High Court rules gifts are irrevocable in case of dispute

In a recent landmark ruling, Justice Musa Ssekaana of the High Court in Kampala declared that gifts, once given, cannot be reclaimed—even after disputes arise.

This decision ended a prolonged legal battle between St. Peter’s Senior Secondary School and its former deputy headmaster, Dennis Odetta, over a car given to him as a wedding present.

The school argued that the car was provided to support Odetta in his professional duties, but Justice Ssekaana disagreed, stating that it was given voluntarily as a wedding gift, witnessed by a large audience. The judge, referencing a video from the wedding, confirmed, “It is crystal clear that the motor vehicle was given as a gift to the plaintiff.”

Justice Ssekaana criticized the school’s argument as “an afterthought,” aimed at downplaying the car’s genuine intention as a gift. He highlighted that the school had “sought praise for their generosity” at the time and could not later change their stance.

Emphasizing the principles of gift-giving, Justice Ssekaana likened the school’s actions to a “jilted lover syndrome,” where someone seeks to retrieve gifts after a relationship ends.

He noted that the school’s demand to reclaim the car stemmed from a retaliatory motive, following Odetta’s resignation and refusal to grant leave, underscoring that a gift remains irrevocable regardless of any subsequent disagreements.