Uganda Case Law

Mugisha Moses Mugyenyi v Rev. Can Gantunu Nyarino

Mugisha Moses Mugyenyi v Rev. Can Gantunu Nyarino (Civil Revision 31 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 463 (30 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 31 of 2024

Judge

Allan Nshimye, J

The High Court found that the LCII court had jurisdiction to hear matters of trespass, including disputes over removal of boundary marker plants, as provided under Section 9 and Schedule 2 of the Local Council Courts Act. The Chief Magistrate acted within the law in granting execution of the LCII court's judgment, which related to trespass and not to the title of land. The applicant's contention that the LCII court lacked jurisdiction was unfounded, as the dispute did not concern the title to land but rather a trespass claim. The application for revision was therefore dismissed, as there was…

Source excerpt

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Magistrates Court Powers
• Local Council Courts
• Trespass To Land

Nyonyi v Nakamya

Nyonyi v Nakamya (Civil Appeal 38 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 283 (12 May 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 38 of 2024

Judge

Karemani Jamson K, J

The High Court allowed a land appeal, holding that the trial magistrate wrongly dismissed the suit as res judicata and wrongly upheld the counterclaim without a merits hearing.

• Res Judicata
• Local Council Courts
• Counterclaims
• Land Ownership Disputes
• Res-judicata
• Civil-appeals

Masiga and 3 ors v Wanyama

Masiga and 3 ors v Wanyama (Civil Suit 44 of 2022) [2023] UGHCCD 313 (14 July 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 44 of 2022

Judge

Kawesa, J

The court found that the Buteba LCIII Court acted without jurisdiction in passing judgment on a land dispute, as established by Supreme Court precedent. The Chief Magistrate's Court of Busia erred by failing to exercise its revisionary jurisdiction to set aside the illegal judgment. The respondent's failure to rebut the applicant's affidavit evidence meant those facts were deemed admitted. The court held that once an illegality is brought to its attention, it cannot be allowed to stand. Accordingly, both the proceedings and orders of the Buteba LCIII Court and the Chief Magistrate's Court of…

Source excerpt

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Local Council Courts
• Illegality In Judgment
• Jurisdictional Error

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

Okana v Ocaya

Okana v Ocaya (Civil Revision 5 of 2022) [2022] UGHC 49 (22 December 2022)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 5 of 2022

Judge

Okello, J

The High Court struck out a revision application for lack of affidavit support and dismissed it on the merits, holding the applicant had acquiesced to the earlier land decision.

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Local Council Courts
• Competence Of Motion
• Abuse Of Court Process
• Civil-procedure
• Revision-jurisdiction

Byakutaga v Kakururu

Byakutaga v Kakururu (Civil Revision 8 of 2021) [2022] UGHC 124 (15 December 2022)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 8 of 2021

Judge

Joyce Kavuma, J

The High Court struck out a revision motion for failing to state its grounds as required by Order 52 rule 3, and held it lacked revision jurisdiction over LC courts.

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Notice Of Motion Requirements
• Local Council Courts
• Supervisory Powers
• Procedural Defects
• Civil-procedure

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

Otto v Onyut

Otto v Onyut (Civil Revision No. 5 of 2020) [2020] UGHC 149 (23 July 2020)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision No. 5 of 2020

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

The High Court dismissed a revision application, holding that no jurisdictional error was shown in the Chief Magistrate’s dismissal of a land dispute appeal.

• Revision Jurisdiction
• Local Council Courts
• Customary Land Disputes
• Procedural Irregularity
• Revision-jurisdiction
• Local-council-courts

Mwaka v Mukirania

Mwaka v Mukirania (Civil Appeal No. 0026 of 2015) [2017] UGHCLD 232 (28 September 2017)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 0026 of 2015

Judge

Ojok, J

The High Court dismissed a civil appeal, upheld a finding that a Local Council II land judgment was a nullity, and affirmed the award of costs.

• Review Of Judgment
• Affidavit Evidence
• Costs Award
• Local Council Courts
• Land Disputes
• Civil-appeal

Ndagahweire v Kaana Ephraim (High Court Civil Appeal No. 0008 of 2009)

Ndagahweire v Kaana Ephraim (High Court Civil Appeal No. 0008 of 2009) [2011] UGHC 115 (11 August 2011)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

High Court Civil Appeal No. 0008 of 2009

Judge

Kwesiga, J

The High Court found that while there were procedural irregularities in the LC III Court's handling of the locus in quo and hearing of new witnesses, these did not amount to a miscarriage of justice. The Appellant was given ample opportunity to present his case and cross-examine witnesses, and the sale agreement for the disputed land was properly admitted and identified by the parties. The allegations of bias were unsupported by evidence, and the LC Courts followed the principles of natural justice and consensus decision-making. The procedural errors were not fatal and did not prejudice the s…

Source excerpt

• Locus In Quo Procedure
• Natural Justice
• Local Council Courts
• Sale Agreement Validity