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Uganda Judgment

Commercial Court of Uganda

Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (U) Ecloff v John Bwiza and Anor (HCT-00-CC-CS 614 of 2004) [2005] UGCommC 50 (2 September 2005)

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01

Holding and result

The court held that while a company cannot generally enforce contracts entered into before its incorporation, subsequent acknowledgment of debt or continued dealings may constitute novation or ratification, creating a new cause of action independent of the original contract. The question of whether the plaintiff was a money lender within the meaning of the Act, and whether the contract is unenforceable due to lack of a money lending license, requires evidence and cannot be determined as a pure point of law. The court also found that the issue of agency and the propriety of the suit being brought in the plaintiff's name are factual matters. Accordingly, all preliminary objections raised by the defendants are overruled, and the case must proceed to trial for determination of the substantive issues based on evidence. The court emphasized the need to administer substantive justice over technicalities as mandated by the Constitution.

Court disposition

Preliminary objections overruled; case to proceed to trial.

Orders

  • All preliminary objections raised by the defendants are overruled.
  • All issues raised shall be determined on evidence at trial.
  • Plaintiff is entitled to costs of this application in any event.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (U) ECLOFF

Plaintiff Counsel: Kwemara Kafuzi

John Bwiza

Defendant Counsel: Davis Ndyomugabe

W. Tumuhairwe

Defendant Counsel: Davis Ndyomugabe

Kahimakazi T/A Kamabare Women's Development

Defendant Counsel: Davis Ndyomugabe

Amounts and remedies

  • Debt Claimed: UGX 7,513,107

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Suit / Ruling on Preliminary Objections

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Counsel for the plaintiff conceded the contract was entered into before incorporation but argued that subsequent dealings and an acknowledgment of debt by the first defendant amounted to novation and ratification, which are exceptions to the rule against pre-incorporation contracts. He further submitted that the objections raised are technicalities that should be cured by Article 126(2)(e) of the Constitution, which mandates substantive justice over technicalities.
Respondent
Counsel for the defendants argued that the agreement is legally unenforceable as it was entered into before the plaintiff's incorporation and that the plaintiff was not a registered money lender, rendering the contract illegal and unenforceable. He also contended that the plaintiff acted as an agent for a disclosed principal, Ecloff Foundation, Geneva, and thus the suit should not be in the plaintiff's name.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    General company law; referenced in N. A. S. Airport Services Ltd v AG of Kenya [1959] EA 53

    A company cannot enforce contracts entered into before its incorporation unless there is subsequent ratification or novation.

  2. 02

    Naks Ltd v Kyobe Senyange [1982] HCB 52; Money Lenders Act

    Contracts made by unlicensed money lenders are illegal and unenforceable under the maxim ex turpi causa non oritur actio.

  3. 03

    Litchfield v Dreyfus [1906] 1 KB 584

    Not every person who lends money is a 'money lender' within the meaning of the Act; evidence is required to determine status.

  4. 04

    Article 126(2)(e) of the Constitution of Uganda

    Courts must administer substantive justice without undue regard to technicalities.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that while a company cannot generally enforce contracts entered into before its incorporation, subsequent acknowledgment of debt or continued dealings may constitute novation or ratification, creating a new cause of action independent of the original contract. The question of whether the plaintiff was a money lender within the meaning of the Act, and whether the contract is unenforceable due to lack of a money lending license, requires evidence and cannot be determined as a pure point of law. The court also found that the issue of agency and the propriety of the suit being brought in the plaintiff's name are factual matters. Accordingly, all preliminary objections raised by the defendants are overruled, and the case must proceed to trial for determination of the substantive issues based on evidence. The court emphasized the need to administer substantive justice over technicalities as mandated by the Constitution.

Obiter and limits

  • Points of law should be decided on the basis of pleadings and undisputed facts; where evidence is required, the court should not decide the issue prematurely.
  • The conduct and relative moral culpability of the parties are relevant in determining the application of the ex turpi causa defence as a matter of public policy.
  • Each case involving alleged illegality must be decided on its own unique facts and circumstances; rigid application of precedent is inappropriate.

Court disposition

Preliminary objections overruled; case to proceed to trial.

  • All preliminary objections raised by the defendants are overruled.
  • All issues raised shall be determined on evidence at trial.
  • Plaintiff is entitled to costs of this application in any event.

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Commercial Court of Uganda

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Judgment text

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Commercial Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2005] UGCommC 50

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}{\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 DIVISION) \par \par }{\b\f36\fs28\insrsid4337707 HCT-00-CC-CS-0}{\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 614 OF 2004 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid75639 {\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 \par \par ECUMENICAL CHURCH LOAN FUND (U) ECLOFF ::::: PLAINTIFF \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6230623 {\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid75639 {\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 \par 1. JOHN BWIZA \par 2. W. TUMUHAIRWE \par 3. KAHIMAKAZI \par T/A KAMABARE WOMEN\rquote S DEVELOPMENT ::::::: DEFENDANTS \par \par \par BEFORE: }{\b\f36\fs28\ul\insrsid75639\charrsid6302508 THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE YOROKAMU BAMWINE}{\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 \par \par \par }{\b\f36\fs28\ul\insrsid75639\charrsid6302508 R U L I N G}{\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639 : \par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid75639 {\f36\insrsid75639 The Plaintiff\rquote s claim against the Defendants is for recovery of Shs.7,513,107- being a debt due and owing as supported by avernments in the pla int. When the suit came up for a scheduling conference, Mr. Davis Ndyomugabe for the Defendants raised two distinct points of law. \par 1. That the agreement on

which the claim is based is legally unenforceable in that it was purportedly entered into on 10/1/ 96 and yet the Plaintiff was incorporated as a company on 24/2/1997. And that in any case, the Plaintiff was not a registered money lender.}{\f36\insrsid75639\charrsid75639 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid75639 {\f36\insrsid75639 2. That the Plaintiff was at the time of the contract an agent acting on behalf of a disclosed principal, Ecloff F oundation, Geneva, but the suit is in the Plaintiff\rquote s names.}{\f36\insrsid75639\charrsid75639 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid75639 {\b\f36\fs28\insrsid75639\charrsid75639 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid91172 {\f36\insrsid75639 In reply, Mr. Kwemara \endash Kafuzi, counsel for the Plaintiff, has invited me to over rule the }{\f36\insrsid91172 objections. He appears to accept that the contract in question was entered into before the Plaintiff\rquote s incorporation but argues that long after the said agreement the Defendant and the Plaintiff continued dealing with each other to the extent that at some point in time the 1}{\f36\super\insrsid91172\charrsid91172 st}{\f36\insrsid91172 Defendant acknowledged the indebtedness to

the Plaintiff. In his view, this amo unted to Novation and Ratification of the contract which are exceptions to the pre-incorporation saga. He said nothing about the issue of agency but invited this Court to find that the objections amount to a technicality which Article 126 }{ \f36\insrsid3368581 (}{\f36\insrsid91172 2}{\f36\insrsid3368581 )}{\f36\insrsid91172 (e) of the Constitution was meant to remedy.}{\f36\insrsid75639 \par }{\f36\insrsid609766 \par I have very carefully listened to the arguments of counsel. I have considered Mr. Kafuuzi\rquote s submission that the parties had agreed that determination of the objections awaits adducing of evidence. This is denied by his l earned colleague. On this, I must say that points of law are decided on the basis of pleadings and facts not disputed. Where a point of law would be sufficient to dispose of the case one way or the other, it ought to be}{\f36\insrsid14707625 decided by the Court without first calling witnesses. Where, however, issues raised in the pleadings require evidence, it is fair that Court does not delve into those issues as to do so would deny the other side a chance to produce its evidence}{ \f36\insrsid13509207 and therefore be condemned unheard. The object of }{\f36\insrsid6230623 determining points of law in the manner suggested by Mr. Ndyomugabe is expedition. However, in such a case, the point of law ought

to be one which can be decided fairly and squarely one way or the other, on facts agreed or not in issue on the plead ings, and not one which will not arise if some fact or facts in issue should be proved. See: }{\b\f36\insrsid6230623 N. A. S. Airport Services Limited \endash Vs- A. G. of Kenya [1959] EA 53.}{\b\f36\insrsid609766 \par }{\b\f36\insrsid9730613 \par }{\f36\insrsid9730613 I will relate the above principle to the case now before me. It is common knowledge that a company comes into existence upon incorporation. Upon incorporation, the company assumes the attributes of a person.}{\f36\insrsid4291484 After incorporation, it is not bound by contracts entered into in its name or on its behalf before it was incorporated. This is}{\f36\insrsid16122710 because it simply did not exist. There is nothing technical about this. It is simply settled law.}{ \f36\insrsid9730613 \par }{\f36\insrsid16122710 \par In the instant case, there is evidence that the impugned contract was entered into on or about 10/1/1996. The Plaintiff was incorporated on 24/2/1997. The ordinary rules of contract would therefore preclude the Plaintiff from taking advantage of a contract entered into before its incorporation. However, this Court\rquote s attention has been drawn to a letter, annexed to the plaint, dated 23/7/1}{ \f36\insrsid12859983 998. In the said letter the author, said to be the

1}{\f36\super\insrsid12859983\charrsid12859983 st}{\f36\insrsid12859983 Defendant, acknowledges indebtedness to the Plaintiff but pleads for more time within which to pay.}{ \f36\insrsid5326446 The defence has disowned this letter. It has been branded a forgery. If proved to have been authored by the 1}{\f36\super\insrsid5326446\charrsid5326446 st}{\f36\insrsid5326446 Defendant, it s effect would be to acknowledge existence of the debt. An acknowledgment if proved, is a recognition of something as being factual. It is an acceptance of responsibility. Once it is proved that the 1}{\f36\super\insrsid5326446\charrsid5326446 st}{ \f36\insrsid5326446 Defendant made the acknowledgment of the debt in 1 998, the issue of the Plaintiff company being non-incorporated at the time of the alleged contract would not arise since the alleged acknowledgment, or call it novation if you may, would of itself found a cause of action independent of the contract in iss ue. Whether or not the letter relied upon is a forgery can only be determined on evidence. It cannot be determined on a point of law such as this.}{\f36\insrsid16122710 \par }{\f36\insrsid5326446 \par The pleadings therefore raise questions of fact which ought to be investigated and remedied.}{\f36\insrsid8413633 }{\f36\insrsid3368581 \par }{\f36\insrsid8413633 As to the Plaintiff not being a registered money lender, the law on the

point was considered in }{\b\f36\insrsid8413633\charrsid6302508 Naks Ltd \endash Vs- Kyobe Senyange [1982] HCB 52}{\f36\insrsid8413633 . It was held in that case that since the Plaintiff had no money lending licence, any agreement or contract so made in default wa s illegal and could not be enforced by the Courts on the basis of the maxim ex turpi causa. This Latin phrase ex turpi causa non oritur actio simply means that }{\f36\insrsid3368581 \lquote }{\f36\insrsid8413633 no claim arises from a base cause}{ \f36\insrsid3368581 \rquote }{\f36\insrsid8413633 . The policy was well summarized by Lord Mansfield C. J in the 18}{\f36\super\insrsid8413633\charrsid8413633 th}{\f36\insrsid8413633 Century when he declared:}{\f36\insrsid5326446 \par }{\b\f36\insrsid10291207\charrsid15669237 No Court will lend its aid to a man who founds his cause of action upon an immoral or illegal act. If the cause of action appears to arise ex turpi causa \'85\'85. the Court says}{ \b\f36\insrsid852577\charrsid15669237 he has no right to be assisted: }{\b\f36\insrsid10492375\charrsid15669237 SUCCESS IN LAW, }{\b\f36\insrsid9720951\charrsid15669237 4}{\b\f36\super\insrsid9720951\charrsid15669237 th}{ \b\f36\insrsid9720951\charrsid15669237 Edition by Richard H. Bruce at p.260.}{\b\f36\insrsid10291207\charrsid15669237 \par }{\f36\insrsid10291207 \par In the instant case, it is not pleaded by the Plaintiff

that it was a money lending institution governed by the Money Lenders Act. Certainly not every person that lends money is a Money Lender within the meaning of the Act. Our Act is in pari}{ \f36\insrsid13061022 }{\f36\insrsid10291207 materia with the English Money Lenders Act 1900. Farwell J., while commenting on that Act in }{\b\f36\insrsid10291207 Litchfield \endash Vs- Dreyfus [1906] 1 KB 584}{\f36\insrsid10291207 at 588 \endash 589 observed, and I agree: \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri720\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin720\lin720\itap0\pararsid6302508 {\i\f36\insrsid11423499\charrsid6302508 \lquote \'85\'85\'85.. a man who carries on business as a money lender , and is not registered under the [English] Act, cannot recover. But}{\i\f36\insrsid15992690\charrsid6302508 not everyman who lends money at interest carries on the business of money lending. Speaking generally, a man who carries on a money lending business is one who is ready and willing to }{\i\f36\insrsid15414671 lend }{ \i\f36\insrsid15992690\charrsid6302508 all and sundry, provided that they}{\i\f36\insrsid204065\charrsid6302508 are from his point of view eligible.\rquote }{\i\f36\insrsid11423499\charrsid6302508 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid91172 {\f36\insrsid204065 \par Relating the above to the issue before

Court, the Plaintiff has been described by counsel as a body affiliated to churches in this country. The law under section 1 of the Act defines who a \lquote money lender\rquote is. Court does not know at this stage whether the Plaintiff comes within the meaning of that section}{\f36\insrsid13396535 ;}{\f36\insrsid204065 how the Defendants, if they borrowed money from the Plaintiff as alleged, came to know the Plaintiff as a Money Lender to raise the inference that it was a ready and willing body to lend money to all and sundry}{\f36\insrsid15077725 ;}{ \f36\insrsid204065 or whether the lending was selective, to bring it within the exceptions stated in S. 1 (h) of the Act. Clearly, evidence is required in that regard. \par }{\f36\insrsid16277595 \par Coming to the defence of ex turpi causa itself, the law on the point is far from being settled. Noteworthy is the fact that other than this Court\rquote s interpretation of the law in Naks Ltd case, supra, there is no section in the Act, equivalent to one in other jurisdictions, stating }{\f36\insrsid15749738 that \lquote no contract for the repayment of money lent by an unlicensed money lender shall be enforceable.\rquote If any such section existed, there would perhaps be no room for debate on this point. In }{\f36\insrsid15077725 England}{\f36\insrsid3373511 where our law }{\f36\insrsid15077725 prides}{\f36\insrsid3373511 it

origin, opinion is divided. Thus in }{\b\f36\insrsid3373511 Bow Makers Ltd \endash Vs- Barnet Instruments Ltd [1945] KB 65}{\f36\insrsid3373511 at 71, Lindlay L. J. said:}{ \f36\insrsid16277595 \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri720\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin720\lin720\itap0\pararsid6302508 {\i\f36\insrsid7154162\charrsid6302508 \lquote Any rights which he (a Plaintiff) may have irrespective of his illegal contract will, of course, be recognized and enforced.\rquote \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid91172 {\f36\insrsid7154162 \par One illustration of this principle, and a strong case on its facts, was the decision of the Privy Council in }{\b\f36\insrsid7154162 Sajan Singh \endash Vs- Sardara Ali [1960] AC 167. }{\f36\insrsid7154162 The Plaintiff}{\f36\insrsid7567254 and the Defendant in that case concluded an illegal contract for the sale of a lorry and jointly engaged in its unlawful and fraudulent operation [contrary to certain Malaysian}{\f36\insrsid2233670 Regulations]. The Defendant then removed the lorry from the Plaintiff and refused to return it. The Plaintiff sued in detinue. He recovered the lorry}{\f36\insrsid8743509 and damages for its wrongful detention, despi te his own participation in the illegal contract and in the unlawful scheme involved. It was held that the

property in the lorry had passed to the Plaintiff under the contract, notwithstanding its illegality and that he was therefore entitled to enforce his cause of action in detinue despite the ex turpi causa defence.}{\f36\insrsid7735239 That case, and many more including }{\b\f36\insrsid7735239 Saunders & Anor \endash Vs- Edwards & Anor [1987] 2 All ER 651,}{\f36\insrsid7735239 show that there are no rigid rules for or against the application of the ex turpi causa defence.}{\f36\insrsid7154162 \par }{\f36\insrsid7735239 \par This is not surprising since it involves issues of policy and, if I may add, issues of security as well. Depending on the circumstances of each case, it would }{\f36\insrsid676910 be}{\f36\insrsid7735239 preposterous }{\f36\insrsid676910 for}{ \f36\insrsid7735239 a man, not denying taking another man\rquote s money, }{\f36\insrsid676910 to}{\f36\insrsid7735239 plead without shame that the other should}{\f36\insrsid5396056 whistle for his money merely because of an alleged illegality which the parties may not have had in contemplation at the time of the contract. }{\f36\insrsid9063326 Accordingly, this Court takes the view that each case must be decided on its own unique facts and circumstances.}{\f36\insrsid7735239 \par }{\f36\insrsid9063326 \par The cases I have referred to show very clearly that the conduct and relative moral culpability of the parties are

relevant in determining whether or not the ex turpi causa defence falls to be applie}{\f36\insrsid676910 d}{\f36\insrsid9063326 as a matter of public policy. I agre e. Therefore, the authorities, including our own Naks Ltd, supra, cannot be applied literally in every situation. Until Court listens to the evidence, both from the Plaintiff and the Defendant, it is not in position to tell on which side of the line the present case falls. At the end of the day, after listening to both parties, Court will be }{\f36\insrsid12583213 able to determine whether the moral culpability of the Defendant greatly outweighs any on the part of the Plaintiff to the extent that it he is found to have indeed taken the loan, he should be allowed to keep the fruits of his fraud.}{ \f36\insrsid9063326 \par }{\f36\insrsid12583213 \par In view of what I have stated above, and considering the law as enshrined in Article 126 (2) (e) of the Constitution which enjoins the Court to administer substantive justice without un due regard to technicalities, I am inclined to the view espoused by counsel for the Plaintiff that the commercial justice engrained in this case requires that I overrule all the objections raised by counsel for the Defendant and I order that all issues ra ised be determined on evidence. I do so. \par \par The Plaintiff shall be entitled to the attendant costs herein in any event. I order so. \par \par \par Yorokamu Bamwine \par }{\b\f36\insrsid12583213 J U D G E}{\f36\insrsid12583213 \par 02/09/2005}{\f36\insrsid12583213\charrsid12583213 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid75639 \par \par }}

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

N. A. S. Airport Services Ltd v Attorney General of Kenya [1959] EA 53

Case cited

Naks Ltd v Kyobe Senyange [1982] HCB 52

Case cited

Litchfield v Dreyfus [1906] 1 KB 584

Case cited

Bow Makers Ltd v Barnet Instruments Ltd [1945] KB 65

Case cited

Sajan Singh v Sardara Ali [1960] AC 167

Case cited

Saunders & Anor v Edwards & Anor [1987] 2 All ER 651

Case cited

Money Lenders Act (Cap 273)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Constitution of Uganda, Article 126(2)(e)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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