Supreme Court of Uganda
The Supreme Court stands out at the top of the judicial pyramid as a final court of Appeal in Uganda. With one exception, it only decides cases on appeal from lower courts. The exception is presidential election petitions, where the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction, which means that an aggrieved candidate in a presidential election may petition the Supreme Court directly.
Location
The Supreme Court is located at **Plot 2, The Square, Kampala – Uganda**. It is the highest court of the land and basically has only appellate jurisdiction. It entertains appeals from the Court of Appeal / Constitutional Court of Uganda; but it has unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction (meaning it can handle any civil matter of any subject matter and can handle any criminal case of any sentence as long as it is an appeal from the Court of Appeal).
Composition
The Supreme Court is constituted by the **Chief Justice (CJ)** who is appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and not less than ten justices. He is the head of the Judiciary and he/she is deputized by the Deputy Chief Justice who heads the Court of Appeal and other justices of the Supreme Court who must not be less than five (5) while hearing an Appeal (this is referred to as the quorum required for the court to hear any matter).
Quorum Requirements
| Case Type | Number of Judges |
|———–|——————|
| Constitutional Appeal Cases | 7 Judges |
| Criminal Appeal Cases | 5 Judges |
| Civil Appeal Cases | 5 Judges |
Court Sessions
However in the absence of the Chief Justice, the most senior member of the Court presides over the sitting of the Supreme Court. It sits eight sessions a year with a break of two weeks between sessions to do research and write judgments.
Powers
The Supreme Court has powers to:
– Uphold decisions from the lower courts
– Reverse decisions from lower courts
– Substitute judgments
– Order for a new trial
The procedure, powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court are regulated by the **Supreme Court Rules**.
Jurisdiction
1. **Appellate Jurisdiction**: Hears appeals from Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court
2. **Original Jurisdiction**: Presidential election petitions only
3. **Advisory Jurisdiction**: May give advisory opinions on any question of law