Uganda Case Law

Casements (Africa) Ltd v Seroma Limited

Casements (Africa) Ltd v Seroma Limited (Civil Suit No. 1121 of 2024; Miscellaneous Application No. 773 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 199 (30 June 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No. 1121 of 2024 ; Miscellaneous Application No. 773 of 2025

Judge

Susan Odongo, J

The court set aside a default judgment, stayed execution, and found good cause where counsel failed to upload the defence application on ECCMIS despite the client’s instructions.

• Setting Aside Default Judgment
• Service Of Summons On Corporation
• Extension Of Time To Defend
• Counsel Negligence
• Costs Awarded Against Counsel
• Default-judgment

Lukanga and Another v Takaya

Lukanga and Another v Takaya (Miscellaneous Application 23 of 2025) [2025] UGHC 193 (16 April 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 23 of 2025

Judge

Tweyanze, J

The High Court at Masaka set aside a dismissal for non-attendance and reinstated the applicants’ earlier application, finding sufficient cause based on counsel’s default.

• Setting Aside Dismissal
• Sufficient Cause
• Reinstatement Of Application
• Counsel Negligence
• Fair Hearing
• Civil-procedure

Damulira v Sserunjogi & Another

Damulira v Sserunjogi & Another (Civil Application 42 of 2023) [2025] UGSC 4 (21 February 2025)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 42 of 2023

Judge

Mike Chibita, JSC

The Supreme Court found that the applicant had taken all reasonable steps to prosecute his appeal by instructing and paying his former lawyers, who failed to file the necessary documents within the prescribed time. The applicant's subsequent detention in civil prison further prevented timely action. Upon release, he promptly instructed new counsel, who discovered the omission and filed the present application. The Court held that the delay was attributable to the negligence of the applicant's former counsel and not to the applicant's own dilatory conduct. The Court reaffirmed the principle th…

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• Extension Of Time
• Appeals Process
• Land Ownership Disputes
• Counsel Negligence

Rwabuhoro v zubairi Mukasa and 2 Others

Rwabuhoro v zubairi Mukasa and 2 Others (Civil Application No. 165 of 2018) [2022] UGCA 72 (10 March 2022)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 165 of 2018

Judge

Musota, JA, Bamugemereire, JA, Musoke, JA

The Court of Appeal refused to strike out a notice of appeal, holding that counsel’s negligence in failing to file the memorandum should not be visited on the clients.

• Notice Of Appeal Striking Out
• Stay Of Execution
• Counsel Negligence
• Extension Of Time
• Appeal Rights
• Notice-of-appeal

Muwanga Estates Ltd and Another v NPAITT

Muwanga Estates Ltd and Another v NPAITT (Civil Application No. 49 of 2001) [2001] UGCA 63 (19 March 2001)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 49 of 2001

Judge

Twinomujuni, JA

The Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal out of time, holding that the applicants had shown good cause where the delay resulted from counsel’s failure to file the appeal.

• Extension Of Time
• Leave To Appeal
• Counsel Negligence
• Court Discretion
• Extension-of-time
• Leave-to-appeal

Nsubuga & 3 Others v Kamuje

Nsubuga & 3 Others v Kamuje (Civil Application 31 of 1997) [1999] UGSC 38 (7 October 1999)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 31 of 1997

Judge

Oder, JSC

The Supreme Court of Uganda granted leave to appeal out of time, finding the delay was mainly due to former counsel’s procedural mistakes and not the applicants’ own dilatoriness.

• Extension Of Time
• Appeal Lodgment
• Procedural Delay
• Sufficient Cause
• Counsel Negligence
• Extension-of-time

Adura Omuto Ltd v Henry Nyombi

Adura Omuto Ltd v Henry Nyombi (Civil Application No. 5 of 1999) [1999] UGCA 67 (1 June 1999)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 5 of 1999

Judges

kato, JA

The Court of Appeal of Uganda allowed an application to extend time to file a notice of appeal, holding that counsel’s negligence was sufficient reason on these facts.

• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Counsel Negligence
• Court Discretion
• Extension-of-time
• Notice-of-appeal

Adura Omuto Ltd v Henry Nyombi

Adura Omuto Ltd v Henry Nyombi (Civil Application No. 5 of 1999) [1999] UGCA 66 (1 June 1999)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 5 of 1999

Judges

kato, JA

The Court of Appeal of Uganda allowed an application to extend time to file a notice of appeal, holding that counsel’s negligence could amount to sufficient reason.

• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Counsel Negligence
• Extension-of-time
• Notice-of-appeal
• Counsel-negligence

Edward Kamana Wesonga v Interim Electral Commission and 2 Others

Edward Kamana Wesonga v Interim Electral Commission and 2 Others (Election Petition Application No. 36 of 1997) [1999] UGCA 2 (6 January 1999)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Election Petition Application No. 36 of 1997

The court found that the applicant intended to attend court and took all reasonable steps to ascertain the hearing date, relying on information provided by his counsel. The error in the date was due to the counsel's law clerk, and the applicant acted diligently and promptly upon learning of the dismissal. The affidavits, though attacked for inconsistency, were found to be in agreement on the essential fact of communication regarding the hearing date. The court held that it would be unjust to punish the applicant for the negligence of his counsel, especially where the applicant had no control…

Source excerpt

• Reinstatement Of Appeal
• Sufficient Cause
• Counsel Negligence
• Public Interest
• Affidavit Consistency

Uganda Development Bank v Oil Seeds Uganda Limited

Uganda Development Bank v Oil Seeds Uganda Limited (Civil Application No. 14/1996) [1996] UGSC 37 (15 November 1996)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 14/1996

Judge

Karokora, JSC

The Supreme Court of Uganda granted Uganda Development Bank an extension of time to file notice of grounds for affirming the decision, ordering costs to the respondent.

• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Grounds
• Approbate And Reprobate
• Counsel Negligence
• Civil-procedure
• Extension-of-time