Uganda Case Law

Kasasira Mutabazi and 5 Others v Kiwanuka Wakabi and Another

Kasasira Mutabazi and 5 Others v Kiwanuka Wakabi and Another (miscellaneous Application no.1127/2025) [2025] UGHCLD 114 (27 June 2025)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

miscellaneous Application no.1127/2025

Judge

Kaahwa, J

The application to amend the plaint to enhance the value of the subject matter does not meet the principles governing amendment of pleadings, particularly as set out in Gaso Transport Services (Bus) Ltd vs Obene. The court found that the reason for amendment—effluxion of time resulting in increased land value—is common knowledge and does not justify amendment of pleadings. Allowing such amendments would encourage undeserving applications, constitute an abuse of court process, and impede the court's duty to curtail delays. The application was found to be mala fide and not brought in good faith…

Source excerpt

• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Valuation Of Land
• Compensation Claims

Pius Mugerwa Mugalaasi v Attorney General of Uganda and Uganda National Roads Authority

Pius Mugerwa Mugalaasi v Attorney General of Uganda and Uganda National Roads Authority (Civil Suit No. 466 of 2015) [2025] UGHC 281 (30 April 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No. 466 of 2015

Judge

Asiimwe, J

The court found that the 2nd defendant compulsorily acquired 1.26 acres of the plaintiff's land for the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway project, and that the remainder, though initially gazetted, was not utilized and must be degazetted and returned. Compensation for land must include the value of rock as part of the land, not as a separate item. The plaintiff is entitled to compensation for the 1.26 acres acquired, disturbance allowance, and damages for the period of non-use due to gazettement. The court rejected speculative claims for consequential loss and business opportunity due to lack of evi…

Source excerpt

• Compulsory Acquisition
• Compensation For Land
• Valuation Of Land
• Constitutional Rights Property
• Disturbance Allowance
• Damages And Remedies

Chemao v Mulumba

Chemao v Mulumba (Civil Miscellaneous Application 101 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 633 (10 July 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 101 of 2023

Judge

Adonyo, J

The High Court at Soroti granted leave to appeal against a ruling dismissing a preliminary objection on pecuniary jurisdiction, finding the issue merited serious judicial consideration.

• Leave To Appeal
• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Preliminary Points Of Law
• Res Judicata
• Valuation Of Land
• Leave-to-appeal

Naggamba Hood Kyeyune v Church of God East Africa

Naggamba Hood Kyeyune v Church of God East Africa (Miscellaneous Application 219 of 2023) [2024] UGHC 1284 (30 January 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Application 219 of 2023

Judge

Nabakooza, J

The High Court at Mpigi dismissed an application to further amend a plaint, finding the late amendment unnecessary, prejudicial, and an abuse of process.

• Amendment Of Pleadings
• Valuation Of Land
• Court Fees
• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Amendment-of-pleadings
• Land-disputes

Sande v Babumba and Others

Sande v Babumba and Others (Civil Appeal 4 of 2022) [2023] UGHC 167 (16 November 2023)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Appeal 4 of 2022

Judge

Wolayo, J

The High Court held that the trial magistrate had jurisdiction to hear the suit because the pecuniary jurisdiction is determined at the time of filing the suit, not during the hearing. The special damages claimed in the plaint provided a sufficient basis for jurisdiction, and the declaratory orders sought further placed the matter within the magistrate's competence. The subsequent increase in land value or the production of valuation reports during the proceedings could not oust the court's jurisdiction. The order for a joint valuation report was unnecessary and irregular, as the relevant val…

Source excerpt

• Pecuniary Jurisdiction
• Declaratory Orders
• Valuation Of Land
• Magistrates Court Jurisdiction

Muhwezi v Uganda National Roads Authority

Muhwezi v Uganda National Roads Authority (Civil Suit 86 of 2022) [2023] UGHC 142 (3 November 2023)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit 86 of 2022

Judge

Byaruhanga Rugyema, J

The High Court held that UNRA compulsorily acquired the plaintiff’s land for a road project without prior adequate compensation and awarded market-value compensation, general damages, interest, and costs.

• Compulsory Acquisition
• Compensation For Expropriation
• Valuation Of Land
• Right To Property
• Compulsory-acquisition
• Land-compensation

Yiga and 7 Others v Kampala Capital City Authority (HCCS 39 of 2021)

Yiga and 7 Others v Kampala Capital City Authority (HCCS 39 of 2021) [2023] UGHCLD 47 (3 March 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

HCCS 39 of 2021

Judge

Basaza, J

The High Court awarded bibanja holders compensation after KCCA’s landfill caused private nuisance and loss of quiet enjoyment, relying on an agreed valuation report.

• Compensation For Bibanja Holders
• Private Nuisance
• Valuation Of Land
• Disturbance Allowance
• Private-nuisance
• Bibanja-compensation

Naguyo v Birungi

Naguyo v Birungi (Miscellaneous Application No. 1404 of 2021) [2022] UGHCLD 144 (5 August 2022)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Application No. 1404 of 2021

Judge

Keitirima, J

The court sustained the respondent's preliminary objections, holding that allegations of fraud and property valuation are contentious matters requiring a full trial under ordinary suit procedures, not affidavit evidence in an application. The applicant did not reply to the preliminary objections, implying concession. The application was found incompetent as it could affect third party interests (such as Nakigoye Dorothy, who allegedly purchased the suit property) without affording them a right to be heard, violating constitutional principles of fair hearing. Consequently, the application to s…

Source excerpt

• Setting Aside Execution
• Consent Judgment Variation
• Service Of Process
• Fraud In Property Transfer
• Valuation Of Land

Katamba v Uganda National Roads Authority

Katamba v Uganda National Roads Authority (Civil Suit No. 18 of 2021) [2022] UGHCCD 59 (10 March 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 18 of 2021

Judge

Ojok, J

The High Court found the plaintiff failed to prove a gazetted cultural site or trespass, upheld the compensation assessment, and dismissed the suit.

• Compulsory Acquisition
• Compensation Assessment
• Cultural Heritage Claims
• Valuation Of Land
• Trespass To Land
• Compulsory-acquisition

Nabaweesi v Uganda National Roads Authority

Nabaweesi v Uganda National Roads Authority (Civil Suit No. 15 of 2020) [2022] UGHCCD 23 (23 February 2022)

Court

HC: Civil Division (Uganda)

Case number

Civil Suit No. 15 of 2020

Judge

Ojok, J

The court found that the plaintiff accepted compensation for her property in 2014 and did not file an appeal or objection within the 60-day period prescribed by section 13 of the Land Acquisition Act. The court held that statutes of limitation are strict and inflexible, and the plaintiff's delay of nearly six years in challenging the compensation award rendered the suit time barred and incompetent. The court rejected the argument that the plaintiff's illiteracy or lack of translation of documents extended or suspended the limitation period, noting that standard compensation documents do not r…

Source excerpt

• Compulsory Acquisition
• Limitation Periods
• Compensation Disputes
• Valuation Of Land