016

Judge

Monica K. Mugenyi, JA, Kasule, Ag JA, Kiryabwire, JA

The Court of Appeal allowed a second appeal over disputed land at Rwengoma, found the appellants had protected interests in the land, and restored the trial court judgment.

• Customary Ownership
• Tenancy By Occupancy
• Allocation Of Land By Authority
• Pleadings And Evidence
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Land-and-property

Turyatemba v Musinguzi

Turyatemba v Musinguzi (Civil Appeal No. 10 of 2013) [2020] UGCA 2067 (13 July 2020)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 10 of 2013

Judge

Cheborion, JA, Kakuru, JA, Kiryabwire, JA

The Court of Appeal upheld an award of UGX 12,000,000 for injuries from a traffic accident, holding that omission to tender PF3 was a technical error.

• Personal Injury
• Assessment Of General Damages
• Admissibility Of Medical Evidence
• Technicalities Vs Substantive Justice
• Personal-injury
• General-damages