Uganda’s booming NSSF, infrastructure deficits and the new Sukuk Guidelines
National need is a good reason for NSSF to look at a project. It isn’t a good enough reason to invest in one.
An Award-Winning Specialist Commercial and Corporate Law Publication · Uganda
The First 5 Years After Admission to the Bar
The first few years are often the hardest, yet they shape the lawyer we eventually become.
A Case Based On A Wrongfully Registered Industrial Design Is Self-Defeating
Without a validly registered industrial design, the statutory basis for a law suit is lost, rendering the suit not mantainable.
Settlement and Release Agreements Take Away Rights to Pursue Any Future Claims Even if Such Claims Are From Facts Unknown at the Time of Signing – Court
Active participation in court proceedings without referring to the arbitration clause is a waiver of the right to invoke the arbitration clause and a submission to the jurisdiction of the Court to handle the dispute.
Commercial Contracts
Customs Bonds, Like Other Performance Guarantees, Are Independent of Their Underlying Contracts, Court Says
A customs bond is governed by the “autonomy principle”, just like other similar performance guarantees, meaning it operates independently of the contract on which it is based, the Commercial Court has ruled.A customs bond is a financial instrument often issued
Oct 15, 2026
General damages for breach of contract? Lessons from Kenya and Uganda
Oct 15, 2026
Before claiming general damages, ask yourself: Can this loss be calculated? If yes, prove it. If not, explain why.
Liquidation of An Insolvent Business Is Not Always the Best Solution, Court Says
Oct 14, 2026
This does not mean that a company must be saved at all costs.
News
A Director Can’t Sign Off A Mortgage For A Company Without Its Power of Attorney – Supreme Court
Commercial Contracts
Oct 1, 2026
The Court rejected Advocate Joseph Kyazze’s argument that the power of attorney requirement only applies to a mortgagor/registered owner of land and not the mortgagee/lender.
Bank of Uganda Has No Power to Sue On Behalf of Government to Recover Public Funds
Banking & Finance
Sep 25, 2026
An objection about
locus standi goes to the very root of the cause of action. If it is successful, it marks the end of the matter.
Court Okays Execution of Decree Against Directors Of Asset-less Company
Corporates
Sep 18, 2026
The commercial division of the High Court has allowed a plaintiff/applicant to execute a court decree against directors of a
S.75 of the Advocates Act: No Valid Practicing Certificate. No Payment.
Employment
Sep 14, 2026
TOPLINE An advocate or indeed any other lawyer who performs a client’s work without a valid practicing certificate at the
Practice Areas
01BankingLending, security, enforcement, financial services and disputes with the banks.02ProcurementTenders, award decisions, challenges and the contracts that follow them.03TaxationAssessments, objections, appeals and the tax consequences of commercial decisions.04Intellectual PropertyOwnership, licensing, infringement and the commercial exploitation of IP rights.05EmploymentEmployment disputes and workplace questions with a significant business dimension.06InsuranceCover, claims, repudiation and the disputes that follow commercial insurance.07InsolvencyLiquidation, administration, receivership, creditors and corporate distress.08ContractsFormation, performance, breach, remedies and the enforcement of commercial agreements.
Opinions
Freedom of expression and the Right to insult in Uganda: The case of Praise Aloikin Opoloje
Practitioner Insights
Oct 7, 2026
What the Constitution, the courts and international instruments say about speech that offends.
Capital Gains Taxation and Change of Ownership in Uganda: Emerging Lessons from Enviroserv (U) Ltd v URA and Kuku Foods (U) Ltd v URA
Practitioner Insights
Sep 15, 2026
A company may be sold in London, Nairobi, Amsterdam or New York, yet the tax consequences of that transaction may arise in Uganda. This
Another tale of two cities: The standard of care for banks in Uganda and Kenya
Banking
Sep 11, 2026
There is a local saying that wisdom is like fire, if you don’t have, you borrow from your neighbour. In this piece we compare
Tips on use of Artificial Intelligence in Legal Research (Specifically Claude AI)
Commentary
Sep 10, 2026
You could have noticed that most of the times you ask AI about a certain judgment or statutory provision, it brings uncoordinated stuff. The
UBA Ordered to Pay UGX 128M Over Stealing From Injured Man
Banking
Sep 13, 2026
TOPLINEUnited Bank of Africa (UBA) Limited has been ordered to refund UGX 108,230,400/= to a man
Employers May Face Damages Where Internal Investigations Are Not Disclosed to Employees And Disciplinary Charges or HR Procedures Are Defective or Not Followed
Employment
Sep 10, 2026
In Brief A former employee has prevailed against Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) after a
Court limits lender discretion under Material Adverse Change (MAC) clauses
Banking
Sep 10, 2026
The commercial division of the High Court of Uganda has ordered Equity Bank (U) Ltd to
Supreme Court Clarifies Determination of “Instruction Fees” For Lawyers
Law Firms
Aug 20, 2026
On 7th August, 2026, the Supreme Court of Uganda presided over by Justice Monica K Mugenyi,
High Court: Statutory Time Limitations Are Substantive Law Not Mere Technicalities
News
Aug 22, 2024
The Court held that Claims brought outside the prescribed limitation period are not maintainable unless specific exceptions, such as fraud or mistake, are pleaded and proved.
A Winding Up Petition Is Not the Proper Forum For Debt Disputes, High Court Affirms
Insolvency
Aug 9, 2024
The High Court of Uganda has affirmed that a winding-up petition is not the appropriate avenue for resolving debt disputes. This was
Commercial Court Awards 103M to Creditors of Tuskys Supermarket, 1 Year After Its Liquidation
Insolvency
Aug 2, 2024
In a decision that highlights the high cost of case backlog or delayed delivery of Justice, the Commercial
Brief: Sanlam General Assurance Uganda v. ICEA General Insurance Company
Intellectual Property
Jul 25, 2024
The Registrar of companies’ discretion is restricted to situations where company names are misleading.
Elsewhere
Young Advocates: Build Your Own Path. Your Career is yours to build.
Columns
Oct 6, 2026
The mistake is believing that your career must look like someone else’s before it can be considered successful.
Lawyer of the Week (28th Sept – 4th Oct, 2026)
Features
Oct 2, 2026
“I handle land matters mostly, but they tend to overlap into commercial matters.”
To Young Advocates: The Brief that Can End Your Practice Before it Starts
Advocate's Voice
Sep 30, 2026
You cannot build a successful firm simply by learning how to get clients. You must also learn how to choose them.
Features
01
A short five-question profile of a lawyer who has played a significant role in an important commercial matter or development.
02
The month’s standout commercial decision, explained through its facts, legal issue, outcome and commercial significance.
03
The major awards, claims and financial consequences making commercial litigation impossible for business leaders to ignore.
04
Practice notes from the lawyers handling these matters: how the rules work in practice, and where they catch business out.
Case of the Month
Each month we select one decision that deserves special attention. The report explains the dispute as a story, isolates the legal turning point and examines its implications for commercial practice.
Big Damages
UGX —
The month’s biggest commercial claim. Follow the money behind major commercial disputes, damages awards and settlements.
Latest
High Court: Image Rights Ownership Is Personal, Can’t Be Negotiated
News
Aug 21, 2024
The court held that the right to one’s image (likeness,name, voice, etc) is an unnegotiable personal right protected under the right to privacy enshrined in the Constitution’s Article 27
Supreme Court: Payment of Compensation Is Before the Compulsory Acquisition of Land – Not Later
News
Aug 20, 2024
The respondents challenged the constitutionality of the provision after their land was compulsorily acquired by UNRA without prompt prior compensation.
High Court: The Necessity of Stamp Duty
News
Aug 19, 2024
An unstamped instrument cannot form the basis of legal claims beyond the parties to that instrument.
Supreme Court: “Taking into Account” the Remand Period Is Mathematical
News
Aug 18, 2024
The Supreme Court made a significant determination regarding the deduction of the remand period from the sentence. The court departed from its previous decisions.
High Court: The Boundaries of Self-Defense
News
Aug 18, 2024
Death is excusable when caused in self-defence.
Supreme Court: As a Second Appellate Court, Our Jurisdiction is limited to Matters of Law or Mixed Law and Fact
News
Aug 17, 2024
The Supreme Court’s role is not to re-evaluate the evidence against facts of the case as thoroughly as the first appellate court but to ensure that the law has been correctly applied by the first appellate court and that there has been no miscarriage of justice.
Membership
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Quarterly reviews of the key commercial decisions, and a yearly Best Case Law Report by practice area.
About us
Uganda’s commercial and corporate law publication, reported with precision, honesty and independence.