Uganda Case Law

Brianna v Mugisha

Brianna v Mugisha (Miscellaneous Cause 98 of 2024) [2025] UGHCFD 9 (17 March 2025)

Court

HC: Family Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 98 of 2024

Judge

Nagawa, J

The court found that although no ministerial order extends the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act to the United States, Ugandan courts may enforce U.S. judgments under common law principles of obligation, reciprocity, and comity. The Texas court had competent jurisdiction, the Respondent was properly served and given an opportunity to participate, and there was no evidence of fraud or procedural unfairness. The orders sought to be registered are final and conclusive regarding custody and child support. The Lis pendens rule does not bar recognition of the foreign judgment, as it ap…

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• Foreign Judgment Enforcement
• Child Custody
• Parent Child Relationship
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Comity Principle

Nyambura & Another v Three Way Shipping Group Limited

Nyambura & Another v Three Way Shipping Group Limited (Miscellaneous Cause 120 of 2023) [2024] UGHCCD 143 (6 September 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 120 of 2023

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court of Uganda registered a Kenyan magistrates’ court judgment under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act and ordered it executable in Uganda.

• Foreign Judgment Enforcement
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Registration Of Foreign Judgments
• Judgment Creditor Rights
• Foreign-judgment-enforcement
• Reciprocal-enforcement

Volcano Holdings Ltd v All Africa Logistics Solutions Ltd (Misc Cause No. 230 of 2021)

Volcano Holdings Ltd v All Africa Logistics Solutions Ltd (Misc Cause No. 230 of 2021) [2022] UGHCCD 112 (27 July 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause No. 230 of 2021

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court of Uganda registered and ordered execution of a Mombasa judgment for US$93,728 plus costs, finding the foreign decree enforceable under Ugandan reciprocity law.

• Foreign Judgment Enforcement
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Registration Of Foreign Decree
• Cross Border Contracts
• Foreign-judgment-enforcement
• Reciprocal-enforcement

Likhari v Attorney General

Likhari v Attorney General (MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE NO. 3 OF 2020) [2020] UGHCCD 77 (7 February 2020)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE NO. 3 OF 2020

Judge

Nambayo, J

The court held that the enforcement of a foreign judgment in Uganda is governed by the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, which requires that such a judgment be registered in the High Court before any execution can be carried out. In this case, the judgment and decree from the Juba County Court in South Sudan were not registered in Uganda, and there was no evidence of compliance with the statutory requirements. Consequently, the actions of Interpol and the Uganda Police in arresting the applicant and placing him on police bond based on an unregistered foreign judgment were unlawf…

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• Foreign Judgment Enforcement
• Extradition Procedure
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Registration Of Foreign Judgments

Transroad Ltd v Bank of Uganda

Transroad Ltd v Bank of Uganda (Civil Appeal 30 of 1995) [1996] UGSC 26 (4 March 1996)

Court

Supreme Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 30 of 1995

Judge

Manyindo, DCJ, Odoki, JSC, Oder, JSC

The Supreme Court allowed an appeal over extension of time to register an English judgment, holding the High Court dealt with registrability too early.

• Registration Of Foreign Judgments
• Extension Of Time
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Contractual Debt
• Jurisdictional Submission
• Foreign-judgment-registration

Patel v Vyas

Patel v Vyas (Civil Appeal No. 16 of 1945) [1946] EACA 4 (1 January 1946)

Court

East African Court of Appeal

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 16 of 1945

Judge

Graham Paul CJ, Sheridan CJ, Whitley CJ

The Court held that a decree of the High Court of Uganda, when transferred for execution to Kenya under the Judgments Extension Ordinance, is not a 'foreign judgment' because the reciprocal legislation grants the Uganda court ad hoc authority within Kenya. Consequently, the law of limitation applicable to execution is that of Uganda, not Kenya. Even if the Kenya law were to apply, the proper limitation period for execution of decrees is twelve years under section 3 of the Kenya Limitation Ordinance, not six years under the Indian Limitation Act. The decision in Ambalal Chhotabhai Patel v. The…

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• Execution Of Foreign Decrees
• Limitation Periods
• Reciprocal Enforcement
• Definition Of Foreign Judgment