Uganda Case Law

Kitto (Administrator of the Estate of the late Dr. John Chrysostom Kiyimba Kitto) v Athena Investments Limited

Kitto (Administrator of the Estate of the late Dr. John Chrysostom Kiyimba Kitto) v Athena Investments Limited (Civil Suit 264 of 2017) [2025] UGHCLD 50 (28 March 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 264 of 2017

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The High Court found the plaintiff was a lawful occupant of the land, held the defendant’s leasehold acquisition unlawful, and awarded damages and cancellation.

• Bonafide Occupancy
• Mailo Land
• Fraudulent Acquisition
• Trespass To Land
• Eviction Procedure
• Land-law

John Kintu Kalonde v Ssemujju Joseph and Others

John Kintu Kalonde v Ssemujju Joseph and Others (Miscellaneous Application 253 of 2023) [2025] UGHC 303 (6 March 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 253 of 2023

Judge

Wolayo, J

The High Court partly upheld a strike-out application in a land dispute, striking the suit against two defendants and ordering mediation for the remaining parties.

• Limitation Of Actions
• Cause Of Action
• Beneficiary Rights
• Mailo Land
• Kibanja Interest
• Land-law

Kawuma Ngobya v Nsambu and Another

Kawuma Ngobya v Nsambu and Another (Miscellaneous Application 1111 of 2024) [2024] UGHCLD 263 (7 November 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1111 of 2024

Judge

Nabakooza, J

The court found that the question of whether the Respondents had locus standi to institute the main suit could not be determined as a preliminary objection because it required the court to ascertain facts and examine evidence regarding the legality of the Respondents' acquisition of the suit property. The court held that the Respondents, as registered proprietors, have a right to bring the suit, and any challenge to the legality of their title must be determined at trial. On the lis pendens issue, the court determined that although both suits concerned the same land, the parties and causes of…

Source excerpt

• Locus Standi
• Lis Pendens
• Ownership Of Land
• Mailo Land
• Estate Administration

Mutagubya Stephen v Nanteza Rebecca & 5 Others

Mutagubya Stephen v Nanteza Rebecca & 5 Others (Civil Suit 131 of 2014) [2024] UGHCLD 53 (29 February 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 131 of 2014

Judge

Kazaarwe, J

The High Court held that the plaintiff had a protectable Kibanja interest, ordered a joint survey and transfer forms to be signed, and dismissed the counterclaim.

• Mailo Land
• Tenant By Occupancy
• Specific Performance
• Land Transfer
• Counterclaim
• Joint Survey

Senono & Another v Sugar Corporation (U) Limited & 16 Others

Senono & Another v Sugar Corporation (U) Limited & 16 Others (Miscellaneous Application 465 of 2022) [2024] UGHC 730 (23 February 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 465 of 2022

Judge

Kaahwa, J

The High Court at Mukono allowed an application to add the Commissioner Land Registration and the Attorney General as defendants and to amend the plaint, but struck out “all occupants of the land.”

• Joinder Of Parties
• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Mailo Land
• Fraudulent Land Acquisition
• Joinder-of-parties
• Amendment-of-pleadings

Semakula v Kitaka

Semakula v Kitaka (Civil Appeal No. 79 of 2019) [2023] UGHCLD 3 (19 January 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 79 of 2019

Judge

Nkonge, J

The High Court dismissed an appeal in a land dispute, upholding a kibanja interest and finding the appellant had not proved trespass or invalidated the respondent’s prior interest.

• Kibanja Interest
• Mailo Land
• Trespass To Land
• Burden Of Proof
• Sale Of Land
• Equitable Interest

Nakato and 2 Others v Katayira aka john and Another

Nakato and 2 Others v Katayira aka john and Another (Civil Suit No. 4 of 2005) [2023] UGHCLD 7 (16 January 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 4 of 2005

Judge

Tweyanze, J

The Defendant did not lawfully acquire a Kibanja interest in the suit land because there was no evidence of consent from the registered proprietor, Samuel Senyondo, as required by Section 34 of the Land Act. The sale agreements relied upon by the Defendant were either executed after the purported seller's death or lacked essential details and consent, rendering them null and void. The Defendant's occupation was therefore trespass. The allegations of fraud against the Plaintiffs were not proved, as the Defendant failed to provide credible evidence of fraudulent conduct in the acquisition or tr…

Source excerpt

• Kibanja Interest
• Mailo Land
• Fraud In Land Transactions
• Eviction
• Mesne Profits

St. Noah Junior Boarding Primary School Limited and 2 Others v Kiviri

St. Noah Junior Boarding Primary School Limited and 2 Others v Kiviri (Civil Appeal 3 of 2022) [2022] UGHCLD 296 (15 November 2022)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 3 of 2022

Judge

Ojok, J

The High Court dismissed a land appeal, holding that both sides' kibanja transactions were void for lack of landlord consent and that general appeal grounds were too vague.

• Bibanja Tenure
• Mailo Land
• Admissibility Of Evidence
• Consent Of Landlord
• Adverse Possession
• Evaluation Of Evidence

KCB Bank Limited v Formula Feeds Limited and 5 Others

KCB Bank Limited v Formula Feeds Limited and 5 Others (Miscellaneous Application 681 of 2021) [2022] UGCommC 167 (12 September 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 681 of 2021

Judge

Stephen Mubiru, J

The High Court found the 1st and 2nd respondents in contempt for failing to rectify land titles as ordered, and set aside later transfers and special certificates.

• Contempt Of Court
• Rectification Of Title
• Mortgage Enforcement
• Mailo Land
• Noncitizen Land Ownership
• Execution Of Decree

Mabirizi v Kabaka of Buganda

Mabirizi v Kabaka of Buganda (Civil Application 28 of 2019) [2020] UGSC 9 (18 June 2020)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 28 of 2019

Judge

Kisaakye, JSC

The Supreme Court dismissed the application on the primary ground that it had been overtaken by events, as the door-to-door collection of ground rent (busuulu) had already concluded before the hearing of the application. Additionally, the Court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application because it did not arise from a decision of the Court of Appeal, as required by Article 132(2) of the Constitution. The orders sought by the applicant were not related to the subject matter of the pending appeal before the Supreme Court, which concerned discovery proceedings, not the collect…

Source excerpt

• Interim Injunctions
• Locus Standi
• Res Judicata
• Abuse Of Court Process
• Mailo Land
• Ground Rent