Uganda Case Law

Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited v Solcon E.A Limited (Arbitration Cause 41 of 2024)

Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited v Solcon E.A Limited (Arbitration Cause 41 of 2024) [2025] UGCommC 103 (22 May 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Arbitration Cause 41 of 2024

Judge

Tumusiime Rubagumya, J

The High Court dismissed an application to set aside an arbitral award for alleged public policy breaches, finding the challenge was really a merits review.

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Public Policy Exception
• Contractual Damages
• Admissions In Arbitration
• Enforcement Of Award
• Arbitration-awards

Waatunga v Finca Uganda Limited

Waatunga v Finca Uganda Limited (Civil Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 314 (21 May 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 4 of 2024

Judge

Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, J

The application to set aside the arbitral award fails because none of the grounds advanced by the applicant meet the statutory requirements under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The allegation of arbitrator bias was unsupported by evidence and did not meet the objective test for impartiality. The claim that the award was against public policy was not substantiated by reference to any specific statutory provision or public policy principle. The delay in delivering the award was permissible under Section 31(1) of the Act, as the arbitrator had discretion to enlarge time, and…

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• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Arbitrator Impartiality
• Public Policy In Arbitration
• Contractual Interest Rates
• Arbitration Timeliness

Kenlloyd Logistics (U) Limited v Fratch AG

Kenlloyd Logistics (U) Limited v Fratch AG (Miscellaneous Cause 78 of 2023) [2025] UGCommC 16 (6 March 2025)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 78 of 2023

Judge

Harriet Grace Magala, J

The High Court of Uganda set aside an arbitral award after finding the arbitrator failed to resolve disputes over an incomplete record of proceedings, creating apparent bias.

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Arbitrator Bias
• Record Of Proceedings
• Natural Justice
• Costs Award
• Arbitral-award-set-aside

Uganda National Roads Authority v Multiline Construction Company Limited

Uganda National Roads Authority v Multiline Construction Company Limited (Miscellaneous Cause 103 of 2023) [2024] UGCommC 266 (3 September 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 103 of 2023

Judge

Kahigi Asiimwe, J

The court found that its earlier order required the dispute to be determined by a panel of three arbitrators, not a sole arbitrator. The arbitrator, Mr. Derrick Lufunya, was aware of this order but chose to proceed as a sole arbitrator after determining that the applicant had failed to nominate an arbitrator within the prescribed period. The court held that the arbitrator's partial compliance with the order—enforcing the time limit for nomination but ignoring the requirement for a three-member panel—constituted contempt of court. The arbitrator's actions were therefore illegal, and the award…

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• Arbitration Panel Composition
• Jurisdiction Of Arbitrator
• Court Orders In Arbitration
• Setting Aside Arbitral Award

B & N Biomass Limited v Okecho

B & N Biomass Limited v Okecho (Miscellaneous Cause 73 of 2022) [2024] UGCommC 89 (15 March 2024)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 73 of 2022

Judge

Mutesi, J

The High Court rejected an application to set aside an arbitral award, finding the tribunal had considered and dismissed the counterclaim and that no prejudice was shown from delay.

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Breach Of Contract
• Arbitrator Partiality
• Timeliness Of Award
• Setting-aside-arbitral-award
• Arbitrator-partiality

TALP Advocates v Bayport Financial Services (U) Limited

TALP Advocates v Bayport Financial Services (U) Limited (Miscellaneous Cause 5 of 2022) [2022] UGCommC 191 (10 August 2022)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 5 of 2022

Judge

Cornelia Kakooza Sabiiti, J

The High Court found that the applicant failed to establish any of the statutory grounds under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act for setting aside the arbitral award. There was no evidence of bias, partiality, or violation of natural justice by the arbitrator, who acted within the scope of the contract and provided both parties a fair hearing. The applicant's dissatisfaction with the award did not amount to misconduct or grounds for judicial intervention. The court further held that it lacked jurisdiction to grant new orders or remedies not considered in the arbitration proce…

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• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Arbitrator Bias And Partiality
• Natural Justice In Arbitration
• Public Policy Challenge
• Contractual Fee Disputes

Kinyara Sugar Works v Hajji Kasimbiraine

Kinyara Sugar Works v Hajji Kasimbiraine (Miscellaneous Application No. 151 of 2017) [2017] UGCommC 63 (6 July 2017)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 151 of 2017

The court found that the arbitral award addressed matters not contemplated by the Cane Production Contract, specifically the inclusion of molasses and bagasse, which required an amendment only possible by consensus or statutory intervention. The arbitrator lacked authority to amend the contract unilaterally. The appointment of the arbitrator was not in accordance with the parties' agreement, as the President of the Law Society was not involved, breaching the contract and statutory requirements. There was sufficient evidence of partiality, including the arbitrator's prior involvement with out-…

Source excerpt

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Arbitrator Partiality
• Contract Amendment Procedure
• Arbitral Tribunal Composition
• Cane Production Contract Dispute

Car and General (U) Ltd v AFS Construction Ltd

Car and General (U) Ltd v AFS Construction Ltd (Miscellaneous Application No. 87 of 2015) [2016] UGCommC 208 (16 December 2016)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 87 of 2015

The High Court dismissed an application to set aside an arbitral award, holding that the applicant had not shown any statutory ground under section 34.

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Arbitration Procedure
• Contractual Disputes
• Timeliness Of Award
• Setting-aside-arbitral-award
• Arbitration-procedure

Aya Investments (U) Ltd v Mugoya Construction & Engineering (U) Ltd (High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 514 of 2008)

Aya Investments (U) Ltd v Mugoya Construction & Engineering (U) Ltd (High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 514 of 2008) [2008] UGCommC 50 (26 October 2008)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 514 of 2008

The court dismissed an application to set aside an earlier order and reopen arbitration-related proceedings, finding no sufficient cause for non-attendance or lack of diligence.

• Setting Aside Arbitral Award
• Non Attendance By Counsel
• Duty Of Care By Advocate
• Setting-aside-order
• Non-attendance
• Arbitration-award-challenge