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The Commercial Case Law Index is a collection of judgments from African countries on topics relating to commercial legal practice. The collection aims to provide a snapshot of commercial legal practice in a country, rather than present solely traditionally "reportable" cases. The index currently covers 400 judgments from Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Get started on finding judgments that are relevant to you by browsing the topic list on the left of the screen. Click the arrows next to the topic names to reveal a detailed list of sub-topics. Most judgments are accompanied by a short summary written by subject-matter expert postgraduate students from the University of Cape Town.
Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association v Attorney General and Another (Ruling) (J1/4/2016) [2016] GHASC 91 (21 April 2016); 
HR Index Express and disseminate opinion Substantive rights Human Rights Receive information Substantive rights Human Rights CL Index Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Interlocutory Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil RemediesThe court considered an application by way of notice on motion for an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from enforcing the National Media Regulations pending the court’s determination of the substantive suit. The substantive suit related to declarations that the requirement for prior authorization of consent as well as the criminal sanctions were contrary to the Constitution.
The court confirmed that whereas in public law, a court ought to be slow in granting interlocutory injunction, it still has the power to grant one. This is especially so in exceptional cases where there is a need to restrain enforcement of legislation that is being challenged on substantial grounds. The courts will grant an injunction to avoid irreparable injury being caused by the enforcement of a potentially unconstitutional piece of legislation that is being challenged. On this basis, the application was granted.
Falke v Billiri Local Governemnt Council and Others (CA/J/164/2013)[2016] NGCA 34 (20 May 2016) (CA/J/164/2013) [2016] NGCA 34 (19 May 2016); CL Index Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Title to Property Title to real property Property Law Burden of Proof Evidence LawThe case concerned an appeal against the ruling of the High Court relating to land ownership.
Based on the evidence adduced in the High Court, the court had to consider whether the appellant and the respondent proved their respective cases and whether the land in question was clearly described during the trial.
The court held that only the appellant was able to prove his case and that the land in question was clearly identified by the appellant.
The court went on to state that the appellant was able to prove title to the land in question through his grandfather and that the respondents did not dispute the claim. Furthermore, the respondents asserted in their pleadings that the land in question was acquired by the state but failed to discharge the burden that rested on them in proving so. The court ruled in favour of the appellant in so far as him being able to clearly identify and describe the land in question.
The appeal succeeded, and the judgment of the High Court was set aside. The court confirmed that the title of the land vested in the appellant and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from trespassing on the land.
Zamfara State Government of Nigeria and Others v Ecobank Nigeria Ltd and Others (CA/L/1025M/2015)[2016] NGCA 40 (25 February 2016) (CA/L/1025M/2015) [2016] NGCA 40 (24 February 2016); CL Index Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Stay of Execution Civil RemediesThe court determined the principles of granting a stay of execution and injunction pending appeal in a case that involves a state government.
The first respondent raised a preliminary objection on the jurisdiction of the court, since there was a stay of execution pending in the court below on the same issue and the first appellant had not appealed on the attachment of the appellant’s monies in banks (garnishee order). In determining its jurisdiction, the court applied Order 4 Rule 6 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011 (Rules of the Court) and held that it had discretionary powers to make injunctions pending appeal even when no application lied in the court below depending on the facts and circumstances of the case. Additionally, the court held that there was an appeal predicated on the garnishee order thus the issues were properly before it.
The court set out the principles of granting a stay of execution and injunction pending appeal: to preserve the subject matter of the appeal from irreparable damage pending appeal. It also held that the principles are applied when a party has an arguable appeal and to enhance public interest.
The court observed that the appellant had admitted its indebtedness to part of the judgment debt and held it just and fair to refuse the application with respect to that amount. The court held that the trial court erred in granting garnishee orders on balance of the judgment debt. Accordingly, the application succeeded in part.
Anglo Fabrics (Bolton) Ltd & Anor v African Queen Ltd & Anor (HCT-00-CC-CS-0632-2006) ((Bolton)) [2008] UGCOMMC 67 (27 January 2008); CL Index Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Passing Off Intellectual Property LawKampala Stocks Supermarket Co. Ltd Vs Seven Days International Ltd. (CIVIL SUIT NO 112 OF 2015) [2015] UGCOMMC 96 (31 July 2015); CL Index Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Trademarks Intellectual Property Law Locus Standi Parties Civil ProcedureThe plaintiff sought a permanent injunction against the defendant to prevent it from selling, offering for sale, or dealing in goods bearing the plaintiff’s registered trademark.
The court considered whether the defendant infringed the plaintiff’s registered trademark and whether the defendant was a bona fide user of the trademark. The court also considered whether the defendant had locus standi (standing) to challenge the registration of the plaintiff’s trademark.
Held, the defendant did not have locus standi to challenge the plaintiff’s trademark registration. Held, although the defendant was a trader, it could not claim innocence by virtue of advertising the plaintiff’s trademarks. The court stated that points of law had to be argued and evidence adduced by the plaintiff in so far as infringement is concerned in order for final judgement to be granted.
The court extensively examined existing trademark legislation and decided cases and concluded that the defendant did not have locus standi to challenge the plaintiff’s registration as the plaintiff enjoyed statutory protection due to registering its mark in Uganda first.
Interim injunction granted in favour of the plaintiff until the trial.
Colgate Palmolive Company Ltd v Sombe Supermarket Ltd (CIVIL SUIT NO 689 OF 2016) [2017] UGCOMMC 6 (10 February 2017); CL Index Passing Off Intellectual Property Law Exemplary Damages Damages Civil Remedies Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Trademarks Intellectual Property LawTrademark – Infringing mark resembles with the plaintiff’s mark – Infringement proved
Habib Oil Limited & 4 Ors v Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Ltd (MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO 872 OF 2015) [2017] UGCOMMC 21 (10 March 2017); CL Index Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil RemediesThis case concerned an application for an injunction restraining the respondents from selling or enforcing a mortgage in respect of the applicant’s mortgaged properties, pending the determination of a civil suit.
A preliminary objection was raised that the second, third, fourth and fifth applicants’ application was not supported by affidavit evidence. The court held that the first applicant’s supporting affidavit and supplementary affidavit would remain intact, and the applicant’s case would survive. Striking out the second to fifth applicants would not do away with the substance of the application.
The grounds for granting an injunction are that the applicant must prove a prima facie case with a likelihood of success; the applicant is likely to suffer irreparable injury that would not be adequately compensated for by damages; and if the court is in doubt it will decide the matter on a balance of convenience. As regards the first ground the court held that there was no prima facie case or serious question to be tried that had the potential of avoiding realization of the outstanding loan amount. This ground was based on whether the contract between the applicant and first respondent was frustrated, in that the applicant was still awaiting payment for the petroleum products sold; the purchase of which was funded by a loan from the respondent. As a result, the applicant contended it could not repay the loan. Evidence showed that there was a delay in payment, and not frustration of contract.
The application for an injunction was dismissed.
Vision Impex Limited v Sansa & Anor (CIVIL SUIT NO. 303 OF 2013) [2017] UGCOMMC 59 (6 June 2017); CL Index Trademark Infringement Intellectual Property Law Injunction Injunctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Damages Civil RemediesThe plaintiff was a registered owner of "Feathers" sanitary pads and claimed that the defendant imported "Featlhers" sanitary pads to be sold in Uganda. The court considered whether the plaintiff had exclusive use of a trademark which was infringed by importation and sale of a product.
The court held that s 36 of the Trade Marks Act grants exclusive use of a mark, which is infringed if a person who is not the owner of that mark uses it and causes confusion to average consumers. Civil proceedings may be instituted in terms of s 79(1). According to ss 79(3) and (4), the grant of an injunction does not affect a claim of damages, direct loss of sales and consequent loss of profits as well as the depreciation of the goodwill. Section 81(1) provides that one available form of relief is an account of profits to the plaintiff.
The court found that the plaintiff had exclusive use of the trademark. Despite the minor differences the goods were the same visually, conceptually, phonetically and belonged to the same class of goods. Therefore, concluded that the goods would likely confuse reasonable consumers. The defendants were guilty of infringement of the trademark by selling and importation of the sanitary pads. The plaintiff did not deal with the actual loss of sales, and no evidence was adduced to show that the counterfeit goods were circulating in Uganda.
The plaintiff's complaints were upheld. The court granted costs, ordered the destruction of the impounded goods, permanent injunction and general damages.