Uganda Case Law

Dual Trust (U) Ltd v Attorney General

Dual Trust (U) Ltd v Attorney General (Civil Suit No. 131 of 2019) [2025] UGHCCD 89 (10 June 2025)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 131 of 2019

Judge

Boniface Wamala, J

The court found that the plaintiff failed to prove entitlement to immediate possession of the maize, as the purported seller, Emma Kasisi, had no valid title and could not pass property to the plaintiff. The true owner, Oree Tom, was identified through police investigation, and the police lawfully seized and returned the maize to him on the ODPP's directive. The principle of nemo dat quod non habet applied, precluding the plaintiff from acquiring better title than the seller possessed. The tort of detinue was not established, as the plaintiff was not entitled to demand restoration of the maiz…

Source excerpt

• Detinue
• Trespass To Chattels
• Statute Of Limitation
• Vicarious Liability
• Conversion
• Burden Of Proof

Ndungo Seti and 2 Others v Sekiziyivu and Anor

Ndungo Seti and 2 Others v Sekiziyivu and Anor (Civil Suit No. 286 of 2011) [2021] UGHCCD 84 (21 June 2021)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 286 of 2011

Judge

Musa Ssekaana, J

The High Court dismissed a claim over impounded fish, finding no proof of ownership, no personal liability on the defendant, and that the suit was time-barred.

• Conversion Of Goods
• Trespass To Chattels
• Vicarious Liability
• Locus Standi
• Limitation Of Actions
• Conversion-of-goods

M/S Urgent Cargo Handling Limited and Another v Uganda Revenue Authority (HCT-04-CV-CS-0026-2012)

M/S Urgent Cargo Handling Limited and Another v Uganda Revenue Authority (HCT-04-CV-CS-0026-2012) [2017] UGHC 121 (25 April 2017)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

HCT-04-CV-CS-0026-2012

Judge

Kawesa, J

The High Court held that the plaintiffs proved unlawful seizure of an empty truck and unlawful arrest of the second plaintiff, awarding damages, lost earnings, and costs.

• Trespass To Chattels
• Unlawful Detention
• Damages Assessment
• Burden Of Proof
• Seizure Of Goods
• Unlawful-seizure

Commissioner General of Uganda Revenue Authority v Meera Investments Limited

Commissioner General of Uganda Revenue Authority v Meera Investments Limited (Civil Appeal No. 03 of 2007) [2007] UGCA 77 (15 October 2007)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 03 of 2007

Judge

Mukasa-Kikonyogo, DCJ, Okello, JA, Twinomujuni, JA

The Court of Appeal held that the claim was not purely a tax dispute, and that the Commissioner General of URA could be sued in her official name. The appeal was dismissed with costs.

• Tax Exemptions
• Certificate Of Incentives
• Capacity To Sue
• Vicarious Liability
• Trespass To Chattels
• Tax-law

Muka Drilling Services Ltd v Geoserve (U) Ltd (HCT-00-CC-MA 137 of 2004)

Muka Drilling Services Ltd v Geoserve (U) Ltd (HCT-00-CC-MA 137 of 2004) [2005] UGCommC 7 (29 March 2005)

Court

Commercial Court of Uganda

Case number

HCT-00-CC-MA 137 of 2004

The High Court dismissed an application for compensation over alleged unlawful execution and damage to trucks, holding the real claims fell outside Section 34 of the Civil Procedure Act.

• Execution Of Decrees
• Compensation For Unlawful Execution
• Trespass To Chattels
• Damages For Loss Of Use
• Civil-procedure
• Execution-of-decrees

Kusiima Geofrey v Yahaya Jas and Gerison Katanywa - Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003

Kusiima Geofrey v Yahaya Jas and Gerison Katanywa - Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003 (Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003) [2003] UGHC 3 (1 January 2003)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003

High Court judgment awarding damages for the unauthorized sale of cattle, where the defendants filed no defence and the plaintiff's evidence was accepted.

• Conversion Of Property
• Trespass To Chattels
• Damages For Loss Of Cattle
• Vicarious Liability
• Conversion-of-property
• Trespass-to-chattels

Kabali & Another v Attorney General

Kabali & Another v Attorney General (Civil Appeal No. 50 of 2007) [2019] UGCA 2073 (12 November 2019)

Court

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal No. 50 of 2007

Judge

Egonda-Ntende, JA, Obura, JA, Musoke, JA

The Court of Appeal found that while the appellants failed to prove entitlement to the full claimed value of the timber (Ug. Shs. 16,740,000) due to lack of documentary evidence or a written agreement, they did sufficiently prove, through oral testimony, the expenses incurred in the timber business (Ug. Shs. 6,761,680). The court held that such expenses, though often undocumented, could be established by cogent oral evidence. Regarding the third power saw, the court determined that despite its ownership by the first appellant's brother, it was in the possession and use of the appellants at th…

Source excerpt

• Conversion Of Property
• Trespass To Chattels
• Special Damages
• Proof Of Damages
• Appeals Process