Uganda Case Law

Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde v Uganda (Private Prosecution by Byamazima Joshua and Tonny Tumukunde) (Revision Application No. 002 of 2025)

Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde v Uganda (Private Prosecution by Byamazima Joshua and Tonny Tumukunde) (Revision Application No. 002 of 2025) [2025] UGHCCRD 24 (18 June 2025)

Court

HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

Case number

Revision Application No. 002 of 2025

Judge

Gadenya, J

The High Court Criminal Division denied a recusal application, holding that the applicant failed to show cogent evidence of apparent bias or rebut the presumption of impartiality.

• Judicial Recusal
• Apparent Bias
• Judicial Impartiality
• Stay Of Proceedings
• Judicial-recusal
• Apparent-bias

Chepkwony v Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya (Application No.19 of 2023)

Chepkwony v Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya (Application No.19 of 2023) [2024] EACJ 4 (27 March 2024) (First Instance Division)

Court

East African Court of Justice

Case number

Application No.19 of 2023

Judge

Masara PJ, Muhumuza J, Nyachae J, Nyawello DPJ, Wejuli J

The Court held that the Applicant failed to establish any reasonable basis for the recusal of Justice Charles Nyachae. The allegations of bias and conflict of interest were unsupported by evidence and amounted to mere speculation. The timing of the application, coming after the Reference had been heard and concluded, suggested an abuse of court process rather than a genuine concern for impartiality. The Court reaffirmed that recusal requires a demonstrable and reasonable apprehension of bias, assessed from the perspective of a fair-minded and informed observer. The Applicant did not provide f…

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• Judicial Recusal
• Judicial Bias
• Impartiality Of Judges
• Abuse Of Court Process

Tumushabe v Torres Advanced Enterprises (Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 157 of 2021)

Tumushabe v Torres Advanced Enterprises (Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 157 of 2021) [2022] UGIC 88 (2 December 2022)

Court

Industrial Court of Uganda

Case number

Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 157 of 2021

Judge

Tumusiime-Mugisha, J, Mubuuke, Panel Member, Mugambwa, Panel Member, Ebyau, Panel Member

The Industrial Court judge recused herself after noting prior participation in mediation discussions that resolved the dispute, citing the need to avoid apparent bias.

• Judicial Recusal
• Impartiality Of Tribunal
• Mediation Settlement
• Judicial-recusal
• Impartiality-of-tribunal
• Labour-dispute-mediation

Musaasizi v CIPLA / Quality Chemicals Limited (Labour Dispute Reference No. 271 of 2016)

Musaasizi v CIPLA / Quality Chemicals Limited (Labour Dispute Reference No. 271 of 2016) [2022] UGIC 20 (30 August 2022)

Court

Industrial Court of Uganda

Case number

Labour Dispute Reference No. 271 of 2016

Judge

Namara, Panel Member, Nabirye, Panel Member, Matovu, Panel Member, Wabwire, J

The presiding judge, having previously acted as legal counsel for the claimant and acquired personal knowledge of the disputed facts, determined that his continued participation would compromise the perception of impartiality required by Article 28 of the Constitution and the Uganda Judicial Code of Conduct. Although no actual bias was alleged, the reasonable test of impartiality necessitated recusal to maintain public confidence in the judicial process. The judge therefore recused himself from the proceedings and returned the file for reallocation.

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• Judicial Recusal
• Impartiality Of Tribunal
• Judicial Conduct

Mabirizi Kiwanuka v Attorney General

Mabirizi Kiwanuka v Attorney General (Miscellaneous Application No. 89 of 2022) [2022] UGHCCD 71 (1 April 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 89 of 2022

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The applicant failed to establish any factual basis for actual, imputed, or apparent bias as required under Rule 7 of the Recusal Practice Directions. The mere fact that previous rulings have been adverse to the applicant does not, in itself, constitute evidence of bias. Allegations of personal vendetta or improper association with another judge were speculative and unsupported by facts. The court found that none of the definitions of bias—actual, imputed, or apparent—were satisfied in this case. The principle that justice must be seen to be done applies to all parties and observers, not sole…

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• Judicial Recusal
• Impartiality Of Judges
• Bias Allegations
• Practice Directions On Recusal

Male Mabirizi v Attorney General

Male Mabirizi v Attorney General (Miscellaneous Application No. 21 of 2022) [2022] UGHCCD 52 (27 January 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 21 of 2022

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court declined to stay proceedings pending an EACJ reference on recusal, holding that the treaty does not create an automatic stay and dismissed the application with costs.

• Stay Of Proceedings
• Judicial Recusal
• Abuse Of Process
• Forum Shopping
• Stay-of-proceedings
• Judicial-recusal

Makubuya v UMEME Limited

Makubuya v UMEME Limited (Civil Application 18 of 2019) [2021] UGSC 31 (7 October 2021)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 18 of 2019

Judge

Opio-Aweri, JA, Mwondha, JSC, Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, JSC, Mugamba, JSC, Tuhaise, JSC

The Supreme Court held that the applicant failed to satisfy the requirements for adducing additional evidence on second appeal. The evidence (valuation report and invoices) was not new, as it could and should have been produced at the High Court or at least at the Court of Appeal. The applicant did not demonstrate that due diligence was exercised or that the evidence was unavailable at the earlier stages. Furthermore, the applicant did not specifically plead special damages in the High Court, and the attempt to introduce such evidence at this stage amounted to an impermissible amendment of th…

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• Adducing Fresh Evidence On Appeal
• Special Damages Pleading And Proof
• Judicial Recusal
• Appellate Procedure

Mabirizi v Kabaka of Buganda

Mabirizi v Kabaka of Buganda (Civil Appeal 13 of 2018) [2021] UGSC 32 (18 May 2021)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 13 of 2018

Judge

Tuhaise, JSC

Justice Tuhaise found that the applicant's claim of animosity and lack of impartiality was unsubstantiated and based on his own perception, which did not meet the objective test for reasonable apprehension of bias. She distinguished between having knowledge of the facts from prior judicial handling and having personal knowledge as a witness, concluding that her prior ruling did not give her personal knowledge of the disputed facts. However, she determined that since the applicant sought to set aside her own prior ruling in the Court of Appeal within the present appeal, sitting on the coram wo…

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• Judicial Recusal
• Impartiality Of Judges
• Natural Justice
• Fair Hearing

In Re: Application for recusal of Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo - CJ

In Re: Application for recusal of Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo - CJ (Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2021) [2021] UGSC 67 (17 March 2021)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2021

Judge

Owiny-Dollo, CJ, Kisaakye, JSC, Arach-Amoko, JSC, Opio-Aweri, JSC, Mwondha, JSC, Mugamba, JSC, Muhanguzi, JSC, Tuhaise, JSC, Mike Chibita, JSC

The Supreme Court of Uganda dismissed an application seeking the recusal of the Chief Justice from the presidential election petition and to nullify earlier proceedings.

• Judicial Recusal
• Judicial Bias
• Presidential Election Petition
• Court Composition
• Judicial-recusal
• Judicial-bias

Mataala & Anor v Kigongo (Misc. Application No. 61 of 2014)

Mataala & Anor v Kigongo (Misc. Application No. 61 of 2014) [2014] UGHCLD 113 (22 August 2014)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc. Application No. 61 of 2014

Judge

Luswata, J

The High Court Land Division recused itself after finding that the applicants’ perception of possible bias was enough to justify stepping aside from the matter.

• Judicial Recusal
• Conflict Of Interest
• Perceived Bias
• Temporary Injunction
• Contempt Of Court
• Judicial-recusal