Filing a notice of appeal in Uganda: checklist
Pending verification: The exact current time limit and fees for the specific appeal route. Treat the flagged points as provisional and confirm them before relying on them.
In brief
An appeal starts with a timely notice of appeal — miss the time and the appeal can be incompetent. This checklist covers the steps.
Who it's for & when to use it
Who it's for: Intending appellants and their advocates.
When to use it: Immediately after a judgment you intend to appeal.
When not to use it: Where the proper route is review or a reference, not appeal.
The checklist
1. Act within time
- File the notice of appeal within the prescribed time of the decision; time is strict and an out-of-time notice can be incompetent.
- Where you are out of time, seek leave or an extension.
2. Apply for the record
- Apply promptly for a certified copy of the proceedings, judgment and decree, and keep proof of the request.
3. Build the record
- Prepare the record of appeal and the memorandum of appeal setting out the grounds.
4. Lodge and serve
- Lodge the appeal and serve the respondent; give an address for service.
5. Pay fees and security
- Pay the fees and any security for costs required for the appeal.
Key authorities
- Civil Procedure Rules — Order 43 (appeals); Civil Procedure Act, Cap. 282 — s.66.
Checklist · Civil procedure & courts.
Actively maintained.
Last reviewed 9 June 2026; next review due 9 June 2027.
This resource is a practitioner orientation and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an advocate–client relationship. It is AI-generated. Ugandan law changes and chapter and section numbers were revised in the 2023 Laws of Uganda. Verify every statute, rule, form, fee and authority against the current primary source — and the specific facts of your matter — before relying on it.