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Uganda Judgment

Supreme Court of Uganda

Ggoloba Godfrey v Harriet Kizito [2007] UGSC 17 (27 June 2007)

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01

Holding and result

The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal was correct in finding that the High Court erred in dismissing the application for reinstatement of the suit. The respondent's advocate had shown sufficient cause for non-appearance, as he believed the parties were still negotiating a settlement. The affidavit sworn by the advocate was deemed sufficient, and it was not necessary for the respondent herself to swear an affidavit. The technical objection regarding the commissioning of the affidavit was considered an afterthought and was not material to the merits of the case. The principle that a mistake by counsel should not be visited on the party was reaffirmed. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, the High Court's order was set aside, and the suit was reinstated to be heard on its merits.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed with costs in the Supreme Court.
  • The order of the High Court dismissing the suit is set aside.
  • The suit is reinstated to be heard on its own merits.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ggoloba Godfrey

Appellant Counsel: Mr. Lutakome

Harriet Kizito

Respondent Counsel: Mr. Makada

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Appeal / Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Counsel for the appellant argued that the Court of Appeal erred in not agreeing with the High Court's finding that the respondent's advocate had not shown sufficient cause for non-appearance. He further contended that the affidavit explaining the absence was not properly sworn, as it did not bear the name of the commissioner for oaths, and that the respondent herself should have sworn the affidavit.
Respondent
Counsel for the respondent maintained that the advocate's affidavit was sufficient to explain the non-appearance, as he was under the impression that the parties were still negotiating a settlement. He argued that a mistake by counsel should not be visited on the party and that the technical objection regarding the affidavit's commissioning was not raised in the trial court or pressed in the Court of Appeal.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Ugandan case law, as cited in the judgment.

    A mistake by an advocate should not be visited on the party.

  2. 02

    Civil Procedure Rules and judicial precedent.

    Affidavit evidence explaining non-appearance may be sworn by the advocate if the explanation relates to the advocate's conduct.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal was correct in finding that the High Court erred in dismissing the application for reinstatement of the suit. The respondent's advocate had shown sufficient cause for non-appearance, as he believed the parties were still negotiating a settlement. The affidavit sworn by the advocate was deemed sufficient, and it was not necessary for the respondent herself to swear an affidavit. The technical objection regarding the commissioning of the affidavit was considered an afterthought and was not material to the merits of the case. The principle that a mistake by counsel should not be visited on the party was reaffirmed. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, the High Court's order was set aside, and the suit was reinstated to be heard on its merits.

Obiter and limits

  • It was not necessary for the respondent to personally swear an affidavit explaining non-appearance when the explanation related to the advocate's conduct.
  • Technical objections not raised in the trial court or pressed on appeal will not be entertained at the Supreme Court level.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

  • The appeal is dismissed with costs in the Supreme Court.
  • The order of the High Court dismissing the suit is set aside.
  • The suit is reinstated to be heard on its own merits.

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court of Uganda

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Supreme Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2007] UGSC 17

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)}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12926822 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\b\f35\fs40\insrsid4937330\charrsid1932178 \par }{\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 \par IN THE SUPREME COURT OF UGANDA \par }{\b\f35\fs32\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 \par }\pard \ql \fi-1440\li1440\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1440\itap0\pararsid2325996 {\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid2325996 (CORAM: }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822\charrsid2325996 ODOKI, CJ; TSEKOOKO,}{ \b\f35\fs28\insrsid1731376\charrsid2325996 }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822\charrsid2325996 MULENGA,}{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid2325996 }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 KANYEIHAMBA, }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid2325996 AND }{ \b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822\charrsid2325996 KATUREEBE, JSC) \par }\pard \ql \fi-1440\li1440\ri-360\widctlpar\tx8220\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1440\itap0\pararsid2325996 {\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid2325996

\tab \tab }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822\charrsid2325996 \par }\pard \qc \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs48\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 CIVIL APPEAL No.7 OF 2006. \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822\charrsid12926822 \par }\pard \ql \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 GGOLOOBA GODFREY \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85APPELLANT \par \par }\pard \qc \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 AND \par }\pard \ql \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 HARRIET KIZITO\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\b\f35\fs40\insrsid1932178 \'85...}{ \b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 \'85RESPONDENT}{\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822 \par }\pard \ql \fi-180\li180\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin180\itap0\pararsid2325996 {\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2448936 [}{\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 Appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal at Kampala (Mpagi-Bahigeine,}{\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2448936 Engwau and Twinomujuni, JJ. A)

d}{\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 ated 22}{\b\i\f35\fs20\super\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 nd}{ \b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 February, 200}{\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2448936 6 in Civil Appeal No.65 of 2005]}{\b\i\f35\fs20\insrsid2325996\charrsid2325996 \par }\pard \ql \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs40\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 \par }\pard \qc \fi-1260\li1260\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin1260\itap0\pararsid12926822 {\b\f35\fs40\ul\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid12926822 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri-360\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin0\itap0\pararsid1932178 {\f35\fs32\insrsid12926822\charrsid1932178 This is a second appeal from the Court of Appeal which allowed the appeal by the respondent}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 whose suit had been dismissed }{\f35\fs32\insrsid2325996 in the High Court }{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 for non-appearance on the day of hearing.}{\f35\fs32\insrsid12926822 \par }{\f35\fs32\insrsid1731376\charrsid1932178 \par }{\f35\fs32\insrsid2325996 T}{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 hree grounds }{\f35\fs32\insrsid2325996 of appeal }{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 have been argued by

}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2325996 Mr. }{\f35\fs32\insrsid11018814 Lutakome}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 ,}{\f35\fs32\insrsid11018814 }{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 counsel for the appellant}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 ,}{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 in this Court }{\f35\fs32\insrsid7345215\charrsid1932178 centering on whether the Court of Appeal was correct in not agreeing with the High Court that the respondent\rquote s advocate had shown sufficient cause for not appearing at the hearing of the case. The appeal is opposed by }{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 Mr. Makada, }{\f35\fs32\insrsid7345215\charrsid1932178 counsel for the respondent.}{\f35\fs32\insrsid3737544\charrsid1932178 \par }{\f35\fs32\insrsid76740\charrsid1932178 \par Having heard the submission}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 s}{\f35\fs32\insrsid76740\charrsid1932178 of both counsel and having conside red the evidence on record, we are satisfied that the Court of Appeal came to the correct conclusion that the High Court erred in dismissing the applicatio}{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 n for reinstatement of the suit w}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid76740\charrsid1932178 hen the respondent\rquote s advocate had shown sufficient cause for not appearing because he was under the impression that the parties were }{\f35\fs32\insrsid10240212\charrsid1932178 still negotiating a settlement. Hi}{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 s affidavit to

that effect was}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 ,}{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 i}{\f35\fs32\insrsid10240212\charrsid1932178 n our view}{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 ,}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid10240212\charrsid1932178 sufficient and it was not necessary for the respondent to personally swear an affidavit to that effect.}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 It has been held that a mistake by an }{ \f35\fs32\insrsid14549751\charrsid1932178 advocate should}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 not be visited on }{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 a}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 party. We see no merit in the argument }{ \f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 by Counsel for the appellant }{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 that affidavit was not properly sworn because it did not bear the name }{\f35\fs32\insrsid2691787\charrsid1932178 of the}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 commissioner for oath who commissioned it. We }{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 think that}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 this was an after}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 tho}{ \f35\fs32\insrsid2448936\charrsid1932178 ugh}{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 t}{\f35\fs32\insrsid14549751 on the part of the }{\f35\fs32\insrsid2448936 appellant as}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 the matter was not raised in the trial court, or pressed in the Court of Appeal.}{\f35\fs32\insrsid76740 \par

}{\f35\fs32\insrsid1731376\charrsid1932178 \par }{\f35\fs32\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 In the result we find no merit in this appeal. It is accordingly dismissed with costs in this Court. \par \par We set aside the order of the High Court dismissing the suit and reinstate the suit to be heard on its own merits. \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri-360\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin-360\lin0\itap0\pararsid3737544 {\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 Dated at Mengo this 27}{\f35\fs28\super\insrsid1932178\charrsid1932178 th}{\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 day of June, 2007. \par \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1932178 {\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 B. J. ODOKI \par }{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 CHIEF JUSTICE \par }{\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid7930763 \par }{\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 \par \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 J. W. N. TSEKOOKO \par }{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT}{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 \par }{\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 \par \par \par }{\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid7930763 \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 J. N. MULENGA \par }{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 \par \par \par \par

}{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 G. W. KANYEIHAMBA \par }{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 \par \par \par }{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 \par B.}{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178 M .}{\b\f35\fs28\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 KATUREEBE \par }{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178\charrsid16272869 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT}{\b\f35\fs28\ul\insrsid1932178 \par }}

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