In March, the Tax Appeals Tribunal rejected a request by Kuku Foods Uganda Limited, the company behind the KFC fast-food chain in Uganda, to halt the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) from collecting Shs 4.2 billion worth of taxes until their tax dispute is resolved. The tribunal dismissed the application, ordering Kuku Foods to pay costs,…
Alex Wakamala, a 30-year-old boda-boda rider, yesterday faced intense cross-examination at the Mwanga II Court in a case involving allegations against Rubaga Miracle Centre senior pastor, Robert Kayanja. Wakamala is one of nine men accused of falsely claiming that Pastor Kayanja committed unnatural offenses and trespassing at his church premises. In his sworn defense, Wakamala…
The High Court has ordered Patrick Masambu, the former executive director of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to remove his structures from a small portion of land in Bugolobi, that is owned by Omar Ahmed (aka Mandela) and his brothers. The portion is roughly 10 feet by 5 feet (54 square meters). The ruling, delivered by…
Once upon a time in Kampala, Uganda there was a bank called Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and a company named Kare Distribution Ltd. They had done business together, involving loans and accounts, but things went sour. In 2018, they ended up in a lower court to sort out their disagreement. Instead of fighting it…
The High Court has decided to keep a caveat on a piece of land in Ntinda, Kampala, amid an ongoing ownership dispute between Multi Consults Design Ltd and the National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC). The decision, delivered by Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, rejected an application by Multi Consults to remove the caveat placed by…
The High Court has declared part of a lawsuit invalid because it was filed against a person who had already died. The case revolves around a piece of land in Kawempe, Kampala, measuring about five acres. This land was subdivided into Plots 498 and 499 in the 1990s, sparking claims of fraud and ownership battles…
The Constitutional Court has thrown out a public interest lawsuit aimed at stopping security agencies from re-arresting suspects immediately after they are granted bail, acquitted, or released by courts. The court said the case doesn’t require interpreting the Constitution but is better suited for the High Court to handle as a human rights enforcement matter….
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by 34 former law enforcement assistants who argued they were unfairly fired by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and deserved pension, gratuity, and other benefits. The three-judge panel upheld an earlier decision by the Industrial Court, saying the workers were bound by their short-term contracts and…
The High Court has overturned a contempt of court ruling and fines imposed by the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT) against Nile Breweries arguing that it (tribunal) lacked the power to punish the company for what it called “civil contempt”. However, the court sided with the tribunal on a key tax rule, confirming that companies must…
Mengo Court Magistrate Adams Byarugaba has remanded Prossy Namugga, the mother of a suspect, after she failed to trace the whereabouts of her son, Moses Tumwiine, also known as Semanobe. Namugga was arrested a few days ago following a warrant issued by the same court when her son, Moses Tumwiine, missed court appearances more than…
The High Court (Commercial Division) yesterday rejected an application by Ratidu Trading Ltd and two individuals to review and set aside a previous judgment ordering them to pay over Shs 1.3 billion to Equity Bank (U). Justice Susan Odongo dismissed the case, saying the applicants failed to prove they had discovered new evidence or that…
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by two companies, Simba Properties Investment Co. Ltd and Simba Telecom Ltd, to temporarily stop the sale of six properties they had mortgaged over a loan. The properties include Protea Skyz Hotel on Naguru hill. In a ruling last week, the court said it lacks the power…
A Ugandan businessman, Daniel Dennis Ssemugenyi and his company have won a major legal victory after the High Court ordered DFCU to unfreeze their account, which had been locked for over 10 months due to allegations of fraud. In September 2023, Daniel Dennis Investment Group Ltd owned by Ssemugenyi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),…
The Court of Appeal has partially overturned convictions in the Katosi-Nyenga upgrade corruption case freeing Joe Ssemugooma, the former head of finance at UNRA, while upholding the sentence for Apollo Senkeeto, who procured the contractor. The decision, delivered on August 22, 2025, stems from a 2018 trial over alleged fraud in the procurement of the…
The High Court has allowed two health companies, run by David Kyewalabye-Male, the former head of Buganda Land Board (BLB), to stay in their rented building in Rubaga until the main case is resolved. The decision stops the landlord, James Lubega, from evicting them or interfering with their operations for now. The case involves Kyewalabye-Male’s…
The High Court has thrown out a legal challenge by Dr. Richard Kabiito, a lecturer at Makerere University, who tried to stop an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him. Justice Simon Peter M. Kinobe said the case was not ready for court review because the university’s probe was still in its early stages…
Justice Simon Peter Kinobe has thrown out a legal challenge by former Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto, which sought to force the Electoral Commission (EC) to recognize him as the new leader of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP). Justice Kinobe ruled that Otto’s case was not fit for “judicial review,” a legal process used to…
The commercial division of the High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Westwinds Trading Company Matco Ltd against Exim Bank (Uganda) Ltd. The judge ruled that the case was filed incorrectly under Ugandan law, and ordered Westwinds to pay the bank’s legal costs. The dispute started when Westwinds accused Exim Bank of wrongly transferring…
Dr. Alan Shonubi, one of Uganda’s well-known lawyers, has been ordered by the High Court to facilitate the refund of Shs 100 million to Sal Oil Limited after a land deal went sour. The ruling, delivered on August 15, 2025, stems from a 2019 agreement where Sal Oil tried to buy a plot in Mbale…
The Appeals Tribunal of the PPDA has dismissed a case brought by Goldstar Insurance against the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC). The tribunal said in its ruling on August 12 that the insurance firm’s application was filed too late, making it invalid under the law. The case started from a dispute over a procurement process…
On Kampala Road, next to Crane Chambers, stands the gleaming Church House, a 16-story building that serves as the headquarters for the Church of Uganda. This iconic structure, completed in recent years, nearly slipped from the church’s grasp due to a massive loan from Equity Bank Uganda. Back in 2010, under the leadership of then…
The Court of Appeal has ordered former minister, Israel Mayengo, to sell half an acre of his land in Muyenga to John Lwalanda as per their earlier oral agreement. The decision, issued on August 11, ends a long-running dispute over an oral land deal gone sour. The case started in 2009 when Lwalanda sued Mayengo…
The High Court (Commerical Division) has given businessman Kennedy Losuk, 60 days to deposit Shs 10 billion in Equity Bank or have his properties, including Emin Pasha Hotel in Nakasero, sold off. The 60 days end on October 10, 2025. A couple of years ago, the owner of the hotel, Kennedy Losuk, borrowed billions from…
The Court of Appeal has temporarily stopped proceedings in a High Court arbitration case involving Simba Properties Investment Co. Ltd and Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership. Simba Properies Investment Co. Ltd is owned by businessman, Patrick Bitature. The decision, made by Justice Oscar Kihika, pauses High Court Arbitration Case until an application for leave to…
The High Court has ordered car dealer Yassah Matovu to refund tycoon, Mutaasa Kafeero, Shs 300 million after he supplied him with a Range Rover that did not match the description in the contract. The ruling was delivered at the end of last month. Through his lawyers Muwema and Company Advocates, Kafeero sued Matovu last…
The Constitutional Court, in a landmark ruling, dismissed a petition brought by a one Jackson Ntwatwa challenging the court’s jurisdiction to handle interlocutory applications. The decision, delivered yesterday by a panel of five justices— Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice Cheborion Barishaki, Justice Muzamiru M. Kibedi, Justice Irene Mulyagonja, and Justice Christopher Gashirabake—clarified the court’s authority and…
Atkins Godfrey Katusabe, the MP for Bukonzo West in Kasese district, has won a legal battle against telecom giant, MTN, after it deactivated his simcard due to what it called discrepancies in his indentification documents. Katusabe is the husband to Sarah Opendi, the vocal woman MP for Tororo. Justice David S.L. Makumbi of the High…
If you are a heavily indebted businessperson in Uganda, sinking under the weight of a bank loan with no hope of repaying it, what do you do? For many, they would let the bank foreclose their mortgaged properties and lick their wounds. But if you are of the stature of Hamis Kiggundu, Patrick Bitature, Amos…
In 2024, Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka, filed a private prosecution in the Chief Magistrate’s Court at the Anti-Corruption Division against Speaker Anita Annet Among. Mabirizi alleged that Among was engaged in money laundering given the number of properties and other items like vehicles that the speaker owned. Among had just hosted several MPs at her palatial…
On the morning of Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Claire Nassali Mugabi, as always, woke up to prepare to go to her workplace. She made a pick of clothes she was going to wear (she favoured Orange tops), applied her usual thick red lipstick. As she was heading out of her house, a WhatsApp message flashed…
In newly released video footage, Justice Lydia Mugambe was seen pleading with a police officer who had come to arrest her over the suspicion of forcing a young woman to work for her. The officer says: “So, unfortunately I am gonna now arrest you on suspicion of keeping someone in slavery and servitude under the…
Justice Lydia Mugambe could face life imprisonment in the United Kingdom after she was found guilty of “forcing a young woman to work as a slave” by a UK Court. Prosecutors said Lydia Mugambe “took advantage of her status” over her victim by preventing her from holding down steady employment while forcing her to work…
Justice Lydia Mugambe, who faces slavery charges in the UK yesterday denied trafficking a young woman from Uganda to work as her slave. According to British media reports, Mugambe, 49, appeared at Oxford Crown Court where she was accused of taking advantage of the alleged victim in the “most egregious way.” Charges relate to Mugambe’s…
Molly Katanga, who is facing murder charges at the High Court, was last week denied bail for the third time, despite her deteriorating medical condition. Justice Rosette Comfort Kania ruled on Thursday that the seriousness of the murder charge against her outweighed any personal circumstances. The judge said she should stand trial while on remand,…
A family law expert Dr. Diana Musoke has warned that the Marriage Bill, 2024 has the potential to destroy the institution of marriage if enacted into law. Dr. Musoke said the proposals in the bill seek to discourage the country’s long held perception on the purpose for which marriages exist. She questioned why the Bill…
The friction between Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde and High Court judge Musa Ssekaana has escalated into one of the most high-profile legal battles in Uganda’s recent history. On Friday, Ssekaana sentenced Ssemakadde to a two-year prison sentence for contempt of court, deepening the conflict and polarising the legal fraternity. Ssemakadde, who was…
Justice Musa Ssekaana has sentenced Isaac Ssemakadde, the president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), to two years in prison for contempt of court. Ssemakadde had been accused of using abusive and insulting statements against Ssekaana on social media. The case emanates from a case filed by Mugisha Hashim Mugisha against Ssemakadde. It is alleged…
Outgoing Principal Judge Flavian Zeija is the new deputy chief justice replacing Richard Buteera who retired last year. Zeija’s appointment is among a raft of judicial changes announced by President Museveni yesterday. The president also elevated Muzamiru Kibeedi to the Supreme Court and appointed eight Justices of the Court of Appeal, and 21 acting judges of…
One of the key moments lost in the excitement of the historic ruling by the Supreme Court on Friday was the reunion of two legal minds—Caleb Alaka and Erias Lukwago, who started out in the legal profession together. The two, who had once formed a formidable legal partnership before parting ways in 2005 due to…
President Museveni has criticized the decision by the Supreme Court barring the trial of civilians in the army courts saying it is a wrong one. In a terse statement posted on his X handle, the president insisted that trying civilians in the court martial is aimed at defending people against criminals armed with guns. The…
Elison Karuhanga, a senior advocate and partner at Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA) has welcomed the Supreme Court decision outlawing the trial of civilians in army courts saying it was long overdue. Speaking to Bbeg Media moments after the ruling, Karuhanga said for a long the Uganda Law Society and other entities had made the argument…
The Supreme Court today dismissed an appeal lodged by the government over the trial of civilians in the General Court Martial (GCM). The government had challenged a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld that it was “unconstitutional” for civilians to be tried in the army courts. Michael Kabaziguruka, the former Nakawa MP had petitioned the Constitutional…
