Stanbic Bank Uganda headquarters in KampalaThe High Court has ordered Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited to reverse and return USD 41,541 that was mistakenly transferred to the account of 2B Business Link General Trading SMC Limited.The ruling was delivered on September 30, 2026, by Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma in an application filed by Seed Co International (Proprietary) Limited against 2B Business Link General Trading SMC Limited and Stanbic Bank Uganda.Seed Co had asked court to direct Stanbic Bank Uganda to reverse the money, which it said was intended for its service provider, Bumper Harvest Seed Farm PLC, but was instead sent to 2B Business Link.According to evidence before court, Seed Co prepared the payment on August 7, 2023, but its accountant mistakenly entered account number 9030016718040, which belonged to 2B Business Link and had remained in the company’s financial system from an earlier transaction.Although the payment advice issued by Stanbic Bank of Botswana identified Bumper Harvest Seed Farm PLC as the intended beneficiary, the account number entered belonged to 2B Business Link at Stanbic Bank Uganda.Seed Co said it first asked Stanbic Bank of Botswana to reverse the transaction but was informed that the payment had already gone through. It then approached Stanbic Bank Uganda, which reportedly said the funds could only be reversed with the consent of 2B Business Link or upon presentation of a court order.The applicant told court it tried to contact 2B Business Link but failed to secure the return of the money. It maintained that at the time of the transfer, it had no pending invoice, business obligation or debt owed to the company that would justify the payment.2B Business Link opposed the application, arguing that the transfer was deliberate and not the result of an accounting error. Through an affidavit sworn by its director, Asgedom Yemane, the company claimed that Bumper Harvest Seed Farm PLC was associated with an Ethiopian national, Robel Haile, who was its business partner.The company said Seed Co had previously paid USD 13,820 to 2B Business Link on behalf of Haile in April 2021, creating a precedent for similar payments. It further claimed that Haile had promised in early August 2023 that Seed Co would pay USD 42,000 as an initial installment towards a debt arising from a failed contractual transaction involving Ethiopian Birr 14,549,907.2B Business Link argued that the precise use of its bank account number, beneficiary bank and SWIFT code showed the payment was intentional. It also questioned Seed Co’s explanation that the money was meant for Bumper Harvest Seed Farm PLC in Ethiopia, arguing that there were no Stanbic Bank branches or other foreign commercial banks in the country through which the payment could have been made.The company also challenged the authenticity of a letter dated October 17, 2025, which Seed Co relied on to support its claim that Bumper Harvest had authorised the payment. Its lawyers argued that the letter did not indicate the purpose of the payment, the amount involved or the specific account to which money was to be sent. However, Justice Kavuma found that 2B Business Link had not produced documentary evidence to prove the alleged debt owed by Haile or to establish that Seed Co had undertaken to settle it.The Judge noted that there was no written agreement between 2B Business Link and Haile, no acknowledgement of debt, correspondence confirming the alleged promise, invoice, accounting record or other documentation supporting the claim involving Ethiopian Birr 14,549,907.Court also considered the conduct of 2B Business Link’s director after Seed Co requested reversal. The director allegedly conditioned his consent on being paid a percentage of the transferred amount — an allegation the company denied but did not rebut with evidence.“A party who truly believes he is entitled to money as satisfaction of a debt owed to him does not negotiate a percentage in exchange for allowing its return. This conduct shows that the 1st respondent does not have any legal basis or genuinely claim money deposited on their account,” Justice Kavuma said.The Judge said arguments raised by 2B Business Link concerning the corporate identity of Bumper Harvest Seed Farm PLC, the disputed letter and the feasibility of Stanbic Bank operating in Ethiopia did not address the central issue — whether Seed Co owed 2B Business Link any money at the time of the transfer and whether there was a legal basis for the company to receive and retain the funds.“The 1st respondent has not in the instant matter placed before court any feasible alternative or explanation why this court should allow him to retain the said funds,” the ruling stated.The court concluded that the money had been transferred as a result of an honest mistake by Seed Co’s accountant and that the applicant had proved its case on a balance of probabilities.Justice Kavuma allowed the application and ordered Stanbic Bank Uganda to reverse and return the USD 41,541 to Stanbic Bank of Botswana within 14 days after service of the order.Court also ordered 2B Business Link General Trading SMC Limited to meet the costs of the application.The post High Court Orders Stanbic Bank Uganda to Reverse $41,541 Sent to Wrong Account appeared first on Business Focus.