High Court of Uganda

Third-highest court in Uganda

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The High Court of Uganda, also Uganda High Court, is the third-highest judicial organ in Uganda, behind the Supreme Court of Uganda and the Court of Appeal of Uganda. It has "unlimited original jurisdiction", with powers to try any case of any value or crime of any magnitude. It is also mandated to hear all appeals from all Magistrates Courts. High Court judgements are appealable to the Uganda Court of Appeal.[1]

## Location

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The High Court of Uganda is located at 2 The Square, in Kampala Central Division, one of the five administrative burroughs of Uganda's capital city Kampala.[1] The geographical coordinates of the offices of the Uganda High Court are: 0°18'57.0"N, 32°34'46.0"E (Latitude:0.315833; Longitude:32.579444).[2]

## Overview

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The High Court of Uganda is headed by the Principal Judge (PJ), who is responsible for management of the court, including assigning duties to member justices of the court. The PJ is also responsible for supervising the Magistrates Courts below the High Court.[1] The PJ does hear cases herself/himself at his/her discretion. The current Principal Judge of Uganda is Justice Flavian Zeija.[3]

The High Court has the following eight divisions:[1] (a) Anti-Corruption Division (b) Civil Division (c) Commercial Division (d) Criminal Division (e) Execution and Bailiffs Division (f) Family Division (g) International Crimes Division and (h) Land Division.

In addition to the Kampala headquarters, the High Court has the following circuits where cases can be heard closer to the litigants' domicile.[1]

1. Arua High Court
2. Fort Portal High Court
3. Gulu High Court
4. Hoima High Court
5. Iganga High Court
6. Jinja High Court
7. Kabale High Court
8. Lira High Court
9. Luweero High Court
10. Masaka High Court
11. Masindi High Court
12. Mbarara High Court
13. Mbale High Court
14. Moroto High Court
15. Mpigi High Court
16. Mubende High Court
17. Mukono High Court
18. Rukungiri High Court
19. Soroti High Court
20. Tororo High Court.

## Composition

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The Justices of the High Court of Uganda are headed by the Principal Judge of Uganda. The following are the justices of the High Court of Uganda, as of 15 August 2017:[3]

### Justices in High Court divisions

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The following High court justices are assigned to the divisions of the High Court of Uganda:[3]

1. Flavian Zeija: Principal Judge and Head of Court
2. John Wilson Kwesiga: Head of Criminal Division
3. Flavia Anglin Senoga: Deputy Head of Criminal Division
4. Elizabeth Kabanda: Criminal Division
5. Yasin Nyanzi: Land Division
6. Stephen Musota: Head of Civil Division
7. Margaret Oguli: Deputy Head of Civil Division
8. Lydia Mugambe: Civil Division
9. Henrietta Wolayo: Civil Division
10. Christopher Madrama Izama: Head of Executions & Bailiffs
11. Patricia Basaza Wasswa: Deputy Head of Executions & Bailiffs
12. Andrew Bashaija: Head of Land Division
13. Godfrey Namundi: Deputy Head of Land Division
14. Damalie Lwanga: Land Division
15. Henry Kaweesa Isabirye: Land Division
16. Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya: Land Division
17. Moses Mukiibi: Head, International Crimes Division
18. Jane Kiggundu: Deputy Head of International Crimes Division
19. Ezekiel Muhanguzi: International Crimes Division
20. Lawrence Gidudu: Head of Anti-Corruption Division
21. Margaret Tibulya: Deputy Head of Anti-Corruption Division
22. David Kutosi Wangutusi: Head of Commercial Division
23. Billy Kainamura: Deputy Head of Commercial Division
24. Elizabeth Jane Alividza: Commercial Division
25. Anna Bitature Mugenyi: Commercial Division
26. David Matovu: Deputy Head of Family Division
27. Jessica Naiga: Family Division
28. Patience Tumusiime Rubagumya: Commercial Division.[4]

### Justices in High Court circuits

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The following justices are assigned to the circuits of the Uganda High Court:[3]

1. Albert Rugadya Atwooki: Resident Judge, Masindi
2. John Eudes Keitirima: Senior Resident Judge, Masaka
3. Duncan Gaswaga: Senior Resident Judge, Mbarara
4. Flavian Zeija: Resident Judge, Mbarara
5. Eva Luswata: Senior Resident Judge, Jinja
6. Michael Elabu: Resident Judge, Jinja
7. David Batema: Resident Judge, Soroti
8. Oyuko Anthony Ojok: Resident Judge, Fort Portal
9. Suzan Okalany: Resident Judge, Mbale
10. Stephen Mubiru: Resident Judge, Arua
11. Vincent Okwanga: Resident Judge, Gulu
12. Winfred Nabisinde: Resident Judge, Lira
13. Margaret Mutonyi: Resident Judge, Mukono
14. Wilson Masalu Musene: Resident Judge, Mpigi
15. Joseph Murangira: Resident Judge, Mubende

### Justices on special assignments

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The following High Court justices are on special assignment:[3]

1. Henry Peter Adonyo: Executive Director, Judicial Studies Institute
2. Jane Frances Abodo: Director of Public Prosecutions
3. Julia Sebutinde: International Court of Justice
4. Asaph Ruhundi: Chief Judge, Industrial Court
5. Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha: Industrial Court
6. Benjamin Kabiito: Chairperson, Judicial Service Commission.

### Other high court judges

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Justice Tadeo Asiimwe

The following newly-appointed justices of the high court were sworn in on Friday 23 March 2018, by Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, at State House Entebbe.[5][6]

1. Paul Gadenya Walimbwa
2. Tadeo Asiimwe
3. Emanuel Baguma
4. Joyce Kavuma
5. Alex Mackay Ajiji
6. Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya
7. Richard Wejuli Wabwire

The following justices of the high court were appointed on Friday 5 October 2019.[7]

1. Vincent Emmy Mugabo
2. Immaculate Busingye
3. Isaac Muwata
4. Isah Serunkuuma
5. Susan Abinyo
6. Jane Okuo Kajuga
7. Boniface Wamala
8. Philip Odoki
9. Victoria Katamba
10. Nakintu Nkwanga
11. Jeanne Rwakakoko

## See also

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* Politics of Uganda
* Supreme Court of Uganda
* Court of Appeal of Uganda

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e Judiciary of Uganda (15 August 2017). "The High Court of Uganda". Kampala: Judiciary of Uganda. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
2. ^ "Location of the Offices and Chambers of the High Court of Appeal of Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
3. ^ a b c d e Judiciary of Uganda (15 August 2017). "The Honorable Judges Of The High Court". Kampala: Judiciary of Uganda. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
4. ^ Charles Etukuri (1 September 2023). "Eleven Newly Appointed High Court Judges Deployed". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
5. ^ John Semakula (24 March 2018). "Judges told to emulate British colonial justice system". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
6. ^ Anthony Wesaka (24 March 2018). "Museveni cautions newly appointed judges on corruption". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
7. ^ Anthony Wesaka (5 October 2019). "Museveni Appoints 15 Judges". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

## External links

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* Website of the Judiciary of Uganda Archived 13 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
* The Legal and Institutional Context of the 2006 Elections in Uganda

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