Kampala, Uganda: The High Court Land Division has reaffirmed its earlier ruling in favour of Meera Investments Limited, reinforcing the company’s ownership rights over dozens of prime properties in a long-running legal battle with DFCU Bank.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Samuel Emokor on January 2, 2026, under Miscellaneous Application No. 1615 of 2024, the court revisited its substantive judgment of October 24, 2023, in Civil Suit No. 948 of 2017, where Meera Investments emerged victorious.
In that earlier decision, the court declared that DFCU Bank’s occupation and continued use of the suit properties amounted to trespass and affirmed that Meera Investments is the registered proprietor of the freehold and Mailo interests in the contested properties.
The court ordered DFCU to vacate all the suit properties and render vacant possession to Meera within three months, after restoring them to a tenable condition.
It further directed the Commissioner for Land Registration to cancel DFCU’s registration as a leasehold proprietor on the properties and to cancel all leasehold titles emanating from them. A permanent injunction was also issued restraining the bank, its agents and servants from continued trespass.
47 Properties Vacated
In the latest proceedings, the court acknowledged that DFCU had complied with the order to vacate by handing over 47 of the 48 suit premises, though restoration had not been completed.
“The Applicant in his Affidavit in support states that the Respondent complied with the first strand of the order by vacating 47 of the 48 suit premises, albeit without having restored them,” Justice Emokor noted.
The judge emphasized that the original judgment imposed a clear and time-bound obligation on the bank to both vacate and restore the properties within three months.
“It’s also important to note that the orders of court especially under (j) were to be performed within a prescribed time of three months,” he observed.
In a key clarification strengthening Meera’s position, the court reiterated a settled legal principle: filing an appeal does not automatically suspend execution of a decree. “The filing of an appeal does not suspend the execution of a court decree,” the ruling stated.
The court further noted that by June 11, 2024, when Meera, through its lawyers, forwarded bills of quantities detailing restoration costs, there had been no suspension of the obligation to comply with the judgment.
“At this point on 11th June 2024, the obligation to comply with the Judgment and orders of the Court had not been suspended on the Respondent,” the judge held.
Restoration Costs Assessed at Shs40 Billion
Restoration costs were assessed by registered quantity surveyor Oscar C. Walubi of Buildcost Associates, who inspected the properties alongside representatives of both parties.
The total cost of restoring the premises to a tenable condition was computed at Shs33.98 billion, plus 18 per cent VAT of Shs6.11 billion, bringing the total to Shs40.1 billion.
Although the court declined to hold DFCU in contempt due to a subsisting stay of execution pending appeal, the core findings in favour of Meera Investments remain intact.
The confirmation of Meera’s registered ownership, the finding of trespass, cancellation of leasehold interests, and the permanent injunction against further occupation continue to stand unless overturned by an appellate court.
The ruling preserves the central judgment that established Meera Investments’ proprietary rights, reinforcing its legal entitlement to vacant possession and restoration of the disputed properties.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
