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This blog does not contain legal advice. The legal information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based on such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. Authors are liable for any plagiarism and Lawpoint Uganda won`t have liability towards the same.


High Court Reaffirms The Law on Defective Affidavits and Late Amendment of Pleadings
The Court emphasized that affidavits are evidence and do not necessarily require authorization from co-parties. Modern precedent dispels the notion that lack of authorization renders affidavits incurably defective.

Waboga David
Jul 43 min read


High Court reaffirms that a plaintiff’s failure to take out Summons for Directions within 28 days after the last reply, without justification, results in automatic abatement of the suit under Order 11
As a rule, if the Plaintiff does not take out Summons for Directions, the suit shall abate and can be dismissed. In the present case, the Respondent failed to take out Summons for Directions within the prescribed 28 days from the date of the last reply, contrary to Order 11A Rule 1(2) and (6) of the Civil Procedure Rules

Waboga David
Jun 244 min read


High Court Clarifies That Joint Administrators Must Act Jointly in Representing Estates
Relying on the Supreme Court decision in Silver Byaruhanga v. Fr. Emmanuel Ruvugwaho & Anor, SCCA No. 09 of 2014, the Court reaffirmed that joint administration requires joint action unless the administrators were appointed at different times.

Waboga David
Jun 226 min read


High court affirms that in a summary suit, mere partial payment of the demand without a substantive defence does not entitle a defendant to leave to appear and defend.
High court dismisses application for leave to appear and defend a summary suit over UGX 82M Debt . Subject Matter Summary procedure –...

Waboga David
Jun 203 min read


The Court of Appeal affirms that while illegality can override pleadings, it must still be pleaded or supported by evidence if it involves mixed questions of law and fact
The appellate court emphasized that the validity of the mortgage was a mixed issue of law and fact, requiring evidence which had not been adduced.

Waboga David
Jun 134 min read


High Court reaffirms that a consent judgment becomes binding once signed by the parties and endorsed by the court
A consent judgment becomes binding once signed by the parties and endorsed by the court. It may only be set aside on limited grounds such as fraud, collusion, or ignorance of material facts

Waboga David
Jun 93 min read


The High Court has clarified that there is no specific statutory timeframe within which a respondent in a judicial review application must file an affidavit in reply
The court further clarified that Rule 7(3) is two-pronged; the first limb directs a respondent to file any intended affidavit “as soon as practicable.”
The second limb, which includes the 56-day timeframe, only applies when the applicant has amended their motion or filed additional affidavits, thereby triggering a reciprocal right for the respondent to reply within that set period.

Waboga David
Jun 42 min read


High Court Reasserts That Submissions Filed Out of Time Without Leave Are Not on Record and Will Not Be Considered, Thus the Court May Proceed Without the Defaulting Party’s Input.
Citing Order 17 Rule 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), the Court emphasized that failure to perform “any other act necessary to the further progress of the suit, for which time has been allowed”, including filing submissions, can result in the Court proceeding without considering the defaulting party’s input.

Waboga David
Jun 37 min read


High Court reaffirms that an application for an interim stay of execution under Order 43 rule 4(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules (SI 71-1) must be based on a competent notice of appeal.
In the present case, the Court held that a competent notice of appeal is one that bears the endorsement of the Registrar, in accordance with Rule 76(1) of the Judicature (Court of Appeal Rules) Directions (SI 13-10), which mandates that a notice of appeal be lodged in duplicate with the Registrar of the High Court. Non-compliance with this procedural requirement renders the application incurably defective and liable to be struck out.

Waboga David
Jun 13 min read


High Court Reaffirms That While Reinstatement of Dismissed Suits Generally Requires Demonstration of Sufficient Cause, the Imperatives of Justice May Override Strict Procedural Rules in Land Disputes.
A reinstatement of the suit will not occasion any prejudice to the Respondent… On the other hand, the Applicant has the right to be heard in the main suit, which is protected by Article 28 of the Constitution

Waboga David
Jun 14 min read


Access to Public Documents Requires Strict Adherence to Statutory Procedure: High Court Reaffirms It Is Not the Court of First Instance
While the Court acknowledged Article 41 of the Constitution and section 4 of the Access to Information Act, it emphasized that access to such information is governed by clear procedures set out in the Act. These include submitting a formal written request to the relevant information officer and, where access is denied, appealing first to the Chief Magistrate's Court under section 36 of the Access to Information Act.

Waboga David
May 294 min read


High Court Reaffirms Mandatory Nature of Summons for Directions under Order 11A of The Civil Procedure Rules
The law says that if this 28-day step is not taken, the case “abates.” In simple terms, this means the case is automatically brought to an end, not because the claim is weak, but because the person bringing the case failed to follow the procedure on time.
This rule is found in Order 11A of the Civil Procedure Rules, which was updated in 2019 to help courts handle cases faster and avoid unnecessary delays.

Waboga David
May 283 min read


High Court Reaffirms That a Bankruptcy Petition Must Be Supported by Evidence to Prove Inability to Pay and Justify Stay of Execution
A pending bankruptcy petition does not automatically justify a stay of execution. Proper procedure and clear evidence of inability to pay are essential. Inherent powers of court cannot be invoked prematurely or to circumvent due process.

Waboga David
May 184 min read


High Court Enters Judgment in Breach of Tenancy Agreement over Pioneer House Property
Even after an interlocutory judgment is entered, the Plaintiff must still prove their claim for damages on the balance of probabilities.This remains true whether the suit proceeds ex parte or inter partes

Waboga David
May 153 min read


High Court Establishes That In judicial review, Naming a Public Body Without Corporate Status is Not Fatal, It Can Be a Correctable Misnomer
Pleadings are, unlike affidavits, not evidence... With respect, learned counsel is basing on the words 'who is able to depose to the facts of the case' appearing in O.29 r.1 to surmise that only principal officers of a corporation are competent to swear affidavits. That is an incorrect construction.
What is required in affidavits is the knowledge or belief of the deponent… not authorisation by a party to the litigation. Competency is pegged to the ability to depose to the fac

Waboga David
May 118 min read


High Court Affirms That A Written Retainer Is Not the Only Way to Prove an Advocate-Client Relationship: Courts May Infer It from the Conduct, Communications, and Interactions Between the Parties
A written retainer is not the only way to prove an advocate-client relationship. Courts may infer such a relationship from the conduct, communications, and interactions between the parties.
However, absent a clear retainer or conduct signifying mutual agreement, no such relationship can be presumed.
Where no advocate-client relationship exists, a law firm is not barred from representing a party, even if it previously interacted with the opposing party in a general advisor

Cleopatra Abikiira
May 85 min read


The High Court Has Reaffirmed the Legal Principle That a Party Purporting to Represent a Deceased Person’s Estate Must First Obtain Letters of Administration to Acquire the Legal Capacity to Sue.
The High Court held that the Applicants had no legal capacity to sue over the suit land because they had not obtained letters of administration for the estate of the late Musa Musoke Kiwumumpu, whose interests they purported to represent.
Citing section 187 of the Succession Act, the Court emphasized that no right to a deceased’s property can be established in court without first obtaining letters of administration.

Waboga David
May 52 min read


FAILURE TO SUMMON OR INVOLVE PARTIES IN THE CRAFTING OF A CONSENT AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL, BUT IT IS IRREGULAR —AND CAN RESULT IN THE ORDER BEING SET ASIDE TO PREVENT MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.
A consent order is binding unless obtained by fraud, collusion, mistake, or misapprehension, or if it violates court policy or lacks materia

Waboga David
Apr 83 min read


HIGH COURT CLARIFIES THE PRINCIPLES ON THE STAY OF EXECUTION IN MONETARY JUDGMENTS — UNDER ORDER 43 Rule 4(3) OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES.
Courts are inclined to maintain the balance between preserving the appellant’s right of appeal and protecting the respondent’s entitlement t

Waboga David
Apr 55 min read


The Supreme Court has reinforced the principle that appellate courts cannot substitute their own findings when a case has never been heard on its merits.
The Supreme Court referenced its previous decisions which affirm that courts must allow a full hearing where preliminary objections have be

Lawpointuganda
Feb 283 min read


The Court of Appeal has emphasised that it cannot grant an injunction or stay over an interest in land it has already determined to be non-existent.
The court emphasized that it cannot grant an injunction or stay an interest in land that it has previously determined to be nonexistent.

Waboga David
Feb 53 min read


High Court Clarifies the Use of Originating Summons in Legal Proceedings.
It was held that Originating Summons is not a procedure suitable for resolving disputed questions of fact or cases requiring considerable am

Waboga David
Jan 232 min read


High Court Warns Lawyers to Avoid Citing Repealed Laws Following the 7th Revised Edition of Uganda’s Principal Legislation-Timely Filing of Affidavits in Reply.
The court emphasized that affidavits should be filed before the hearing of the motion, but the law is silent on the exact timing. In this ca

Waboga David
Jan 183 min read


Case Brief Of Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka Versus Attorney General Constitutional Petition No. 45 Of 2016
Civilians can be subject to military law where they are charged with aiding and abetting serving UPDF Officers to commit service offences.

Mbabazi Cindy Patricia
Jan 63 min read
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