Uganda Case Law

Afroludo Limited v Uganda Registration Services Bureau & Another

Afroludo Limited v Uganda Registration Services Bureau & Another (Civil Suit 262 of 2022) [2025] UGHCCD 18 (14 February 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 262 of 2022

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The court found that the 1st defendant's rejection of the plaintiff's trademark application was illegal, irrational, and unfair, as it relied on an imported and unreliable interpretation of the word 'Nyege' rather than its meaning in the local context where the festival is held. The 1st defendant failed to exercise its discretionary power fairly and consistently. The 2nd defendant's registration of the business name 'Nyege Nyege Music Festival' was found to be fraudulent and misleading, as it was done with knowledge of the plaintiff's established reputation and with the intent to cause confus…

Source excerpt

• Trademark Registration
• Business Name Registration
• Passing Off
• Registrar Discretion
• Public Policy And Morality

Kagoma Brand Tea Packers Limited v Lutaya

Kagoma Brand Tea Packers Limited v Lutaya (Civil Suit No. 20 of 1998) [2012] UGHC 424 (11 December 2012)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No. 20 of 1998

Judge

Mwondha, J

The court found that the trade mark 'Kagoma Brand Tea Packers' was partnership property and neither the plaintiff company nor the defendant had exclusive rights to its use after the partnership was dissolved. Section 59 of the Trade Marks Act prohibits independent use of a jointly registered trade mark after dissolution. The plaintiff company, not being a partner in the original firm, had no claim to the trade mark and its continued use constituted passing off and infringement. The defendant suffered loss of business and reputation due to the plaintiff's actions, including misleading public a…

Source excerpt

• Trade Mark Ownership
• Passing Off
• Partnership Dissolution
• Business Name Registration
• Damages For Infringement

Nakutubu v Sekitoleko

Nakutubu v Sekitoleko (CIVIL SUIT NO. 4 OF 1992) [1993] UGHCCD 13 (14 June 1993)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

CIVIL SUIT NO. 4 OF 1992

Judge

Engwau, J

The High Court held that the plaint sufficiently disclosed a cause of action in a partnership dispute, so the preliminary objection was dismissed with costs.

• Partnership Disputes
• Business Name Registration
• Cause Of Action
• Pleadings Requirements
• Partnership-disputes
• Pleadings

Doshia v William Matungi and Company

Doshia v William Matungi and Company (Civil Suit No. 685 of 1954) [1955] EACA 83 (1 January 1955)

Court

East African Court of Appeal

Case number

Civil Suit No. 685 of 1954

Judge

CRAM, Ag. J

The court held that a proviso in section 2(1) applied to both paragraphs of that sub-section, and the defendant’s unregistered business name did not bar the suit.

• Credit To Natives
• Business Name Registration
• Statutory Bar On Suits
• Sole Proprietorship
• Contract Attestation
• Statutory-interpretation