Court of Appeal of Uganda


The Court of Appeal of Uganda is the second-highest judicial organ in Uganda. It derives its powers from Article 134 of the 1995 Constitution. It is an appellate court when hearing cases appealed from the High Court of Uganda. However, it has original jurisdiction when adjudicating matters relating to the constitutionality of matters before it. All judgments by the Court of Appeal are theoretically appealable to the Supreme Court of Uganda, if the Supreme Court decides to hear the appeal.

Location

The Court of Appeal of Uganda is located at Plot 2, The Square, Nakasero, in the Central Division of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. The geographical coordinates of the offices of the Uganda Court of Appeal are: 0°18'57.0"N, 32°34'45.0"E.

Overview

The Court of Appeal of Uganda is headed by the deputy chief justice and has fourteen other justices. The quorum required for a court decision varies depending on the matters under consideration. When sitting as an appellate court in a civil or criminal matter, the required quorum is an odd number of justices, not less than three in number. When sitting to consider a constitutional matter, quorum is achieved by an odd number of justices, not less than five. In Uganda, the Deputy Chief Justice is not a member of the Supreme Court.

Composition

The Justices of the Court of Appeal of Uganda are headed by the Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda. The following are the justices of the Court of Appeal of Uganda, as of 23 April 2025:
  1. Flavian Zeija
  2. Fredrick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende
  3. Eva Luswata
  4. Irene Mulyagonja
  5. Margaret Tibulya
  6. Moses Kazibwe Kawumi
  7. Geoffrey Kiryabwire
  8. Oscar Kihika
  9. Hellen Abulu Obura
  10. Asa Mugyenyi
  11. Cheborion Barishaki
  12. Simon Mugenyi Byabakama
  13. Christopher Gashirabake
  14. Musa Ssekaana
  15. Cornelia Sabiiti Kakooza
  16. Stella Alibateese
  17. Florence Nakachwa
  18. Jesse Rugyema Byaruhanga
  19. John Mike Musisi
  20. Keturah Kitarisiibwa Katunguka
  21. Esta Nambayo.

List of deputy chief justices

RankName of JusticeTerm in Office
1Seth Manyindountil 2001
2Laeticia Kikonyogo2001 until 2010
3Elizabeth Mpagi Bahigeine2010 until 2012
4Constance Byamugisha2012 until 2013
5Steven Kavuma2015 until 2017
6Alfonse Owiny-Dollo2017 until 2020
7Richard Buteera2020 until 2025
8Flavian Zeijasince April 2025