Uganda Case Law

Airtel Uganda Limited v Garfield Spence a.k.a. Konshens & Mtech Limited

Airtel Uganda Limited v Garfield Spence a.k.a. Konshens & Mtech Limited (Civil Application 458 of 2024) [2025] UGCA 217 (13 June 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 458 of 2024

Judge

Kibeedi Mutangula, JA

The Court found that the application for stay of execution was properly before it, rejecting the respondents' preliminary objection based on res judicata. The applicant had first sought stay in the High Court, which granted only a partial stay with harsh conditions. The Court held that concurrent jurisdiction is not limited to outright refusals but extends to cases where the High Court's conditions are unconscionable or only partially successful. The applicant demonstrated vigilance by filing the notice and record of appeal, and the appeal raised triable issues regarding damages, interest, ex…

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• Stay Of Execution
• Copyright Infringement
• Assessment Of Damages
• Exemplary Damages
• Balance Of Convenience
• Right Of Appeal

Kiggundu a.k.a Bruno K v Black Market Records Entertainment - SMC Limited & 3 Others

Kiggundu a.k.a Bruno K v Black Market Records Entertainment - SMC Limited & 3 Others (Civil Suit 1025 of 2022) [2025] UGCommC 42 (1 April 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 1025 of 2022

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court held a recording agreement void for lack of contractual capacity and found the 4th defendant liable for copyright infringement and royalty misuse.

• Copyright Infringement
• Music Rights
• Contract Validity
• Royalty Disputes
• Digital Platform Exploitation
• Fraudulent Misrepresentation

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

Airtel Uganda Limited v Konshens & 3 Others

Airtel Uganda Limited v Konshens & 3 Others (Miscellaneous Application 560 of 2024) [2024] UGCommC 236 (9 August 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 560 of 2024

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court granted only a partial stay of execution, allowing the respondents to recover up to 70% of the decretal sums pending appeal in a copyright dispute.

• Stay Of Execution
• Copyright Infringement
• Security For Due Performance
• Assessment Of Damages
• Appeal Likelihood
• Balance Of Convenience

Akech v Brookside Limited & 2 Others

Akech v Brookside Limited & 2 Others (Civil Suit 1065 of 2022) [2024] UGCommC 69 (22 April 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 1065 of 2022

Judge

Kahigi Asiimwe, J

The court found that the plaintiff's demonstration video and documented proposal were original works reduced to material form and thus eligible for copyright protection under Ugandan law. The plaintiff was the author of these works, and the defendants, without her consent, shared them with third parties and permitted their reproduction, constituting copyright infringement. The court applied the substantial similarity test and determined that the campaign run by the third party was substantially similar to the plaintiff's protected works, and that the defendants had access and opportunity to c…

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• Copyright Infringement
• Originality Test
• Substantial Similarity
• Damages For Infringement
• Injunctive Relief

Quiet Garden Publishing Limited v Lutaya

Quiet Garden Publishing Limited v Lutaya (Civil Suit 912 of 2021) [2024] UGCommC 118 (25 March 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 912 of 2021

Judge

Kahigi Asiimwe, J

The court found that while the Plaintiff established its exclusive rights to publish, market, and distribute 'Grief Child' in Uganda, it failed to produce the alleged infringing copies in evidence. The law requires the court to compare the original work with the alleged infringing work to determine substantial similarity and infringement. Oral testimony about the existence of counterfeit books, without production of the infringing copies themselves, was insufficient to meet the evidentiary threshold. The Plaintiff did not discharge its burden of proof under the Evidence Act, and the similarit…

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• Copyright Infringement
• Publishing Rights
• Evidence Requirements
• Book Piracy

Kiggundu v Black Market Records Entertainment -SMC Limited & 2 Others

Kiggundu v Black Market Records Entertainment -SMC Limited & 2 Others (Miscellaneous Application 1985 of 2023) [2023] UGCommC 200 (25 October 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1985 of 2023

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court granted an interim order restraining the respondents from making copyright claims over the applicant’s songs pending determination of the injunction application.

• Copyright Infringement
• Interim Injunctions
• Music Rights
• Passing Off
• Copyright-infringement
• Interim-injunctions

Kiggundu v Black Market Records (U) Limited & 2 Others

Kiggundu v Black Market Records (U) Limited & 2 Others (Miscellaneous Application 399 of 2023) [2023] UGCommC 199 (13 October 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 399 of 2023

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court allowed an application to amend a plaint in a copyright dispute, including substitution of a defendant and new allegations of fraud and illegality.

• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Copyright Infringement
• Fraud In Pleadings
• Joinder And Substitution Of Parties
• Amendment-of-pleadings
• Copyright-infringement

Uganda Batteries Limited v Nile Batteries Limited

Uganda Batteries Limited v Nile Batteries Limited (Civil Suit 917 of 2018) [2023] UGCommC 224 (13 March 2023)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 917 of 2018

Judge

Anna B. Mugenyi, J

The High Court held that Uganda Batteries proved copyright in its warranty card wording but failed to prove infringement or trademark-based claims against Nile Batteries.

• Trademark Infringement
• Copyright Infringement
• Passing Off
• Goodwill
• Originality Of Literary Works
• Copyright-infringement

Kamesa v Museveni Kaguta and Another

Kamesa v Museveni Kaguta and Another (Constitutional Petition No. 10 of 2019) [2023] UGCC 3 (16 January 2023)

Court

Constitutional Court of Uganda

Case number

Constitutional Petition No. 10 of 2019

Judge

Monica K. Mugenyi, JCC, Gashirabake, JCC, Madrama, JCC, Musoke, JCC, Egonda-Ntende, JCC

The Constitutional Court held that the petition did not raise any new question for constitutional interpretation, as the scope and application of presidential immunity under Article 98(4) had already been conclusively determined by the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court. The Court reaffirmed that a sitting President is immune from legal proceedings in any court, except as specifically provided (such as election petitions). The petitioner's allegations regarding violation of rights to property and fair hearing were matters of enforcement, not interpretation, and thus fell outside the Const…

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• Presidential Immunity
• Constitutional Interpretation
• Copyright Infringement
• Right To Fair Hearing