Uganda Case Law

Life Medical and Rescue International Ltd v Nu World Proprietary Limited

Life Medical and Rescue International Ltd v Nu World Proprietary Limited (Miscellaneous Application No. 723 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 220 (10 July 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 723 of 2025

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The court held that the governing law clause in the parties' Memorandum of Agreement, which stipulates that the agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, does not amount to an exclusive jurisdiction clause. The clause only determines the substantive law applicable to the contract, not the forum for dispute resolution. In the absence of an unequivocal exclusive jurisdiction clause, the High Court of Uganda retains its unlimited original jurisdiction under Article 139(1) of the Constitution and Section 14 of the Judicature Act. The…

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• Jurisdiction Of High Court
• Governing Law Clauses
• Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses
• Forum Non Conveniens
• Contractual Disputes
• Virtual Hearings

Beiersdorf East Africa Limited and Another v Dembe Trading Enterprises Limited

Beiersdorf East Africa Limited and Another v Dembe Trading Enterprises Limited (Miscellaneous Appeal 45 of 2022) [2022] UGCommC 174 (30 November 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Appeal 45 of 2022

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court held that the Deputy Registrar erred in law by determining the question of jurisdiction, a substantive issue that should have been reserved for the trial judge under the Civil Procedure Rules. The court found that the exclusive jurisdiction clause in the parties' agreement was clear, valid, and binding, conferring jurisdiction on the Kenyan Commercial Court. The Respondent failed to demonstrate any strong reason or public policy ground to justify departure from the contractual forum, and the involvement of a third party did not displace the effect of the clause. As a result, th…

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• Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses
• Temporary Injunctions
• Contractual Disputes
• Forum Selection
• Appeals Procedure

Maersk Agency Uganda Limited v Munywevu & Another

Maersk Agency Uganda Limited v Munywevu & Another (Miscellaneous Application 1177 of 2021) [2022] UGHC 153 (4 March 2022)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1177 of 2021

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

The High Court held that the applicant submitted to jurisdiction by failing to file a notice of intention to defend, and rejected enforcement of an exclusive English forum clause.

• Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses
• Forum Selection
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Default Judgment
• Submission To Jurisdiction
• Exclusive-jurisdiction-clauses

Icco Cooperation v Trivision Uganda Ltd

Icco Cooperation v Trivision Uganda Ltd (Miscellaneous Application None of 2018) [2018] UGCommC 14 (23 May 2018)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application None of 2018

The High Court of Uganda held that an exclusive Dutch forum clause did not oust its jurisdiction and denied the application to dismiss the suit.

• Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Forum Selection
• Access To Justice
• Breach Of Contract
• Exclusive-jurisdiction-clauses

Egbert De Smet v Nakassanga

Egbert De Smet v Nakassanga (Civil Suit No. 387 of 2011) [2017] UGCommC 135 (21 August 2017)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No. 387 of 2011

The High Court held that a foreign exclusive-jurisdiction clause did not oust its constitutional jurisdiction and overruled the defendant’s preliminary objection.

• Jurisdiction Of High Court
• Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses
• Forum Conveniens
• Contract Enforcement
• High-court-jurisdiction
• Exclusive-jurisdiction-clauses