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Uganda Judgment

High Court of Uganda

Henry Baganda v Godfrey Zinga & Anor (Civil Appeal No. 39 of 2008) (Civil Appeal No. 39 of 2008) [2009] UGHC 107 (8 November 2009)

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01

Holding and result

The appeal was filed nearly six months after the delivery of the lower court's judgment, far outside the statutory 30-day period prescribed by Section 79 of the Civil Procedure Act. The appellant also failed to file the decree as required by Section 220(1)(a) of the Magistrates Courts Act. These procedural lapses are fatal to the appeal. The court found no justification or application for extension of time, and therefore, agreed with the respondents' counsel that the appeal was incompetent and not properly before the court. The appeal was dismissed with costs to the respondents.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed as filed out of time

Orders

  • Civil Appeal No. 39 of 2008 is dismissed.
  • Costs awarded to the respondents.

02

Material facts

Parties

Henry Baganda

Appellant Counsel: Bwambale, Musedde & Co. Advocates

Godfrey Zinga

Respondent Counsel: Lutaakome & Co. Advocates

William Mukasa

Respondent Counsel: Lutaakome & Co. Advocates

Amounts and remedies

  • Costs Awarded: 0

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Appeal / Ruling on Preliminary Objection

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant filed Civil Appeal No. 39 of 2008 against the respondents, asserting his right to appeal the lower court's judgment. No substantive argument on the preliminary objection was recorded from the appellant, who was absent at the hearing.
Respondent
Counsel for the respondents raised a preliminary objection that the appeal was filed out of time. He submitted that judgment was delivered on 19th December 2008, but the memorandum of appeal was filed on 3rd July 2009, nearly six months later. He argued that this contravened Section 79 of the Civil Procedure Act, which requires appeals to be filed within 30 days, and that the appellant failed to file the requisite decree as required by Section 220(1)(a) of the Magistrates Courts Act.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Section 79, Civil Procedure Act

    An appeal to the High Court must be filed within 30 days from the date of delivery of the judgment.

  2. 02

    Order 43 rule 1(i), Civil Procedure Rules

    An appeal commences with the filing of a memorandum of appeal.

  3. 03

    Section 220(1)(a), Magistrates Courts Act

    A decree arising out of the judgment must be filed with the appeal.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The appeal was filed nearly six months after the delivery of the lower court's judgment, far outside the statutory 30-day period prescribed by Section 79 of the Civil Procedure Act. The appellant also failed to file the decree as required by Section 220(1)(a) of the Magistrates Courts Act. These procedural lapses are fatal to the appeal. The court found no justification or application for extension of time, and therefore, agreed with the respondents' counsel that the appeal was incompetent and not properly before the court. The appeal was dismissed with costs to the respondents.

Obiter and limits

  • Strict compliance with statutory timelines for filing appeals is mandatory and not a mere technicality.
  • Failure to file the decree as required by law further undermines the validity of the appeal.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed as filed out of time

  • Civil Appeal No. 39 of 2008 is dismissed.
  • Costs awarded to the respondents.

Source and reliance status

High Court of Uganda

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Judgment text

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High Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2009] UGHC 107

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3}{\super\insrsid7554564\charrsid5641896 rd}{\insrsid7554564\charrsid5641896 July, 2009 against }{ \insrsid3346399\charrsid5641896 }{\b\insrsid3346399\charrsid5641896 Godfrey Zinga}{\insrsid3346399\charrsid5641896 and }{\b\insrsid3346399\charrsid5641896 William Mukasa}{\insrsid3346399\charrsid5641896 , the respondents. The respondents are represented by M/s }{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 Lutaakome & Co. Advocates.}{\insrsid13377378\charrsid5641896 \par }{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 \par On 6}{\super\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 th}{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 November, 2009 when the appeal came up for hearing, Mr. Bugembe Patrick, Counsel for the respondent raised preliminary objection that this appeal was filed out of time. He submitted that judgment was delivered on}{\insrsid15677423\charrsid5641896 }{ \insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 19th December, 2008, and that however, the memorandum of appeal was filed on 3}{\super\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 rd}{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 July, 2009, almost six (6) months after the deliver of the judgment. \par \par I perused the record of the court and ascertained that judgment in the lower court was delivered on 19}{\super\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 th}{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896 December 2008. And }{\insrsid15677423\charrsid5641896 that the appeal was filed on

3}{\super\insrsid15677423\charrsid5641896 rd}{\insrsid15677423\charrsid5641896 July 2009 when the memorandum of appeal was filed in this court}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 . Certainly, this appeal was filed out of time. Section 79 of the Civil Procedure Act provides that an appeal to the High Court shall lie with in 30 days from the date of the delivery of the judgment. Again, Order 43 rule 1 (i) of the Civil Procedure Rules provides that an appeal shall commence to the memorandum of appeal. I also noted that the appellant never filed a decree arising out the judg ment that was delivered on 19}{\super\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 th}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 December 2008, as required by section 220 (i) (a) of the Magistrate\rquote s Courts Act, cap 16 Laws of Uganda.}{\insrsid15756657\charrsid5641896

\par }{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 \par In view of all the above, I agree with counsel for the respondents, that the appeal was filed out of time. Therefore, there is no appeal before me. \par \par Accordingly, Civil appeal N0. 39 of 2008 is dismissed with costs to the respondents. \par \par Dated at Kampala this 9}{\super\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 th}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 day of November, 2009 \par }{\b\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 Sgd \par Judge \par 09/11/09 \par }{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 \par }{\insrsid12072382\charrsid5641896 \par \par }{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 09/11/09 \par Mr. Ronald Karizi from Lutakome & Co. Advocates holding brief from Bugembe Patrick. It is for a ruling. I am ready to receive the same. \par \par The 1}{\super\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 st}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 respondent is in court. \par The 2}{\super\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 nd}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 respondent is absent so is the appellant. \par Ms. Namusoke Justine, the clerk in court. \par \par }{\b\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 Court}{\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 : Ruling is delivered in open court. \par }{\b\insrsid5403467\charrsid5641896 Sgd \par Judge \par 09/11/09 \par }}

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Section 79, Civil Procedure Act

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Order 43 rule 1(i), Civil Procedure Rules

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 220(1)(a), Magistrates Courts Act, Cap 16 Laws of Uganda

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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