Uganda Case Law

Dual Trust (U) Ltd v Attorney General

Dual Trust (U) Ltd v Attorney General (Civil Suit No. 131 of 2019) [2025] UGHCCD 89 (10 June 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 131 of 2019

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The court found that the plaintiff failed to prove entitlement to immediate possession of the maize, as the purported seller, Emma Kasisi, had no valid title and could not pass property to the plaintiff. The true owner, Oree Tom, was identified through police investigation, and the police lawfully seized and returned the maize to him on the ODPP's directive. The principle of nemo dat quod non habet applied, precluding the plaintiff from acquiring better title than the seller possessed. The tort of detinue was not established, as the plaintiff was not entitled to demand restoration of the maiz…

Source excerpt

• Detinue
• Trespass To Chattels
• Statute Of Limitation
• Vicarious Liability
• Conversion
• Burden Of Proof

Omamteker v Barigye and Another

Omamteker v Barigye and Another (Miscellaneous Application 1117 of 2024) [2025] UGHCCD 53 (5 May 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1117 of 2024

Judge

Simon Peter M. Kinobe, J

The High Court refused leave to amend a plaint in a conversion suit, holding the applicant lacked ownership of the property and the suit was void for want of cause of action.

• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Cause Of Action
• Conversion
• Joinder Of Parties
• Amendment-of-pleadings
• Cause-of-action

Turinawe v Uganda Revenue Authority & Another

Turinawe v Uganda Revenue Authority & Another (Civil Suit 121 of 2021) [2025] UGHCCD 39 (26 February 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 121 of 2021

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court dismissed a claim for negligence and conversion over missing container goods, finding the plaintiff failed to prove the alleged quantity or wrongful interference.

• Negligence
• Conversion
• Burden Of Proof
• Customs Control
• Evidence Standard
• Burden-of-proof

Ven Group Limited & Another v Uganda Registration Services Bureau & Another

Ven Group Limited & Another v Uganda Registration Services Bureau & Another (Civil Suit 919 of 2019) [2025] UGCommC 17 (20 February 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 919 of 2019

Judge

Harriet Grace Magala, J

The High Court dismissed a claim over seized music equipment, finding the seizure was statutorily authorised under copyright law and not conversion.

• Copyright Infringement
• Licensing Fees
• Conversion
• Seizure Of Goods
• Copyright-infringement
• Seizure-of-goods

Odong Joseph v The Board of Gorvenors, St.Paul's College Mbale & Anor

Odong Joseph v The Board of Gorvenors, St.Paul's College Mbale & Anor (Civil Suit 40 of 2020) [2024] UGHC 70 (16 January 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 40 of 2020

Judge

Adonyo, J

The High Court held that the defendants were liable for detinue and negligence for failing to deliver the plaintiff’s UACE certificate, and awarded damages and costs.

• Conversion
• Detinue
• Negligence
• Damages
• Educational Certificates
• Educational-certificates

Kibasha and Another v Attorney General and Others

Kibasha and Another v Attorney General and Others (Civil Suit 248 of 2020) [2024] UGHCCD 7 (12 January 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 248 of 2020

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court held that the plaintiffs proved wrongful detention of their truck and seedlings. It awarded damages against the 2nd defendant and held the 3rd defendant improperly joined.

• Detinue
• Conversion
• Vicarious Liability
• Wrongful Detention Of Property
• Special And General Damages
• Loss Of Earnings

Uganda Rural Development and Training (URDT) and Another v Kimarakwija

Uganda Rural Development and Training (URDT) and Another v Kimarakwija (Civil Appeal 15 of 2023) [2023] UGHC 150 (30 October 2023)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 15 of 2023

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

High Court civil appeal over detained goats and crop-damage counterclaims. The court upheld compensation and general damages, but set aside special damages for lack of pleading and proof.

• Trespass To Land
• Conversion Of Chattels
• Special And General Damages
• Liability Of Employer
• Assessment Of Market Value
• Procedural Timeliness

Wakiso Mathias v Attorney General

Wakiso Mathias v Attorney General (Civil Suit 126 of 2022) [2023] UGHCCD 370 (22 September 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 126 of 2022

Judge

Phillip Odoki, J

The High Court found police officers wrongfully took the plaintiff’s containers, but held the Attorney General was not vicariously liable because the acts were outside police duties.

• Trespass To Goods
• Conversion
• Detinue
• Vicarious Liability
• Burden Of Proof
• Trespass-to-goods

Byaruhanga Samuel v Gumisiriza Joseph

Byaruhanga Samuel v Gumisiriza Joseph (Civil Appeal 44 of 2019) [2023] UGHCCD 378 (30 June 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 44 of 2019

Judge

Phillip Odoki, J

The High Court dismissed a father’s appeal over alleged trespass, nuisance, and conversion, finding the house was built by the respondent’s mother and the claims were unproved.

• Trespass To Land
• Private Nuisance
• Conversion Of Property
• Family Land Disputes
• Trespass-to-land
• Private-nuisance

Kemirembe v Attorney General

Kemirembe v Attorney General (CIVIL SUIT NO. 200 OF 2010) [2020] UGHCCD 173 (10 June 2020)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

CIVIL SUIT NO. 200 OF 2010

Judge

Mugambe, J

The High Court found that the plaintiff’s vehicle was illegally sold in an unauthorized auction linked to a police officer, and awarded damages, interest, and costs.

• Negligence Of Public Officers
• Conversion Of Property
• Damages For Loss Of Use
• Illegal Auction
• Conflict Of Interest
• Government Liability