Uganda Case Law

Apollo Bright Bweyakye and Others v Professor Sam Tulya-Muhika

Apollo Bright Bweyakye and Others v Professor Sam Tulya-Muhika (Civil Application 239 of 2023) [2025] UGCA 234 (18 July 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application 239 of 2023

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, JA/JCC

The Court of Appeal held that the respondent's affidavit in reply was competent, as the deponent was not in personal conduct of the case and was privy to relevant facts, and a valid practicing certificate was on record. The court found that the application disclosed serious questions of law and fact, particularly regarding the propriety of the Notice of Appeal and the extension of time, which merited consideration by the Supreme Court. The court emphasized that it was not the forum to reassess the merits of the underlying appeal but to determine whether the intended appeal was arguable and no…

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• Leave To Appeal
• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Dilatory Conduct
• Affidavit Competence
• Land Dispute

Prof. Murindwa Rutanga v Makerere University

Prof. Murindwa Rutanga v Makerere University (Civil Application No. 55 of 2019) [2025] UGCA 229 (11 July 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 55 of 2019

Judge

Buteera, DCJ, Obura, JA, Kihika, JA /JCC

The respondent failed to comply with the mandatory procedural requirements by not filing an affidavit in reply, written submissions, or a memorandum of appeal within the prescribed time. The court found that this omission constituted material non-compliance with its directions and the rules governing appeals. The failure to take essential steps to prosecute the appeal rendered the notice of appeal incompetent and an abuse of court process. The court relied on established case law and procedural rules to conclude that the notice of appeal should be struck out, as the respondent did not fulfill…

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• Notice Of Appeal
• Essential Steps
• Abuse Of Process
• Interlocutory Orders

Heywood Group Ltd and Another v Kaffika Animal Feeds Ltd

Heywood Group Ltd and Another v Kaffika Animal Feeds Ltd (Miscellaneous Application 972 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 96 (29 May 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 972 of 2025

Judge

Dr. Ginamia Melody Ngwatu, J

The High Court struck out an interim stay application after finding the attached notice of appeal was not competent because it was not signed by the Registrar.

• Stay Of Execution
• Interim Injunction
• Notice Of Appeal
• Breach Of Contract
• Judgment Enforcement
• Stay-of-execution

Onen v Uganda

Onen v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 214 of 2024) [2025] UGCA 139 (14 May 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Criminal Appeal 214 of 2024

Judge

Dr. F. Zeija, DCJ, Gashirabake, JA, K.K. Katunguka, JJA/JCC

The Court of Appeal struck out this criminal appeal as incompetent because the notice was filed out of time without leave, and the grounds were not concise.

• Aggravated Robbery
• Appeal Out Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Sentencing Principles
• Evaluation Of Evidence
• Criminal-appeal

Nakitto Eva Kasule v Painento Semalulu

Nakitto Eva Kasule v Painento Semalulu (Miscellaneous Application 381 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 362 (2 May 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 381 of 2024

Judge

Bukirwa, J

The court found that both notices of appeal filed by the Applicant were lodged well outside the statutory 14-day period prescribed by rule 76(2) of the Judicature (Court of Appeal) Directions. No application for extension of time was made to regularize the late filing. As a result, there was no competent notice of appeal before the court, and the jurisdiction to grant a stay of execution was not invoked. The Applicant's argument regarding mistake of counsel was not entertained, as it was not properly brought before the court. Consequently, the application for stay of execution was dismissed f…

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• Stay Of Execution
• Notice Of Appeal
• Jurisdiction Of High Court
• Extension Of Time
• Appeal Procedure

John Ddamulira v Rogers Serunjogi and Fausta Serunjogi

John Ddamulira v Rogers Serunjogi and Fausta Serunjogi (Civil Application No. 1200 of 2023) [2025] UGCA 169 (2 May 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Application No. 1200 of 2023

Judge

Monica K. Mugenyi, JA

The Court of Appeal granted an interim stay restraining execution of a decree pending determination of a substantive application, finding a serious threat of execution.

• Interim Injunctions
• Stay Of Execution
• Notice Of Appeal
• Execution Of Judgments
• Alienation Of Property
• Interim-injunctions

Katsinde and Another v Rubarekyera and Others

Katsinde and Another v Rubarekyera and Others (Miscellaneous Application 41 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 200 (15 April 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 41 of 2024

Judge

Tweyanze, J

The High Court at Masaka dismissed an application for stay of execution, finding no proven substantial loss, no imminent execution threat, and no security offered.

• Stay Of Execution
• Notice Of Appeal
• Security For Due Performance
• Substantial Loss
• Balance Of Convenience
• Stay-of-execution

Semuddu & 3 Others v Wasswa

Semuddu & 3 Others v Wasswa (Miscellaneous Application 208 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 160 (20 February 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 208 of 2024

Judge

Karemani Jamson K, J

The court found that the applicants failed to serve the notice of appeal on the respondent within the prescribed time due to a mistake of their previous counsel. The court exercised its discretionary power under Section 96 of the Civil Procedure Act and relevant rules to enlarge the time for service, holding that the applicants had shown sufficient cause for the delay. The principle that a mistake of counsel should not be visited on the party was applied, and the court emphasized the need to administer substantive justice over technicalities. Consequently, the service of the notice of appeal…

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• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Mistake Of Counsel
• Validation Of Service

Sanitation Africa Limited v Lutheran World Federation

Sanitation Africa Limited v Lutheran World Federation (Miscellaneous Application 1812 of 2024) [2025] UGCommC 67 (3 February 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 1812 of 2024

Judge

Anna B. Mugenyi, J

The court found that the applicant was not privy to the default of their advocate, who failed to file the notice of appeal within the prescribed time despite clear instructions. The applicant relied on the advocate's assurance and acted promptly upon discovering the omission by instructing new counsel and filing the application for extension of time. The court held that the mistake of counsel should not be visited on the applicant, and there was no evidence of dilatory conduct or negligence on the applicant's part. The intended appeal was not shown to be frivolous or a sham. Therefore, the ap…

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• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Mistake Of Counsel
• Judicial Discretion

Law Development Centre v Nabulime Kayongo (Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 47 of 2023)

Law Development Centre v Nabulime Kayongo (Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 47 of 2023) [2025] UGIC 19 (31 January 2025)

Court

Industrial Court of Uganda

Case number

Labour Dispute Miscellaneous Application 47 of 2023

Judge

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

The court found that although the applicant may not have been notified of the new date for delivery of the award, it was indisputably made aware of the award on 11/01/2023. Upon receiving this information, the applicant and its new counsel failed to act promptly to seek leave for extension of time to file the notice of appeal. Instead, they engaged in unnecessary correspondence and delayed action under the pretext of needing the record of proceedings, which was not required for filing a notice of appeal. The court held that the applicant's conduct amounted to a lack of diligence and that the…

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• Extension Of Time
• Notice Of Appeal
• Industrial Court Awards
• Delay And Diligence
• Appeal Procedure