The Implications of Parallel Civil and Criminal Proceedings on Land Ownership Rights in Uganda

The conduct of parallel civil and criminal proceedings in Uganda is legally permissible, arising from the distinct nature and remedies offered by each process. While this dual pursuit can serve as a legitimate means of safeguarding land ownership rights, it has increasingly been prone to abuse. Parties sometimes institute criminal proceedings alongside ongoing civil suits over land, often with the intent of intimidating adversaries, delaying justice, or coercing the surrender of lawful land interests. Such practices can undermine the constitutional right to own and enjoy property and impose significant procedural and financial burdens on the parties and the courts. This paper, adopting a doctrinal research approach, examines the conduct of parallel proceedings, the legal framework permitting them, the challenges they create, including evidential intersections, abuse of process, and impacts on fair trial rights, and their implications for land ownership in Uganda. The study urges judicial vigilance, legislative reforms, and improved land management mechanisms to curtail the abuse of parallel proceedings and ensure the timely protection of lawful land rights

Parallel proceedings, Abuse of court process, Right to ownership of land, Uganda.

1. Ahmad, J. (2022). Disparities between civil law and criminal law: A cohort study. Global Science Research Journal, 10(2). https://www.globalscienceresearchjournals.org/articles/civil-law-and-criminal-law-differences.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Barclay, G. (1990). Criminal justice systems in Europe: England and Wales. Helsinki Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/133730NCJRS.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bathurst, T. F. (2017, October 18). A short history of criminal law. Francis Forbes Society Australian Legal History Tutorials. https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/NSWBarAssocNews/2021/23.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Dennis, I. H. (2013). The law of evidence (5th ed.). Sweet & Maxwell. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Esther, O., & Ogwapit, J. (2017). Dispute resolution: The Land Governance Assessment Framework technical report. Landnet Uganda. https://mubsep.mubs.ac.ug/mod/resource/view.php?id=48949 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. HiiL. (2020). Deep delve into land justice in Uganda. https://www.hiil.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HiiL-Uganda-Deep-Dive-Land_Online-1.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. HiiL. (2024). Justice needs and satisfaction in Uganda: Legal problems in daily life. https://www.hiil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/HiiL-Uganda-JNS-2024-digital.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Jackson, J. (2022, October 6). The defense of claim of right. Hugo Law Group. https://hugolawgroup.com.au/insights/the-defence-of-claim-of-right-%EF%BF%BC/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Judiciary of Uganda. (2023). Judiciary annual performance report: Financial year 2022/2023. https://judiciary.go.ug/files/downloads/Judiciary_Annual_Perfomance_Report_202223_Web_231115_140706.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Keane, A., & McKeown, P. (2012). The modern law of evidence (9th ed.). Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Langa Siu, S. (Ed.). (2025). A glimpse into the Judiciary annual performance report 2023/2024. The Judiciary Insider, (22), 3. https://judiciary.go.ug/files/publications/INSIDER%20ISSUE%2023%20-%20Jan%202025web.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Nakayi, R. (2023). Weaponisation of trespass to land and its implication for land justice and enjoyment of property rights in neoliberal Uganda. Strathmore Law Journal, 7(1). https://journal.strathmore.edu/index.php/law/article/view/184 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Obaikol, E., & Ogwapit, J. (2017). Dispute resolution: The Land Governance Assessment Framework technical report. Landnet Uganda. https://mubsep.mubs.ac.ug/mod/resource/view.php?id=48949 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Oloka-Onyango, J. (2015, November 25). An overview of the legal system in Uganda. Presentation at the China–Africa Legal Forum. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3617283 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Opio, R. (2018, January 25). Impact of land adjudication delays on crime, economic and social development. Paper presented at the 20th Annual Judges' Conference. https://judiciary.go.ug/files/downloads/The%20Impact%20of%20Land%20Adjudication%20delays%20on%20Crime,%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Development%20by%20Opio%20Robert.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. (n.d.). History of Parliament. https://www.parliament.go.ug/page/history-parliament [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Quan, J., et al. (Eds.). (2004). Land in Africa: Market asset or secure livelihood? Proceedings and summary of conclusions from the Land in Africa Conference held in London, November 8–9, 2004. https://www.asfg.org.uk/pdfs/12516IIED.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Rugadya, M. A., et al. (2008). Northern Uganda land study: Analysis of the post-conflict land policy and land administration: A survey of the IDP return and resettlement issues and lessons: Acholi and Lango regions. https://mokoro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/northern_uganda_land_study_acholi_and_lango.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Samaha, J. (2014). Criminal law (11th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Shejavali, N. (Ed.). (2016). Land, food security and agriculture in Uganda. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/uganda/13549.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Ssekaana, M. (2010). Criminal procedure and practice in Uganda (2nd ed.). LawAfrica Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Ssenkumba, M., & Muyimba, Y. (2024). Land related disputes in Uganda and pathways to addressing them from citizens' perspectives. Islamic University Journal of Social Sciences, 3(3), 107. https://www.journals.iuiu.ac.ug/index.php/iujss/article/view/634/470 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Uganda Bureau of Statistics. (2024). National population and housing census 2024: Final report (Vol. 1). https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2024-Final-Report-Volume-1-Main.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Occupational Culture in Relation to Job Satisfaction and Work Performance among Police
• Inmates' Character Reformation and Recidivism in Nigeria: A Study of Okaka Correctional Facility, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
• Life World of Former Female Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) Trainees
• Efficacy of Fingerprint and Facial Recognition in Enhancing National Security in Kenya
• No More Catcalling: Awareness of College of Criminal Justice Education Students on Republic Act 11313 Also Known as Safe Spaces Act