A Rwandan insurance company has secured a Ugandan court order allowing it to pursue Shs14.8 billion owed to it by Roko Construction Rwanda Ltd.
The High Court Commercial Division in Kampala registered a judgment of the High Commercial Court of Rwanda, paving the way for MUA Insurance Rwanda Ltd to enforce the debt against Roko Construction’s assets and proceeds from its business activities in Uganda.
The ruling was delivered on July 12, 2026, by Acting High Court Judge Susan Odongo in a case filed by MUA Insurance Rwanda.
MUA Insurance had asked the Ugandan court to recognise and register a September 13, 2024 judgment of the High Commercial Court of Rwanda in Kigali, which ordered Roko Construction Rwanda to pay several sums arising from construction and insurance-related obligations.
The total amount due was presented to the Ugandan court as Shs14.87 billion, based on the prevailing exchange rates at the time of filing the application.
The largest award was USD 2.93 million, approximately Shs10.45 billion, arising from construction works by Village Health Works.
The Rwandan court also awarded USD350,000, approximately Shs1.25 billion, for insurance to Betts & Townsend Project Management Ltd, and FRW1.3 billion, approximately Shs3.17 billion, relating to insurance of construction activities by I&M Bank.
Other awards included various legal and court fees.
MUA Insurance told the Ugandan court that the Rwandan judgment remained unsatisfied and that Roko Construction’s directors had allegedly fled Rwanda, leaving the insurer unable to identify assets in Rwanda that could be attached to recover the money.
The insurer, however, told court that Roko Construction was undertaking construction projects in Uganda, with proceeds that could potentially be attached to satisfy the judgment.
To support its application, MUA Insurance presented joint venture agreements involving Roko Construction Rwanda and companies in Uganda, including agreements relating to major projects such as the construction of the New Chamber of Parliament and offices for the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).
Justice Odongo ruled that the Rwandan judgment met the legal requirements for recognition and enforcement in Uganda.
She noted that the judgment was final and conclusive, involved a commercial monetary debt and remained enforceable in Rwanda.
“The legal obligation created by the Rwandan court is a debt that follows the debtor,” Justice Odongo ruled.
The judge said it would be unjust for a company to evade an adjudicated liability by moving across borders while continuing to benefit from major commercial contracts in another country.
Justice Odongo also found that Rwandan court proceedings had afforded Roko Construction an opportunity to defend itself, noting that the company had participated in the proceedings and subsequently appealed the decision.
She further held that there was no evidence that the judgment had been obtained through fraud or that enforcing it in Uganda would violate public policy.
“The judgment is from a superior court of a reciprocating Commonwealth territory, it is final and conclusive, it is for a sum of money that is not a fine or tax; the application is timely, and the debt is wholly unsatisfied and enforceable,” the judge said.
The court consequently ordered that the Rwandan judgment be registered as a judgment of the High Court of Uganda.
The registration gives MUA Insurance Rwanda a legal basis to commence execution proceedings against Roko Construction’s assets and recoverable proceeds in Uganda.
The court also awarded MUA Insurance the costs of the application.
