Uganda Case Law

Makindye Sabagabo Municipal Council v Busenvi Enterprises Limited

Makindye Sabagabo Municipal Council v Busenvi Enterprises Limited (Miscellaneous Application 475 of 2022) [2025] UGHCCD 99 (16 July 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 475 of 2022

Judge

Bonny Isaac Teko, J

The court found that the Special Conditions of the Contract expressly excluded arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism, providing instead for amicable settlement followed by recourse to the courts if necessary. The SCC superseded the General Conditions, rendering the arbitration clause inoperative and incapable of being performed. Both parties, by participating in mediation and entering a consent judgment, had submitted to the court's jurisdiction and were estopped from invoking the arbitration clause. The court held that the chain to arbitration was broken and that it retained jurisdic…

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• Arbitration Agreements
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Contractual Dispute Resolution
• Consent Judgments

Luhinda Junior v Umutesi Faith

Luhinda Junior v Umutesi Faith (Miscellaneous Cause 26 of 2022) [2025] UGHCFD 51 (20 June 2025)

Court

HC: Family Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 26 of 2022

Judge

Keitirima, J

The High Court dismissed an application to reseal or transfer for execution orders made by the Family and Children’s Court, holding that the lower court should execute its own decision.

• Execution Of Decrees
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Consent Orders
• Execution-of-decrees
• Jurisdiction-of-courts
• Consent-orders

Matser v Jingo and Another

Matser v Jingo and Another (Civil Appeal 65 of 2020) [2024] UGHCLD 187 (11 July 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 65 of 2020

Judge

Basaza Waswa, J

The High Court found that the trial Magistrate lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application for leave to construct an access road after the commencement of the Roads Act, 2019, which repealed the Access to Roads Act and vested such jurisdiction in the Minister responsible for roads. All proceedings, decisions, and orders made by the Magistrate after September 25, 2019, are a nullity and void ab initio. Even if jurisdiction had existed, the appellant failed to discharge the burden of proof regarding the existence of an access road through the respondents' land and did not demonstrate that…

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• Access To Roads
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Easements
• Burden Of Proof

Thembo v Mubingwa

Thembo v Mubingwa (Civil Suit 47 of 2024) [2024] UGHC 656 (25 June 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 47 of 2024

Judge

David S.L. Makumbi, J

High Court ruling dismissed a fresh land suit as barred by lis pendens, holding the proper course was to reinstate the original file for retrial under the Court of Appeal’s orders.

• Lis Pendens
• Abuse Of Court Process
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Multiplicity Of Suits
• Specific Performance
• Breach Of Contract

Akol v Okodel

Akol v Okodel (Civil Appeal 9 of 2021) [2024] UGSC 25 (7 May 2024)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 9 of 2021

Judge

Owiny-Dollo, CJ, Mwondha, JSC, Tuhaise, JSC, Mike Chibita, JSC, Elizabeth Musoke, JSC

The Supreme Court held that it lacked jurisdiction to grant the consequential orders sought by the Appellant, specifically the revocation of the gazette notice declaring Hon. Among Anita Annet as unopposed Woman MP for Bukedea District and the order for fresh nomination and election. The Court reasoned that such remedies are only available in the High Court as the final appellate court from the Electoral Commission, or in the Court of Appeal as the final court in parliamentary election petitions, neither of which applied to the present case. Furthermore, the Court found that granting the orde…

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• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Consequential Orders
• Fair Hearing Rights
• Gazetting Of Elected Members
• Nomination Disputes

Luigi Gianazzi v Chemtai Lucy

Luigi Gianazzi v Chemtai Lucy (Civil Suit 18 of 2018) [2024] UGHC 1 (25 January 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 18 of 2018

Judge

Lubega, J

The court found that the salary loan in question arose from an employer-employee relationship, as evidenced by the pleadings and the manner of repayment—through salary deductions. The plaintiff, though arguing the loan was personal, was the owner and employer, and the loan was described as a salary loan in both parties' evidence. The court held that the dispute was fundamentally an employment matter, and that the existence of a pending labour dispute before the Labour Office and Industrial Court regarding the same issue (liability for the salary loan balance following alleged unlawful termina…

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• Salary Loans
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Unlawful Termination
• Employee Employer Relationship
• Lis Pendens
• Loan Repayment

Omugabe v Tumwesigye

Omugabe v Tumwesigye (Civil Miscellaneous Application 10 of 2023) [2023] UGHCCD 249 (31 August 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 10 of 2023

Judge

Wagona, J

The High Court set aside a small claims judgment after finding the parties had a valid arbitration clause and the dispute should first have gone to arbitration.

• Arbitration Clauses
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Revision Of Magistrate Decisions
• Stay Of Execution
• Arbitration-clause
• Jurisdiction

Nakiranda v Serunkuma

Nakiranda v Serunkuma (Civil Appeal 26 of 2021) [2023] UGHCCD 267 (28 February 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 26 of 2021

Judge

Kaahwa, J

The High Court held that the appeal arose from a matter already determined by the LC III Court and that the proper route was an appeal to a Chief Magistrate.

• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Appeals Process
• Res Judicata
• Local Council Courts
• Land Disputes
• Jurisdiction

Rukikaire v INCAFEX Limited

Rukikaire v INCAFEX Limited (Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2021) [2022] UGSC 25 (4 January 2022)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2021

Judge

Mike Chibita, JSC

The Supreme Court declined an application for contempt, winding up, and payment orders, holding it was premature and that the parties should return to the ordered special audit.

• Contempt Of Court
• Winding Up Of Company
• Special Audit Orders
• Abuse Of Process
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Contempt-of-court

Mayimba v Nakato

Mayimba v Nakato (Miscellaneous Application No. 111 of 2020) [2021] UGHCCD 199 (5 November 2021)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 111 of 2020

Judge

Katamba Nkwanga, J

High Court revision application dismissed: the court held that the LCII court had jurisdiction over the land dispute and that alleged procedural defects were not grounds for revision.

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Local Council Courts
• Jurisdiction Of Courts
• Fair Hearing
• Land Disputes
• Revision-jurisdiction