Uganda Case Law

Abryanz Collection Ltd v Yasheen Ratanshi (Misc. Application No. 831 of 2025)

Abryanz Collection Ltd v Yasheen Ratanshi (Misc. Application No. 831 of 2025) [2025] UGCommC 131 (5 June 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Misc. Application No. 831 of 2025

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The Applicant failed to demonstrate any bona fide triable issue of fact or law that would warrant the grant of unconditional leave to appear and defend the summary suit. The tenancy agreement did not condition the obligation to pay rent on obtaining approvals from city authorities, and the Applicant continued to pay rent and remain in possession even after the premises were condemned. The Applicant's conduct, including proposals to purchase the property and continued payment of rent, evidenced awareness and acceptance of rental obligations. The court found the claim to be clear and liquidated…

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• Summary Procedure
• Tenancy Agreements
• Rent Arrears
• Vacant Possession
• Interest Awards
• Costs Of Suit

Lwanga and Another v Muzira

Lwanga and Another v Muzira (Civil Appeal 104 of 2017) [2024] UGHCCD 208 (19 December 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 104 of 2017

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The High Court dismissed an appeal in a distress-for-rent dispute, upholding the finding that the tenancy had ended and the appellants failed to prove arrears.

• Landlord Tenant Disputes
• Distress For Rent
• Tenancy Agreements
• Rent Arrears
• Distress-for-rent
• Rent-arrears

Lwanga and Another v Muzira

Lwanga and Another v Muzira (Civil Appeal 104 of 2017) [2024] UGHCCD 204 (19 December 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Appeal 104 of 2017

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The High Court upheld the dismissal of a distress-for-rent claim, finding the appellants did not prove the tenancy continued beyond December 2014 or that rent arrears were due.

• Distress For Rent
• Tenancy Disputes
• Rent Arrears
• Eviction Orders
• Distress-for-rent
• Tenancy-disputes

Dabule v Golden Leaves (U) Limited and 2 Others

Dabule v Golden Leaves (U) Limited and 2 Others (Civil Suit 215 of 2020) [2024] UGHCCD 178 (31 October 2024)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 215 of 2020

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The court found that the plaintiff's evidence regarding the alleged rent arrears was materially contradictory and unreliable. The plaintiff failed to provide sufficient, credible evidence to establish the period and amount of unpaid rent, as his testimony conflicted with the receipts produced and with his own pleadings. The court held that mere absence of a defence does not entitle a plaintiff to judgment where the plaintiff's evidence lacks credibility. Additionally, the court determined that the 2nd defendant was a non-existent party and struck her from the suit. On the issue of personal li…

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• Tenancy Disputes
• Rent Arrears
• Corporate Veil
• Party Capacity

Micro-Haem Scientifics & Medical Supplies Limited v Babirye

Micro-Haem Scientifics & Medical Supplies Limited v Babirye (Miscellaneous Application 625 of 2024) [2024] UGCommC 222 (10 July 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 625 of 2024

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The Applicant failed to adduce any evidence of a written agreement or addendum permitting the offset of structural alteration costs against rent, as required by Clause 5(i) of the Tenancy Agreement and Sections 91 and 92 of the Evidence Act. The alleged meetings and consent by the Respondent were not substantiated by documentary evidence. The tenancy agreement clearly placed the obligation for repairs and alterations on the landlord, and any deductions from rent required written agreement. The Applicant's defence was found to be unsupported, vague, and not raising any bona fide triable issue…

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• Summary Procedure
• Tenancy Agreements
• Rent Arrears
• Structural Alterations
• Vacant Possession

Amin v Mogo Loans SMC Limited

Amin v Mogo Loans SMC Limited (Civil Suit 77 of 2021) [2024] UGCommC 215 (28 June 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 77 of 2021

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court held that the tenant breached a commercial tenancy by terminating without proper notice and failing to return keys, but rent was awarded only for March 2020.

• Tenancy Agreement
• Breach Of Contract
• Rent Arrears
• Termination Of Tenancy
• General Damages
• Commercial-tenancy

Blackburn v TAD Beer Trading Center Limited

Blackburn v TAD Beer Trading Center Limited (Civil Suit 636 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 216 (28 June 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 636 of 2023

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court found the tenant breached a commercial tenancy by failing to pay the last four months’ rent and awarded the landlord damages, interest, and costs.

• Tenancy Agreement
• Breach Of Contract
• Rent Arrears
• Special And General Damages
• Interest Award
• Breach-of-contract

Red Stone Training Institute Limited v Sebugwawo

Red Stone Training Institute Limited v Sebugwawo (Miscellaneous Application 195 of 2024) [2024] UGCommC 175 (25 April 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 195 of 2024

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The court found that the Applicant failed to raise any bona fide triable issue of fact or law to warrant the grant of leave to appear and defend the summary suit. The Applicant admitted to owing rent arrears for the period after the tenancy agreement expired and did not contest the arrears when specifically mentioned in correspondence. The Applicant's argument that the claim was based on a non-existing contract was rejected, as occupation and partial payment after expiry implied liability for rent. The court held that the Applicant's defenses were not genuine and amounted to mere denials or s…

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• Summary Procedure
• Leave To Defend
• Tenancy Disputes
• Eviction
• Rent Arrears

Rutagarama v Meera Investments Limited

Rutagarama v Meera Investments Limited (Miscellaneous Application 2184 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 56 (22 March 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 2184 of 2023

Judge

Ocaya, J

The High Court rejected a res judicata objection to a rent-recovery suit, holding that an earlier distress-for-rent application did not finally determine the contractual claim.

• Res Judicata
• Rent Arrears
• Distress For Rent
• Landlord Tenant Disputes
• Res-judicata
• Rent-arrears

Nalubega v DL Properties Ltd and Lubega

Nalubega v DL Properties Ltd and Lubega (Civil Suit 294 of 2021) [2023] UGHCCD 426 (15 December 2023)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit 294 of 2021

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The court found that the plaintiff was in rent arrears for six months and only paid after her goods were removed from the store. The removal was done to mitigate loss and reallocate the premises, not with the intention to permanently deprive the plaintiff of her goods. The goods were stored and made available for collection at police, but the plaintiff refused to retrieve them. The evidence presented by the plaintiff was inconsistent, lacked credibility, and failed to prove conversion, detinue, or trover. The court held that the landlord acted reasonably under the circumstances and within the…

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• Landlord Tenant Disputes
• Conversion Of Goods
• Detinue
• Eviction Process
• Rent Arrears