Bagamuhunda Vincent v Uganda Electricity Board (In Liquidation) (High Court Civil Suit No. 400 of 2007) [2008] UGHC 53 (16 November 2008)

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\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 { \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \line HCT-OO-CV-CS-0400-2007 \line BAGAMUHUNDA }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967\charrsid9005776 VINCENT::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PLAINTIFF}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid5072506 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 VERSUS \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid5072506 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid5072506 {\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 UGANDA ELECTRICITY BOARD::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::DEFENDANT }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid5072506 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 (IN LIQUIDATION) \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid5072506 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid7492967 {\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 BEFORE: }{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 THE HONOURABLE MR.

JUSTICE YOROKAMU BAMWINE \line RULING: }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 The plaintiff sued the defendant for a declaration that he is entitled to payment in lieu of notice of termination and on order that the case be computed and paid in accordance with the Employment Act. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 When the suit came up for a Scheduling Conference on 11/11/2008, Mr. Wamala for the defendant raised a preliminary point of law. He argued that in terms of the }{ \b\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Court of Appeal Civil Appeal No. 96 of 2004 Mavunwa Edson and Others }{\b\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967\charrsid9005776 vs.}{ \b\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL), }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 UEB is non-existent. That the plaintiff has therefore sued a non-existent person. Counsel for the defendant sought an adjournment to seek further instructions in the matter. This being a point of law, I said I would peruse the jud gment of the Court of Appeal and decide whether it affects the instant matter. \par }\pard \s15\ql

\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid6377077 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 I have now done so. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 The said appeal was against the ruling of this court. The court had dismissed the appellant\rquote s suit on the ground that they had sued a wrong party. The view of the court in that matter was that the correct party to sue was UEB which was still alive for all intents and purposes. The Court of Appeal disagreed with this court and held that with the enactment of the Electricity Act 1999, UEB ceased to exist, it w as dissolved. This being a decision of an appellate court, it is binding on this court. Accordingly, I see no more room for argument on this issue. Once the legal position is that with the enactment of the Electricity Act, 1999, the defendant herein cease d to exist, that it was dissolved, then clearly the suit is against a non-existent party. It is misconceived, incompetent and bad in law. It ought to be dismissed in the terms of 0.6 r.29 of the Civil Procedure Act. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 I do so. \line

}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 There shall be no order as to costs against a non-existent entity. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 Yorokamu Bamwine \line JUDGE}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 \line 17/11/2008 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 17/11/08: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Mr. Caleb Mugisha for plaintiffs. \line Parties absent. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Court: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Ruling delivered. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Mr. Caleb Mugisha: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 I would at this juncture pray for leave to appeal the decision. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid7492967 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 Court: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 So be it. Leave granted as prayed. \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6377077 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid9990571\charrsid9005776 \par }}