Uganda Case Law

Nyanzira v Rukera & Another

Nyanzira v Rukera & Another (Civil Appeal 31 of 2022) [2025] UGHC 229 (24 April 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 31 of 2022

Judge

Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, J

The High Court found that the trial magistrate failed to address and correct obvious errors on the face of the record, specifically the misidentification of the relevant land claim number and the improper award of costs against the successful party. The court held that the appellant's application should have been treated as a request for review rather than an appeal, given the nature of the errors. The failure to correct these errors was impermissible under Ugandan law, and the proceedings were irregular. The High Court reversed the costs order and directed a new trial before a different magi…

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• Consent Judgment
• Error On Face Of Record
• Review Of Magistrate Decision
• Matrimonial Property Dispute

Ian Henderson v Kisakye and 6 Others

Ian Henderson v Kisakye and 6 Others (Miscellaneous Application 1433 of 2021) [2025] UGHCLD 26 (7 February 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1433 of 2021

Judge

Basaza Waswa, J

The court found two manifest errors on the face of the record: first, the applicant, a registered leaseholder and defendant in the head suit, was not a party to nor did he sign the impugned consent order, yet the order deprived him of six out of seven acres of the suit land. Second, the parties to the consent order lacked legal authority to direct the Commissioner Land Registration to amend the register and transfer land interests, as such powers are reserved for courts or the CLR acting under statutory authority. The court held that the consent order was void ab initio and of no legal effect…

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• Consent Judgment Review
• Rectification Of Land Register
• Bona Fide Purchaser
• Leasehold Interest
• Error On Face Of Record

Ditai & 3 Others v Sanyu Africa Research Institute (SAFRI) & 6 Others

Ditai & 3 Others v Sanyu Africa Research Institute (SAFRI) & 6 Others (Miscellaneous Application 422 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 992 (22 October 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 422 of 2023

Judge

Lubega, J

The High Court refused review of a prior injunction ruling, holding the applicants were not aggrieved persons and that no new evidence justifying review was shown.

• Review Of Court Orders
• Temporary Injunctions
• Joinder Of Parties
• Corporate Personality
• Error On Face Of Record
• Review-of-court-orders

Musisi v Kalyango

Musisi v Kalyango (Civil Miscellaneous Application 2610 of 2023) [2024] UGHCLD 188 (11 July 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 2610 of 2023

Judge

Nabakooza, J

The court found that the application for review was properly before it, as only a High Court Judge can review orders made by a Registrar. However, the applicant failed to demonstrate an error or mistake apparent on the face of the record, as the Assistant Registrar exercised judicial discretion in granting a temporary injunction to preserve the status quo, which is permitted by law. The applicant did not meet the statutory grounds for review under Section 82 of the Civil Procedure Act, nor did he prove the essential conditions for the grant of a temporary injunction. The court held that a mer…

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• Review Of Court Orders
• Temporary Injunctions
• Status Quo Preservation
• Error On Face Of Record

Karamagi v Hoima City Council

Karamagi v Hoima City Council (Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 441 (31 May 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2023

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

The High Court dismissed an application to review its earlier order in a dispute over appointment as Principal Treasurer, finding no error on the face of the record.

• Review Of Court Orders
• Error On Face Of Record
• Appointment Of Public Officers
• Service Of Process
• Timeliness Of Affidavits
• Judicial-review

DFCU Bank Limited v Colline Hotel Limited & Another

DFCU Bank Limited v Colline Hotel Limited & Another (Miscellaneous Application 799 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 148 (22 May 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 799 of 2023

Judge

Abinyo, J

The court found that the applicant, as successor in title to Crane Bank, qualifies as an aggrieved party under section 82 of the Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules. However, the applicant failed to prove the existence of an error apparent on the face of the record, as required for review. The evidence did not demonstrate that the default judgment was entered in error or that the applicant was denied an opportunity to defend the suit on its merits. The preliminary objections raised by the respondents regarding non-sealing, non-service, abuse of process, and re…

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• Review Of Judgment
• Default Judgment
• Aggrieved Party Status
• Error On Face Of Record
• Successor In Title
• Costs Award

Masereka v Muhindo (Misc Cause No. 20 of 2018)

Masereka v Muhindo (Misc Cause No. 20 of 2018) [2023] UGHCCD 42 (17 February 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause No. 20 of 2018

Judge

Wagona, J

The High Court found that the application for review was incompetent because the law restricts such applications to the court that passed the decree or made the order. The Applicant sought review of the Magistrate Grade One's orders in the High Court, which lacks jurisdiction for such review under Section 82 of the Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules. The statutory framework and case law confirm that review must be sought in the trial court. Consequently, the application was dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

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• Review Of Execution Orders
• Jurisdiction Of Review
• Consent Judgment Enforcement
• Error On Face Of Record

Musaazi and 9 Others v Lwasa Kaweesi

Musaazi and 9 Others v Lwasa Kaweesi (Miscellaneous Application No. 881 of 2022) [2022] UGHCLD 194 (29 September 2022)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 881 of 2022

Judge

Nassuna Matovu, J

The High Court set aside a consent judgment in a land dispute, expunged an unauthorised defence from the record, and directed the suit to proceed on the merits.

• Review Of Consent Judgment
• Error On Face Of Record
• Expungement Of Defense
• Fraud In Land Transactions
• Review-of-consent-judgment
• Error-on-the-face-of-record

Kabagambe v Mbabazi and Another

Kabagambe v Mbabazi and Another (Miscellaneous Application No. 2 of 2022) [2022] UGHCCD 199 (16 August 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 2 of 2022

Judge

Wagona, J

The applicant, though aggrieved, failed to demonstrate on a balance of probabilities that the land she acquired and referenced in her agreements and title included the suit land subject to Civil Suit No. 0012 of 2016. The evidence presented was new but not sufficiently relevant or compelling to affect the outcome of the original judgment. The alleged errors regarding the description of parties and joint administration did not constitute errors apparent on the face of the record warranting review. The omission to include a co-administrator was not fatal, as an individual administrator may sue…

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• Review Of Judgment
• Locus Standi
• Ownership Dispute
• Error On Face Of Record
• Administration Of Estates

Soroti Municipal Council v Akello and Another

Soroti Municipal Council v Akello and Another (Miscellaneous Application No. 14 of 2020) [2022] UGHCCD 282 (7 June 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 14 of 2020

Judge

Adonyo, J

The court found that the preliminary objections raised by the respondents were largely sustainable. The application was brought under the wrong law, but this was not fatal. However, the applicant was guilty of inordinate and unexplained delay in seeking review, and the matter had been overtaken by events as execution was completed and no fraud was alleged in the consent judgment. The court held that there was no error apparent on the face of the record to warrant review, and the grounds advanced were insufficient. The application was deemed an afterthought and an attempt to amend decisions al…

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• Review Of Judgment
• Consent Judgment
• Preliminary Objection
• Inordinate Delay
• Error On Face Of Record