Uganda Case Law

Apurinari Reagan and Another v Ruhiira Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Ltd

Apurinari Reagan and Another v Ruhiira Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Ltd (Civil Revision 15 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 459 (30 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 15 of 2024

Judge

Allan Nshimye, J

The High Court found that the Magistrate Grade One exercised jurisdiction not vested in law by enforcing an arbitral award, as only the High Court is empowered to enforce such awards under Section 35(1) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, read with Section 2(1) of the same Act. The application to enforce the award should have been made to the High Court, not the Magistrates Court. The admitted fact of the arbitration award did not confer jurisdiction on the Magistrate. Accordingly, the proceedings and orders of the Magistrate were set aside, and costs awarded to the applicants.

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• Arbitral Award Enforcement
• Jurisdiction Of Magistrates
• Revisionary Powers
• Cooperative Societies Disputes

Namirembe Madalena v Tayebwa Bernard Kakongi (Revision Cause No. 028 of 2023)

Namirembe Madalena v Tayebwa Bernard Kakongi (Revision Cause No. 028 of 2023) [2025] UGHCLD 58 (7 May 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Revision Cause No. 028 of 2023

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The High Court found that the trial magistrate grade one acted without jurisdiction in determining a suit for trespass to land, as such jurisdiction is reserved for a chief magistrate under Ugandan law. The magistrate's actions amounted to a material irregularity and illegality, rendering the judgment and orders issued on 16th September 2014 a nullity. The absence of a response from the respondent left the applicant's evidence uncontested. The High Court, exercising its revisionary powers under Section 83 of the Civil Procedure Act, set aside the orders of the magistrate grade one and directe…

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• Magistrate Jurisdiction
• Trespass To Land
• Revisionary Powers
• Nullity Of Orders

Finish Refgee Council v Kasangaki

Finish Refgee Council v Kasangaki (Civil Revision 1 of 2025) [2025] UGHC 97 (3 February 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 1 of 2025

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

The High Court held that revision was not available because the magistrate had jurisdiction to decide the preliminary objection. The application was dismissed with costs.

• Jurisdiction Of Magistrates Courts
• Preliminary Objections
• Employment Contract Disputes
• Workmen Compensation
• Revisionary Powers
• Civil-procedure

Namuyanja & 3 Others v Uganda

Namuyanja & 3 Others v Uganda (Criminal Revision 4 of 2024) [2025] UGHCCRD 2 (30 January 2025)

Court

HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

Case number

Criminal Revision 4 of 2024

Judge

Mutonyi, J

The High Court quashed a lower-court plea bargain, finding major procedural defects, lack of interpretation, and a violation of the applicants’ fair-hearing rights.

• Plea Bargain Procedure
• Fair Hearing Rights
• Interpretation In Criminal Trials
• Illegal Sentence
• Revisionary Powers
• Criminal-revision

Semakula & 3 Others v Uganda

Semakula & 3 Others v Uganda (Criminal Revision 40 of 2023) [2024] UGHCCRD 55 (21 August 2024)

Court

HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)

Case number

Criminal Revision 40 of 2023

Judge

Gadenya, J

The High Court has revisionary jurisdiction over magistrates' courts under the Criminal Procedure Code Act and Judicature Act. Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court possesses territorial jurisdiction to try Criminal Case No. 0424 of 2023 because some offences were committed within its geographical boundaries and section 37 of the Magistrates Courts Act allows trial where offences are committed partly in multiple areas. However, since the criminal case and the pending civil suit (HCCS No. 25 of 2023) arise from the same subject matter—the alleged forgery of a will—and involve overlapping partie…

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• Territorial Jurisdiction
• Stay Of Proceedings
• Revisionary Powers
• Forum Shopping
• Concurrent Civil And Criminal Proceedings

War Child Canada v Siriba

War Child Canada v Siriba (Civil Revision 3 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 535 (12 June 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 3 of 2023

Judge

Acellam, J

The High Court at Arua dismissed a revision application challenging a magistrate’s pecuniary jurisdiction, holding that the award was within the statutory limit.

• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Revisionary Powers
• Magistrates Court Awards
• Civil-procedure
• Revisionary-powers
• Pecuniary-jurisdiction

Waiswa v Earth Rich Co. Limited

Waiswa v Earth Rich Co. Limited (Civil Revision 1 of 2022) [2024] UGCommC 183 (23 May 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 1 of 2022

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The application for revision was dismissed on two main grounds. First, the application was filed three years after the judgment and two years after execution commenced, constituting an unreasonable and inordinate delay. The applicant provided no justification for this delay, and granting revisionary orders at such a late stage would cause serious hardship to the respondent, contrary to Section 83(e) of the Civil Procedure Act and established case law. Second, on the merits, the applicant failed to prove that the Chief Magistrate's Court of Kajjansi lacked territorial jurisdiction. The agreeme…

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• Territorial Jurisdiction
• Revisionary Powers
• Summary Suit
• Delay And Laches
• Execution Of Judgment

Bikiriza v Batenda (Revision Cause 25 of 2023)

Bikiriza v Batenda (Revision Cause 25 of 2023) [2024] UGHCLD 77 (18 March 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Revision Cause 25 of 2023

Judge

Rugadya, J

The High Court revised a magistrate’s land judgment after finding jurisdictional irregularities, referred the main suit to the Chief Magistrate, and stayed execution.

• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Trespass To Land
• Revisionary Powers
• Fair Hearing Rights
• Land-disputes
• Pecuniary-jurisdiction

Turyamanya v Byensi

Turyamanya v Byensi (Civil Revision 7 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 534 (25 January 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Revision 7 of 2023

Judge

Mugabo, J

The High Court found that the substantive claim in Civil Suit No. 217 of 2019 was for UGX 11,500,000, which is within the pecuniary jurisdiction of a Magistrate Grade 1. The court held that the value in dispute is determined by the amount claimed, not the original value of the subject matter. The court further found that the order for attachment of the motor vehicle before judgment was properly made in accordance with the law, as it was intended to prevent evasion of justice and was supported by the pleadings and affidavits. The clerical error in the vehicle registration number did not invali…

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• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Attachment Before Judgment
• Revisionary Powers
• Sale Of Motor Vehicle

Katongole & 2 Others v Katongole (Revision Application 14 of 2022)

Katongole & 2 Others v Katongole (Revision Application 14 of 2022) [2023] UGHC 418 (17 August 2023)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Revision Application 14 of 2022

Judge

Katamba Nkwanga, J

The High Court set aside a magistrate’s land judgment for lack of pecuniary jurisdiction, holding the suit property value exceeded the court’s limit.

• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Revisionary Powers
• Magistrates Court Jurisdiction
• Land Valuation
• Nullity Of Proceedings
• Pecuniary-jurisdiction