Uganda Case Law

Ssalongo Lwanga Gerald v Mulindwa Musa and Others

Ssalongo Lwanga Gerald v Mulindwa Musa and Others (Civil Suit No. 73 of 2020) [2025] UGHC 562 (18 June 2025)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Suit No. 73 of 2020

Judge

Oyuko Anthony Ojok, J

The plaintiff established his status as a bona fide occupant of the suit land by virtue of long, unchallenged occupation and payment of ground rent, supported by documentary evidence. The defendants failed to contest the claim, and the 2nd defendant's eviction of the plaintiff was unlawful. The plaintiff did not meet all statutory requirements for a vesting order, particularly full payment of the purchase price and exhaustion of administrative remedies. Special damages and mesne profits were not proved and thus disallowed. The plaintiff was awarded general damages for loss of quiet enjoyment…

Source excerpt

• Bonafide Occupancy
• Unlawful Eviction
• Vesting Order
• Breach Of Contract
• General Damages

Kambale v Kabwimukya and Another (Misc Cause 8 of 2024)

Kambale v Kabwimukya and Another (Misc Cause 8 of 2024) [2024] UGHC 1029 (30 October 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Misc Cause 8 of 2024

Judge

Wagona, J

The High Court at Fort Portal rejected an application for a vesting order and title issuance, finding the claim against the deceased respondent a nullity and the section 151 requirements unmet.

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Lost Certificate Of Title
• Transfer Of Land
• Estate Administration
• Vesting-order

Katongole v Commissioner Land Registration

Katongole v Commissioner Land Registration (Civil Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2024) [2024] UGHC 695 (13 June 2024)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Civil Miscellaneous Application 3 of 2024

Judge

Oyuko Anthony Ojok, J

The High Court granted a vesting order over Block 92 Plot 22 Mawokota after finding the applicant had paid, taken possession, and could not obtain transfer because the vendors were deceased.

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Transfer Of Land
• Possession And Acquiescence
• Vesting-order
• Registration-of-titles

Registered Trustees of Kampala Archdiocese v Kamya & 4 Others

Registered Trustees of Kampala Archdiocese v Kamya & 4 Others (Miscellaneous Cause 146 of 2021) [2024] UGHCLD 36 (1 February 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 146 of 2021

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The High Court dismissed an application for a vesting order over disputed land, holding that the applicant had not clearly established ownership rights.

• Vesting Order
• Ownership Dispute
• Registration Of Titles
• Trusts And Trustees
• Vesting-order
• Land-ownership-dispute

Mubiru v Commissioner of Land Registration and 2 Others

Mubiru v Commissioner of Land Registration and 2 Others (Miscellaneous Cause 132 of 2022) [2024] UGHCLD 12 (11 January 2024)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 132 of 2022

Judge

Asiimwe, J

The application for a vesting order was dismissed because the sale of the suit land in execution of the court decree was incurably defective. The law requires that before a sale in execution proceeds, the title must be lodged in court, and if unavailable, a special certificate must be sought. In this case, neither the duplicate certificate nor a special certificate was availed before the sale to the applicant. The execution process was therefore irregular and flawed, and the court cannot validate such an irregular sale. The applicant's attempt to obtain a vesting order based on this defective…

Source excerpt

• Vesting Order
• Execution Of Judgment
• Public Auction Sale
• Registration Of Titles
• Court Jurisdiction

Musoke v Commissioner Land Registration

Musoke v Commissioner Land Registration (Miscellaneous Cause 326 of 2023) [2023] UGHCLD 446 (29 November 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 326 of 2023

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The application was dismissed because the applicant failed to comply with the procedural requirement under Section 167 of the Registration of Titles Act, which mandates that a party seeking a vesting order must first apply to the Commissioner Land Registration. The applicant did not demonstrate that such an application had been made or refused by the Commissioner. The court emphasized that bypassing this statutory process would undermine the role and powers of the Commissioner Land Registration and encourage noncompliance with the law. Therefore, the court declined to entertain the merits of…

Source excerpt

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Procedural Prerequisite
• Jurisdiction Of Court

Masembe v Commissioner Land Registration (Misc Cause 5 of 2023)

Masembe v Commissioner Land Registration (Misc Cause 5 of 2023) [2023] UGHCLD 400 (30 October 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause 5 of 2023

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The High Court dismissed an application for a vesting order over land in Wakiso, holding that the applicant had not first applied to the Commissioner Land Registration under section 167.

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Procedural Prerequisite
• Estate Administration
• Vesting-order
• Registration-of-titles-act

Ndawula v Tropical Bank Limited and Another (Misc Cause 332 of 2023)

Ndawula v Tropical Bank Limited and Another (Misc Cause 332 of 2023) [2023] UGHCLD 397 (27 October 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause 332 of 2023

Judge

Naluzze Aisha Batala, J

The application was dismissed because the applicant failed to comply with the mandatory procedural requirement under Section 167 of the Registration of Titles Act, which requires that an application for a vesting order must first be made to the Commissioner Land Registration. The court found no evidence that the applicant had exhausted this avenue before seeking relief from the High Court. The court emphasized that adherence to statutory procedure is essential to prevent redundancy of the Commissioner Land Registration's office and to manage case backlog. The affidavits in reply were not stru…

Source excerpt

• Vesting Order
• Mortgage Default
• Transfer Of Title
• Procedural Requirements

Sentongo v The Commissioner Land Registration

Sentongo v The Commissioner Land Registration (Miscellaneous Cause 4 of 2022) [2023] UGHC 102 (23 October 2023)

Court

High Court of Uganda

Case number

Miscellaneous Cause 4 of 2022

Judge

Wolayo, J

The applicant, as administrator of the estate of Mugwanya Erukana, established that the suit land was purchased from Erasto Muwanga in 1927, with possession taken and maintained for over 95 years. The evidence, including affidavits from local witnesses and documentary proof, demonstrated open, exclusive, and continuous occupation, development, and acquiescence by the vendor or their successors. The transfer forms were never executed due to the vendor's death, and the whereabouts of his family are unknown. The applicant satisfied all four statutory conditions for a vesting order under Section…

Source excerpt

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Adverse Possession
• Estate Administration

Ongom v Nyamaizi and Another (Misc Cause 26 of 2020)

Ongom v Nyamaizi and Another (Misc Cause 26 of 2020) [2023] UGHCLD 265 (31 August 2023)

Court

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Case number

Misc Cause 26 of 2020

Judge

Serunkuma, J

The High Court lacks jurisdiction to grant a vesting order under section 167 of the Registration of Titles Act unless the applicant first seeks the order from the Registrar/Commissioner for Land Registration and provides evidence of refusal or inability to obtain the order. In this case, the applicant did not plead or prove that he approached the Registrar/Commissioner for Land Registration prior to filing the application in court. The absence of such evidence is fatal to the application. The authorities cited by the applicant are distinguishable, as they involved situations where the Registr…

Source excerpt

• Vesting Order
• Registration Of Titles
• Jurisdiction Of High Court
• Procedural Prerequisite
• Sale Of Land
• Equitable Interest