Ugandan Courts Deliver Key Rulings on Education, Murder Trials, and Political Suits

Last week proved to be a dynamic period for the Ugandan judiciary, with major rulings and developments unfolding across several critical areas of law. From educational institutions to high-profile criminal cases and constitutional challenges, the courts grappled with issues of academic integrity, forensic evidence, and political accountability.

In a significant victory for a law student, the High Court ordered Uganda Christian University (UCU) to pay Shs100 million in damages. The ruling came after the court found UCU had unlawfully attempted to revoke academic credits earned by Samantha Mwesigye abroad, just months before her scheduled graduation. Justice Bernard Namanya, presiding over the case, determined that the university’s actions were arbitrary, unjust, and an abuse of power after Mwesigye had successfully progressed through her four-year program based on the initial credit transfer.

Meanwhile, the Molly Katanga murder trial continued with a defence forensic expert admitting under cross-examination that he could not definitively determine the position of the deceased, Henry Katanga, at the time of his shooting. Prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya challenged the expert’s methodology, highlighting standard forensic practices that consider a wider range of evidence. The expert also conceded he had not examined certain injuries mentioned in the defence’s narrative.

In a separate development, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has been ordered by the High Court to file his defence within seven days in response to a suit brought by opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye. Besigye alleges that social media posts by Gen. Kainerugaba threatened his life and interfered with his right to a fair trial. The court has set a hearing date for June 30, 2026.

Further underscoring the broad scope of legal proceedings, four men were remanded in connection with the alleged mob killing of Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gyabi Gongodyo. The accused face murder charges following an incident on June 5, 2026, in Kampala, with investigations into the matter ongoing.

These varied cases collectively highlight the Ugandan justice system’s role in addressing institutional power, the intricacies of forensic science, the safeguarding of constitutional rights, and the pursuit of justice for violent crimes.