Court of Appeal halts Shs 1.27bn debt enforcement against businessman Abid Alam

What the report says

The Court of Appeal has suspended enforcement of a High Court decree that had ordered Casements (Africa) Limited and businessman Abid Alam to pay Chinese glass supplier Weihai Rongsheng Glasswork Co. Limited more than $338,000, or about Shs 1.27 billion. The ruling, delivered by Justice Florence Nakachwa on August 28, 2026, means the debt recovery process is on hold while the intended appeal is considered.

According to The Observer, the dispute arose from contracts signed in June 2022 for the supply of glass to Casements. Weihai said the goods were shipped from China and delivered in Kampala, but payment was not made within the agreed period. The company won judgment in the High Court after Casements and Alam failed to successfully defend the suit, and later began execution steps including attempts to attach shares, freeze bank accounts and seek civil prison orders.

Casements and Alam argued that they were denied a fair chance to contest the claim because of problems involving their former lawyers, and they said enforcing the decree now could cause serious loss and make any appeal ineffective. Weihai opposed the stay, saying the debt had been acknowledged and that the applicants had not shown irreparable harm.

Justice Nakachwa found that the applicants had raised arguable issues for appeal and that the risk of arrest and imprisonment justified temporary protection. The decision does not determine the merits of the debt itself, but it delays enforcement until the appeal is heard.