The public discourse generated by the recent decision in Downtown Investments Limited Vs Muwema & Co Advocates has caused more controversy than it has settled, especially about the concept of Option to purchase (OTP). The controversy is borne out of the courts’ decision to acknowledge the exercise of the OTP by the firm at plot…
The Industrial Court has ordered Ugafode Microfinance to pay Shs 18 million to its former employee, Peter Clever Katende, after ruling that the financial institution unfairly dismissed him. In his ruling, Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana dismissed an appeal filed by Ugafode and confirmed that Katende had been unfairly terminated. The dispute started after Katende, who…
Dr. Oscar Kambona, a founding partner at Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), has warned that Uganda must strike a careful balance between aggressive tax collection and protecting citizens’ constitutional rights. Speaking during a lively online interview hosted by lawyer Elison Karuhanga on the JSC Conversations, Kambona talked about the growing powers of the taxman, the relationship…
The High Court has ordered a construction firm that was represented by Tumusiime, Kabega & Co. Advocates during a legal battle with DFCU to pay the law firm its legal fees. The law firm had asked the court to allow it to formally pursue payment of its legal fees after the company allegedly failed to…
Muwema & Co Advocates has declined a request by its landlord, Downtown Investments, to retrieve office equipment removed during a controversial eviction from its Kololo offices last week. In a letter dated March 11, 2026, and signed by its managing partner, Fred Muwema, the law firm insisted that the matter must be managed by police…
A long-running legal battle between Amos Murisa and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has taken a dramatic turn after the Supreme Court ruled that a missing signature on a judgment by Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo means the case has to be retried. At that time, Owiny-Dollo, then a deputy chief justice, was one of the judges who…
Zimba Logistics & Hardware has been ordered by the High Court to pay Uganda Baati Shs1.66 billion for construction materials supplied on credit. Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled that Zimba Logistics and its managing director, Ali Teko Awazi, are jointly responsible for the unpaid debt. He also found that Stanbic Bank breached its banking duty to…
On November 4, 2021, Yako Bank Uganda advanced Eliab Mugash a loan of Shs174 million, which was to run for two years. The loan attracted 20% interest per year, so by the end of the loan period, Mugash was expected to pay back a total of Shs212.4 million, which included both the borrowed money (principal)…
Letia Shamil Atabua was a student at Cavendish University in Uganda and often complained about being treated unfairly by some lecturers. In one semester, he was given four retakes out of six course units. So he started complaining and insisting loudly that he needed to see his examination papers for the course units he retook….
Shafik Walusimbi, who was kept at the Flying Squad’s detention facility in Kireka for more than a week, has been awarded Shs 10 million by the High Court. Justice Joyce Kavuma, who presided over the case, ordered the government to pay Walusimbi the money as compensation after finding that police detained him beyond the constitutional…
Muwema & Co Advocates, a prominent law firm in Kampala, has accused Downtown Investments Ltd of carrying out an illegal eviction from its Kololo offices despite an ongoing appeal in court. The firm is managed by Fred Muwema.. In a press release issued today, the firm said its lawyers and staff were forcefully removed from…
The High Court has dismissed an application by Frontier Logistics International (U) Ltd and its director, Monte Daniels Nkurunungi Monte, seeking to compel Absa Bank Uganda to produce a valuation report for land used as collateral for a loan. Justice Susan Abinyo of the Commercial Division said Nkurunungi and his firm had failed to prove…
Judith Ejong started working as a security guard at Makerere Business Institute (MBI) in 2012. In May 2013, she was given a formal contract by MBI after the institute said she had performed well. At first, she was paid Shs 150,000 per month, but later, due to good performance, her salary was increased to Shs…
Once upon a time, two corporate “cousins” in Uganda found themselves locked in a standoff that nearly brought their company to its knees. At the centre of the storm was Medical Concierge Group Limited, a health technology company operating in Uganda. Its majority shareholder was Rocket Health Africa Corporation, which held 199,999 shares. The remaining…
A long-running shareholder dispute at Victoria Motors Limited has ended in defeat for businessman Samuel John Kibuuka and his firm, Mercantile Executive Services Ltd, who had wanted to take control of the business. Victoria Motors is the authorized distributor of Mitsubishi cars and Renault trucks in Uganda. In a ruling, Daniel Nasasira, the Assistant Registrar…
In 2019, a heavy storm destroyed Joseryn Kyosimire’s banana plantation in Rushenyi, Ntungamo. Lucky for her, she had taken an agricultural loan of Shs 15 million from Pride Microfinance, and a tiny percentage of that loan (1.75%) was deemed as insurance. A loan officer at Pride had assured her that in case of a loss,…
The High Court has ruled that businesswoman Molly Katanga has a case to answer regarding the death of her husband, Henry Katanga at their Mbuya home in 2023. In a ruling delivered on Thursday morning, Justice Rosette Kania found that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring Katanga to respond to the charge. Molly’s lawyers…
On March 3, 2021, Hussein Ahmed approached Platinum Credit Uganda for a loan of Shs 31.4 million at an interest rate of 4% per month. As security, he handed over the logbooks for two vehicles: a Toyota Land Cruiser registration number UAW 911K valued at Shs25 million, and a Toyota Alphard registration number UBE 217M…
On February 20, Justice Patricia Mutesi of the High Court ruled in favour of Downtown Investments in its rent dispute with prominent law firm Muwema & Co Advocates. The firm was ordered to vacate the property at Plot 50 Windsor Crescent Road in Kololo owned by Downtown Investments and pay Shs 1.3 billion in arrears…
Mwanga II Court has rejected video and photographic evidence presented by defence lawyers in the ongoing trial of men accused of blackmailing Pastor Robert Kayanja. The court, presided over by Magistrate Adams Byarugaba, ruled that a qualified technical expert must first verify the source and authenticity of the digital material before it can be admitted…
For more than five years, Bob Ainebyoona had held a Dembe Account at DFCU Bank and had had a good working relationship with the bank. One day in 2020, he attempted to withdraw some money from his account at the bank’s Naalya branch at the Quality Shopping Mall. The officials there redirected him to the…
The treason case against Dr Kizza Besigye was adjourned to March 12 after the court directed the prosecution to complete disclosure of its evidence to the defence. Justice Emmanuel Baguma said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must file full disclosure by March 3 before the matter can proceed. “I have heard that the prosecution…
Two years ago, businessman Levy Lawrence Omulen was introduced to Malong Tong, aka Henry Ochown, as a wealthy South Sudanese investor interested in buying land for an industrial park in Uganda. Omulen was told by a one Peter Lubwama that Malong was a wealthy South Sudanese businessman with connections to the South Sudan government. He…
Tugende, a firm that provides motorcycle loans to riders, and the Uganda Revenue Authority are locked in a legal dispute over a tax assessment. The dispute started from Tugende’s decision to offer discounts to customers who clear their loan balances ahead of time. For tax purposes, Tugende treated those discounts as allowable expenses. However, in…
Prominent law firm Muwema & Co. Advocates has said it will appeal a High Court ruling that ordered it to pay more than Shs 1.3 billion ($370,000) in rent arrears to Downtown Investments Limited regarding its premises on Windsor Crescent in Kololo. The judgment, delivered on February 20 by Justice Patricia Mutesi, arose from a…
Two sureties who ran to the aid of their friend and guaranteed that he would appear in court have been told to pay Shs100 million after their friend disappeared. In a ruling, Justice Michael Elubu of the Anti-Corruption Division dismissed an application by Nestorious Byaruhanga Katema and Issa Asiimwe, who had sought to be discharged…
The PPDA Appeals Tribunal has dismissed an application by Roko Construction challenging its disqualification from a multibillion-shilling tender floated by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). In a detailed ruling, the tribunal upheld UBOS’s decision to eliminate Roko at the preliminary stage and confirmed the award to CRJE East Africa Ltd. The dispute arose from…
The PPDA Appeals Tribunal has dismissed an application by Cementers Uganda which had challenged its disqualification from a Shs45.49 billion housing project tender by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). In a decision, the tribunal reuled that Cementers’ application was “incompetent” because it had been filed out of time. It declined to consider the merits…
Is Waako Robina and Robina E. Waako, one and the same? Well, the High Court believes so. Stanbic Bank had blocked a widow from accessing her late husband’s pension benefits because of the variations in her name on different documents. Justice Joanita Bushara of the High Court in Jinja ruled that the bank should ignore…
Henry Katanga, a businessman in Kampala, was felled by a gunshot to his head at his Mbuya home on November 3, 2023. Given his prominence and that of his family, his death drew media attention and elicited mixed reactions on social media. Even before the full picture of the circumstances of his death emerged, his…
Moses Kigongo, the first national NRM vice chairperson, has been ordered by court to pay Shs 58 million in damages and costs to a contractor who installed aluminium doors and windows at his property in Mpigi. Kigongo had wanted “bulletproof” glasses, which he said Diamond Glass Mart, the contractor, never delivered. So he paid the…
It all started in February 2024 when Makerere University advertised the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Three professors were shortlisted. They were Prof. Anthony Mugisha, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe and Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga. The Senate conducted elections Prof. Mugisha emerged with the highest number of votes so he was reccomended for…
Nile Breweries has been ordered to pay Fuel Stick Uganda Limited Shs 322 million for fuel additives supplied to its Mbarara plant, after the High Court rejected claims that the supplies were fictitious or counterfeit. The saga began in March 2022, when Nile Breweries issued three purchase orders for the supply of Biofuel Conditioner S19,…
For several years, Sarick Construction Ltd and Stanbic Bank Uganda worked side by side in what appeared to be a typical banker customer relationship built on trust. Between 2019 and 2022, Stanbic advanced multiple loan facilities to Sarick Construction to finance its operations. Samuel Okurut and Gorreti Okurut, the company’s directors, personally backed the loans,…
Justice Samuel Emokor of the High Court has dismissed an application by Meera Investments Limited seeking more than Shs 40 billion from DFCU Bank for alleged contempt of court. In his ruling, Justice Emokor of the Land Division held that although DFCU vacated dozens of properties without restoring them, its failure to do so was…
For more than 30 years, Prof Jean Barya lectured at Makerere University’s School of Law. When the time came for him to retire in 2020, he applied for a post-retirement contract, like many other staff had successfully done in the past. The university rejected his application because other people at the School of Law could…
The High Court has ordered a special audit into the affairs of Incafex Limited, after one of its shareholders, former minister Mathew Rukikaire, accused other shareholders of sidelining him and mismanaging the company. Rukikaire, the late James Garuga Musinguzi, and other shareholders started the company more than 35 years ago as a vehicle to carry…
Once upon a time, in Naguru, Kampala, Andrew “Desh” Kananura, a renowned businessman and Vehicle and Equipment Leasing, a car leasing firm, entered into a deal. On the surface, the deal sounded simple. Vehicle and Equipment Leasing needed space to park many cars that it had imported. Kananura had the space at Panamera Bar, which…
The signs were there from the very beginning, but somehow, Hope Kyomugisha hoped her husband, Friday Mugisha, would change into a better person. On their wedding night in 1992, Mugisha allegedly slapped her after an argument. Kyomugisha, fearful of disappointing many people, including her parents, chose to stay. Little did she know that the beating…
Goldmine Finance has been stopped from removing a telecommunications mast owned by Towerco of Africa Uganda in Bugolobi, Kampala, pending the hearing of an appeal. Towerco of Africa Uganda, formerly Ubuntu Towers Uganda, is a licensed provider of telecommunications infrastructure. It constructed a mast on land at Plot 35, Princess Anne Drive, Bugolobi. The land,…
Andrew Benon Kibuuka, a prominent actor and playwright has been trapped in a dispute between two ladies over a piece of land he owns in Kasanje, Wakiso. Court records show that Sheila Shemererwa paid money to Sarah Kagonyera for purchase of the the land but the transaction collapsed after vacant possession was never delivered. Kibuuka,…
The High Court has overturned tax assessments worth Shs1.24 billion that Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) had imposed on Britania Allied Industries Limited. In a detailed ruling, Justice Susan Odongo said URA acted “unfairly” and “unlawfully” by retrospectively changing its interpretation of customs law after approving Britania’s imports for nearly a decade. The dispute arose from…
The High Court has allowed Buildnet to defend a Shs146.3 million claim lodged against it by Fujian Industries Park, a Chinese firm contracted to carry out construction work on some of Buildnet’s projects. Buildnet is a prominent real estate development and management company in Uganda and has done several housing projects in Kampala and neighbouring…
The Mwanga II Magistrate, Adams Byarugaba, has warned defence lawyers representing nine accused persons in a blackmail case involving Pastor Robert Kayanja to stop what he described as repeated and unjustified excuses that have delayed the trial for years. The accused are facing charges of blackmail and conspiracy, arising from allegations that they attempted to…
The High Court has restrained businessman Naris Nuwagaba and three others from using the name and brand “Team Thorough”, after finding that they infringed on a registered trademark owned by Team Thorough Business Mobilizers Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited. In a judgment delivered on December 2, 2025, Justice Susan Odongo ruled that the defendants…
Bishop Grivas Musisi of Dunamis Radio and Prayer Palace is reeling after a one Jed Daniel Kabanda fraudulently obtained more than Shs 487 million from him in 2024 after posing as an official from Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). At that time, Musisi had issues with his broadcasting license, and Kabanda claimed he could make everything…
Those of you who have gone to an upscale hotel in Kampala, like Serena Hotel, will have noticed that they now serve Aquelle Mineral Water brand to conference guests. Well, a South African firm, Credscan, claimed that “Aquelle” is its trademark and that Aquelle Beverages, the Ugandan company that makes the water, had infringed on…
The High Court in Mpigi has ordered a DNA test to determine whether Sylvia Nampijja is the biological daughter of the late Robert Kaweesi, in a bitter family dispute that has stalled access to his estate and pitted his alleged widow against a young woman claiming to be his child. Justice Anthony Oyuko Ojok, in…
DFCU Bank has been granted permission by the High Court to appeal against an earlier decision in a long-running commercial dispute with Colline Hotel Limited, a case whose roots stretch back nearly a decade. In her ruling, Justice Susan Abinyo of the Commercial Division allowed DFCU Bank to challenge part of a ruling made in…
The High Court in Kampala has ordered real estate developer Opec Prime Properties and its marketing agent, Remax Uganda, to refund Shs 3.8 billion to a group of homebuyers after finding that the companies breached housing sale agreements linked to the failed Naguru-Nakawa redevelopment project. In a judgment, Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled in favour of…
