2nd Lt. Ogwang Ambrose v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 48 of 2021) [2024] UGSC 45 (11 December 2024)

# 2nd Lt. Ogwang Ambrose v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 48 of 2021) [2024] UGSC 45 (11 December 2024) [ Share this document on WhatsApp opens in new tab __](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=2nd+Lt.+Ogwang+Ambrose+v+Uganda+%28Criminal+Appeal+48+of+2021%29+%5B2024%5D+UGSC+45+%2811+December+2024%29+-+https%3A%2F%2Fulii.org%2Fen%2Fakn%2Fug%2Fjudgment%2Fugsc%2F2024%2F45%2Feng%402024-12-11) [ Share this document on X opens in new tab __](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=2nd+Lt.+Ogwang+Ambrose+v+Uganda+%28Criminal+Appeal+48+of+2021%29+%5B2024%5D+UGSC+45+%2811+December+2024%29+-+https%3A%2F%2Fulii.org%2Fen%2Fakn%2Fug%2Fjudgment%2Fugsc%2F2024%2F45%2Feng%402024-12-11) [ Share this document on Facebook opens in new tab __](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://ulii.org/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11) [ Share this document on LinkedIn opens in new tab __](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://ulii.org/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11) [ Share this document by email __](mailto:?subject=Take%20a%20look%20at%20this%20document%20from%20ULII:%202nd%20Lt.%20Ogwang%20Ambrose%20v%20Uganda%20\(Criminal%20%E2%80%A6&body=https://ulii.org/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11) __Save [ Download PDF (8.5 MB) ](/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11/source) Report a problem ##### Is there something wrong with this document? Problem category *Incorrect informationMissing informationNo PDF downloadDocument is emptyDocument is not accessible on my deviceOther What's the problem? * Your email address * CancelReport problem __ * Share * [ Download PDF (8.5 MB) ](/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11/source) * * * * * Report a problem __ ##### 2nd Lt. Ogwang Ambrose v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 48 of 2021) [2024] UGSC 45 (11 December 2024) Copy citation __Save * __Document detail * __Related documents * __Citations \- / 1 Citation 2nd Lt. Ogwang Ambrose v Uganda (Criminal Appeal 48 of 2021) [2024] UGSC 45 (11 December 2024) Copy Media Neutral Citation [2024] UGSC 45 Copy Court [Supreme Court of Uganda](/en/judgments/UGSC/) Case number Criminal Appeal 48 of 2021 Judges [Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, JSC](/en/judgments/all/?judges=Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza%2C%20JSC), [Mike Chibita, JSC](/en/judgments/all/?judges=Mike%20Chibita%2C%20JSC), [Stephen Musota, JSC](/en/judgments/all/?judges=Stephen%20Musota%2C%20JSC), [Madrama , JSC](/en/judgments/all/?judges=Madrama%20%2C%20JSC), [Catherine Bamugemereire, JSC](/en/judgments/all/?judges=Catherine%20Bamugemereire%2C%20JSC) Judgment date 11 December 2024 Language English Summary ###### Flynote * Criminal Appeal—jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal—military and civilian courts—Court Martial Appeals—legislative intent—UPDF Act—statutory limitations—judicial discretion—constitutional conformity—ultra vires regulations—final appellate court Read full summary ###### Case summary The Supreme Court addressed whether the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to entertain an appeal from the Court Martial Appeals Court. The appellant, a UPDF officer convicted of murder by the Divisional Court Martial and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Court Martial Appeals Court, had pursued appeals through the military judicial hierarchy and ultimately to the Court of Appeal, which upheld his conviction and sentence. The respondent argued that the appeal to the Court of Appeal was unlawful as military court decisions do not confer jurisdiction upon civilian courts unless explicitly provided by statute. The Supreme Court found that the UPDF Act did not provide for appeals from the Court Martial Appeals Court to the Court of Appeal and that Regulation 20(2) of the UPDF (Court Martial Appeal Court) Regulations, which purported to confer such jurisdiction, was ultra vires and void. The Court held that appellate jurisdiction is a creature of statute and cannot be conferred by ministerial regulation. Consequently, the Supreme Court upheld the preliminary objection, dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, and reinstated the sentence of the Court Martial Appeals Court. ###### Order __ ##### Ask AI Ask questions and understand this document faster using AI. __Ask AI * * * Skip to document content **Loading PDF...** 100% This document is 8.5 MB. Do you want to load it? Load document ##### Error loading PDF Try reloading the page or downloading the PDF. Reload page [Download PDF](/en/akn/ug/judgment/ugsc/2024/45/eng@2024-12-11/source.pdf) Error: #### __Related documents #### More documents like this one __Suggestions generated by AI. This feature is not currently available. ▲ To the top >