Uganda Court of Appeal Grants Stay of Execution Citing Arrest Risk, Arguable Issues

The Court of Appeal of Uganda, in *Mashate Francis Wanduyi v Arvind Patel* (Civil Application No. 1038 of 2026) [2026] UGCA 322, granted a stay of execution on 28 October 2026, pending appeal, citing the presence of arguable issues and a real risk of arrest that would render the appeal nugatory.

This decision is legally significant for practitioners and litigants in Uganda as it underscores the appellate court's commitment to preserving the integrity of the appeal process and preventing irreversible prejudice. A stay of execution is a critical procedural safeguard, ensuring that an appellant's right to challenge a lower court's decision is not rendered academic or futile by the immediate enforcement of that decision. The court's emphasis on the