Uganda Case Law

Nabukalu Florence v Ssemwanga Godfrey Lule

Nabukalu Florence v Ssemwanga Godfrey Lule (Miscellaneous Cause 4 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 363 (29 April 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 4 of 2024

Judge

Bukirwa, J

The court found that the applicant is the biological mother of the minor and that the minor is the registered owner of the property in question. The minor, being under 18 years of age, cannot legally transact regarding his property, necessitating the appointment of a guardian. The evidence established that the applicant has been solely responsible for the child's welfare due to the respondent's violent and irresponsible conduct. The court held that the applicant's request to rent out the property and use the proceeds for the child's welfare and education is in the best interests of the child,…

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• Legal Guardianship
• Child Welfare
• Domestic Violence
• Proprietary Rights Of Minors
• Parental Responsibility

Langonya v Uganda

Langonya v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 188 of 2012) [2024] UGCA 325 (27 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Appeal 188 of 2012

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Tibulya, JA/JCC, Kazibwe, JA

The Court of Appeal reduced a murder death sentence to 25 years' imprisonment, finding the original sentence harsh and manifestly excessive.

• Murder
• Sentencing
• Mitigation And Aggravation
• Death Penalty
• Domestic Violence
• Murder-sentencing

Kazooba v Mugisha

Kazooba v Mugisha (Civil Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2024) [2024] UGHC 400 (31 May 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2024

Judge

Wagona, J

The High Court ordered DNA paternity testing for two children, issued a protection order against violence, and allowed limited supervised access to the matrimonial home.

• Dna Paternity Testing
• Protection Orders
• Matrimonial Home Access
• Domestic Violence
• Custody And Maintenance
• Dna-paternity-testing

Gidudu v Uganda

Gidudu v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 8 of 2017) [2024] UGCA 125 (24 May 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Appeal 8 of 2017

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Gashirabake, JA, Kihika ,JA

The trial judge took into account and discounted the 5-year remand period when imposing the sentence, as evidenced by the sentencing order. Although the arithmetic deduction was not a strict requirement at the time, the judge's approach complied with the principles later articulated in Rwabugande Moses v Uganda. However, the appellate court found that the trial judge did not consider the appellant's youthful age as a mitigating factor. Given the appellant's acceptance of guilt and remorse, the appellate court exercised its discretion to interfere with the sentence, reducing it from 25 years t…

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• Sentencing Guidelines
• Remand Period Deduction
• Murder Conviction
• Domestic Violence
• Appeal On Sentence

Uganda v Mugisha

Uganda v Mugisha (Criminal Session 211 of 2022) [2024] UGHC 486 (8 May 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Session 211 of 2022

Judge

David S.L. Makumbi, J

The court found that the prosecution proved all ingredients of murder beyond reasonable doubt. The death of Akakimpa Evas was established by medical and witness evidence. The cause of death was unlawful, resulting from blunt force trauma to the abdomen, as confirmed by the post mortem report. Malice aforethought was inferred from the nature and location of the injuries, consistent with a violent assault. The accused's responsibility was established through circumstantial evidence, dying declarations, and corroborative testimony regarding a history of domestic violence. The accused's conduct,…

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• Murder
• Domestic Violence
• Burden Of Proof
• Dying Declaration
• Sentencing Principles

Nassazi v Walugembe (Divorce Cause 75 of 2020)

Nassazi v Walugembe (Divorce Cause 75 of 2020) [2023] UGHCFD 117 (5 October 2023)

Court

HC: Family Division (Uganda)

Case number

Divorce Cause 75 of 2020

Judge

Katunguka Kitariisibwa, J

The High Court dissolved the marriage for cruelty, granted the petitioner physical custody, ordered shared child maintenance, and ruled on several property claims.

• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Matrimonial Property
• Child Maintenance
• Domestic Violence
• Privacy Rights

Tom Vivid v Uganda

Tom Vivid v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 101 of 2010) [2023] UGCA 250 (12 June 2023)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Appeal 101 of 2010

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Bamugemereire, JA, Mulyagonja, JA

The Court of Appeal found that the dying declaration of the deceased, naming the appellant as her assailant, was corroborated by the appellant's conduct of disappearing from the area for a year and providing a false account of his departure. The evidence established that the appellant was present at the scene on the night of the murder, and his subsequent disappearance was inconsistent with innocence. The court rejected the defence of alibi and held that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to uphold the conviction for murder. Regarding sentence, the court held that while the offence wa…

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• Murder
• Dying Declaration
• Corroboration Of Evidence
• Sentencing Principles
• Domestic Violence
• Alibi

Oteka v Uganda

Oteka v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 175 of 2018) [2023] UGCA 143 (25 May 2023)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Appeal 175 of 2018

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Mulyagonja, JA, Bamugemereire, JA

On second appeal, the Court of Appeal struck out defective grounds, held it could only hear points of law, and dismissed the challenge to conviction and sentence.

• Threatening Violence
• Criminal Appeals
• Appellate Jurisdiction
• Sentencing
• Domestic Violence
• Criminal-appeals

Akonkwa v Bubala Byemba (Divorce Cause 17 of 2020)

Akonkwa v Bubala Byemba (Divorce Cause 17 of 2020) [2023] UGHCFD 9 (8 May 2023)

Court

HC: Family Division (Uganda)

Case number

Divorce Cause 17 of 2020

Judge

Rwakakooko, J

The High Court determined that it had jurisdiction to hear the divorce petition, as the law does not bar Africans from filing such matters in the High Court and the case had already proceeded to formal proof without jurisdictional objection. The court found that the Petitioner had established cruelty by the Respondent, including physical and emotional abuse, abandonment, and failure to provide for the family, which constituted sufficient grounds for dissolution of the marriage. The Respondent's failure to contest the allegations or participate in the proceedings further supported the Petition…

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• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Child Maintenance
• Domestic Violence

Uganda v Byaruhanga

Uganda v Byaruhanga (Criminal Appeal 12 of 2022) [2023] UGHCCRD 66 (10 February 2023)

Court

HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

Case number

Criminal Appeal 12 of 2022

Judge

Elubu, J

The High Court dismissed Uganda’s appeal and upheld acquittals for malicious damage to property and domestic violence.

• Malicious Damage To Property
• Domestic Violence
• Claim Of Right Defence
• Evidence Evaluation
• Malicious-damage-to-property
• Domestic-violence