Uganda Case Law

Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) v Attorney General of the Republic of South Sudan

Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) v Attorney General of the Republic of South Sudan (Reference No.26 of 2020) [2025] EACJ 1 (25 February 2025) (First Instance Division)

Court

East African Court of Justice

Case number

Reference No.26 of 2020

Judge

Gacuko J, Kasanda J, Masara PJ, Muhumuza J, Wejuli DPJ

The East African Court of Justice dismissed PALU’s reference against South Sudan as time-barred, holding that the two-month limit under Article 30(2) had expired.

• Jurisdiction Ratione Temporis
• Time Limitation
• Treaty Interpretation
• Human Rights Violations
• Jurisdiction-ratione-temporis
• Time-limitation

Soumare v Republic of Mali (Application 038/2019)

Soumare v Republic of Mali (Application 038/2019) [2023] AfCHPR 23 (5 September 2023)

Court

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Application 038/2019

Judge

Aboud P, Adjei J, Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Kioko J, Mengue J, Ntsebeza J, Tchikaya J

The African Court found Aminata Soumaré’s application inadmissible for failure to prove exhaustion of local remedies, and dismissed provisional measures.

• Exhaustion Of Local Remedies
• Admissibility Requirements
• Human Rights Violations
• Provisional Measures
• Exhaustion-of-local-remedies
• Admissibility

Yayi v Republic of Benin (Application No. 023/2019)

Yayi v Republic of Benin (Application No. 023/2019) [2022] AfCHPR 27 (22 September 2022)

Court

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Application No. 023/2019

Judge

Aboud P, Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Kioko J, Mengue J, Ntsebeza J, Sacko J, Tchikaya VP

The African Court struck out Thomas Boni Yayi’s application after he requested discontinuance, finding further consideration unwarranted under Rule 65(1)(a).

• Human Rights Violations
• Right To Life
• Right To Liberty
• Fair Trial
• State Responsibility
• Strike-out-order

XYZ v Repubic of Benin (Application No. 003/2021)

XYZ v Repubic of Benin (Application No. 003/2021) [2021] AfCHPR 47 (8 April 2021)

Court

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Application No. 003/2021

Judge

Aboud J, Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Kioko VP, Matusse J, Mengue J, Mukamulisa J, Orè P, Tchikaya J

The Court found that the Applicant failed to demonstrate the urgency required for provisional measures, as there was a significant lapse of time between the issuance of the decree setting the election date and the filing of the application, with no explanation for the delay. The absence of a real and imminent risk of irreparable harm was established, as the Applicant did not show that harm would occur before the Court could render its final judgment. Furthermore, several requests made by the Applicant had already been addressed in previous judgments of the Court, rendering them moot. Requests…

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• Electoral Process
• Judicial Independence
• Provisional Measures
• Human Rights Violations
• Constitutional Amendment

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Order) (Application No. 004/2011)

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Order) (Application No. 004/2011) [2013] AfCHPR 32 (15 March 2013)

Court

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Application No. 004/2011

Judge

Aba J, Akuffo P, Eno R, Guissè J, Kioko J, Ngoepe J, Niyungeko J, Ouguergouz VP, Ramadhani J, Tambala J, Thompson J

The African Court struck out the application after finding the African Commission had not filed its reply within the extended time and had not pursued the case.

• Human Rights Violations
• African Charter
• Provisional Measures
• Amicus Curiae
• Case Struck Out
• Human-rights-violations

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Order for Provisional Measures) (Application No. 004/2011)

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Order for Provisional Measures) (Application No. 004/2011) [2011] AfCHPR 1 (25 March 2011)

Court

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Application No. 004/2011

Judge

Akuffo VP, Guindo J, Mulenga J, Mutsinzi J, Ngoepe J, Niyungeko P, Orė J, Ouguergouz J, Ramadhani J, Tambala J, Thompson J

The African Court ordered Libya to refrain from actions causing loss of life or harm to physical integrity and to report compliance within 15 days.

• Human Rights Violations
• Provisional Measures
• Right To Life
• Physical Integrity
• Freedom Of Assembly
• International Humanitarian Law

Article 19 v State of Eritrea (Communication 275 of 2003)

Article 19 v State of Eritrea (Communication 275 of 2003) [2007] ACHPR 79 (30 May 2007)

Court

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Communication 275 of 2003

The African Commission found that the incommunicado detention without trial of 18 journalists by Eritrea, and the ban on the private press, constituted violations of multiple provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The Commission held that the requirement to exhaust local remedies did not apply because such remedies were unavailable, ineffective, and insufficient in the circumstances, given the executive's control over the judiciary, the lack of access to courts, and the State's failure to act despite ample notice. The Commission rejected Eritrea's justification based…

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• Human Rights Violations
• Arbitrary Detention
• Freedom Of Expression
• Press Freedom
• Right To Fair Trial
• Judicial Independence

Ilesanmi v Nigeria (Communication 268 of 2003)

Ilesanmi v Nigeria (Communication 268 of 2003) [2005] ACHPR 66 (11 May 2005)

Court

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Communication 268 of 2003

The African Commission declared Ilesanmi’s communication against Nigeria inadmissible for failure to exhaust local remedies and for insulting, disparaging language.

• Exhaustion Of Local Remedies
• Admissibility Requirements
• Insulting Language In Petitions
• Human Rights Violations
• State Responsibility
• Exhaustion-of-local-remedies

Association pour la Defence des Droits de L'Homme et des Libertes v Djibouti (Communication 133 of 1994)

Association pour la Defence des Droits de L'Homme et des Libertes v Djibouti (Communication 133 of 1994) [2000] ACHPR 12 (11 May 2000)

Court

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Communication 133 of 1994

The African Commission closed a communication against Djibouti after the parties confirmed they had reached an amicable settlement.

• Human Rights Violations
• Amicable Settlement
• Exhaustion Of Local Remedies
• Ethnic Discrimination
• State Responsibility
• Amicable-settlement

Jawara v Gambia (Communication 147 of 1995; Communication 149 of 1996)

Jawara v Gambia (Communication 147 of 1995; Communication 149 of 1996) [2000] ACHPR 17 (11 May 2000)

Court

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Case number

Communication 147 of 1995 ; Communication 149 of 1996

The African Commission found that the Gambian military government's suspension of the Bill of Rights, enactment of decrees ousting court jurisdiction, arbitrary arrests and detentions, retroactive criminal legislation, and restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, movement, and political participation constituted violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The Commission held that local remedies were unavailable due to the ouster of judicial competence and generalised fear, thus admissibility was satisfied. The government failed to provide credible evidence refu…

Source excerpt

• Human Rights Violations
• Right To Life
• Freedom Of Expression
• Arbitrary Detention
• Right To Fair Trial
• Judicial Independence