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Uganda Judgment

Commercial Court of Uganda

In Re: Ranch on the Lake Ltd (HCT-00-CC-MA 537 of 2005) [2005] UGCommC 47 (24 August 2005)

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01

Holding and result

The court held that Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules is the applicable provision for applications for leave to appeal, requiring such applications to be made within 14 days of the decision. The application in question was filed more than 14 days after the decision, making it time-barred. The court further held that the power to extend time for filing an appeal under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act lies with the appellate court, not the High Court. The applicant's argument that the High Court could disregard the 14-day rule was rejected, as the High Court is bound to follow the rules of the Court of Appeal. Consequently, the application was dismissed as being out of time.

Court disposition

application dismissed with costs

Orders

  • The application for leave to appeal is dismissed as time-barred.
  • The applicant shall pay the costs of this application.

02

Material facts

Parties

East African Development Bank

Applicant Counsel: Mr. Kabatsi

Receiver of Ranch on the Lake Limited

Respondent Counsel: Mr. Nalyanya

Development Finance Company Uganda Limited

Respondent Counsel: Mr. Adriko

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The applicant argued that the application is governed by Order 40 Rules 1(2) and 4 and Order 39 of the Civil Procedure Rules, which are silent on time. Therefore, Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act, which provides 30 days for appeals, should apply. The applicant acknowledged the Court of Appeal Rules provide a 14-day period but argued this is extendible and that the application should be heard due to the importance of the legal questions involved.
Respondent
The respondents objected to the application on the ground that it was filed out of time. They relied on Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules, which requires applications for leave to appeal to be made within 14 days of the decision. They argued that the application, filed more than 14 days after the decision, was time-barred and should be dismissed.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Rule 39(2)(a), Court of Appeal Rules

    Application for leave to appeal must be made within 14 days of the decision as per Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules.

  2. 02

    Section 80, Civil Procedure Act

    Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act provides for a 30-day period for appeals as of right and allows the appellate court to extend time for filing appeals, but not the court of first instance.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules is the applicable provision for applications for leave to appeal, requiring such applications to be made within 14 days of the decision. The application in question was filed more than 14 days after the decision, making it time-barred. The court further held that the power to extend time for filing an appeal under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act lies with the appellate court, not the High Court. The applicant's argument that the High Court could disregard the 14-day rule was rejected, as the High Court is bound to follow the rules of the Court of Appeal. Consequently, the application was dismissed as being out of time.

Obiter and limits

  • It would not be prudent for the High Court not to follow the rules of the Court of Appeal.
  • The applicant did not refer the court to any authority where the High Court disregarded the 14-day rule.

Court disposition

application dismissed with costs

  • The application for leave to appeal is dismissed as time-barred.
  • The applicant shall pay the costs of this application.

Source and reliance status

Commercial Court of Uganda

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Judgment text

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Commercial Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2005] UGCommC 47

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)}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\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 \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid7874725 REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\insrsid15861250 \par }{\insrsid7874725 \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA HOLDEN AT KAMPALA \par \par (COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION) \par \par HCT-00-CC-MA-0537-2005 \par \par (Arising from HCT-00-CC-CI-0009-2005) \par \par IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT (CAP 110) \par \par AND \par \par IN THE MATTER OF RANCH ON THE LAKE LIMITED (IN RECEIVERSHIP) \par \par \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid7874725\charrsid10110169 BEFORE: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTCE FMS EGONDA-NTENDE \par \par RULING \par }{\insrsid7874725 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14034107 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10110169 { \insrsid14034107 The applicant, Ms East African Development Bank, have applied for leave to appeal

to the Court of Appeal against a decision of this court providing directions to the Receiver of the Ranch on the Lake Ltd made on the }{\insrsid7999503 15}{ \super\insrsid7999503\charrsid7999503 th}{\insrsid7999503 }{\insrsid14034107 day of Ju}{\insrsid7999503 ne}{\insrsid14034107 2005. When this application came up for hearing, Mr. Nalyanya, learned counsel acting for the Receiver raised a preliminary objection to the effect that this application was out of time, and should t herefore be dismissed. Mr. Adriko, learned counsel for Development Finance Company Uganda Limited, joined in this objection.}{\insrsid7874725 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14034107 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\insrsid14034107 Mr. Kabatsi, learned counsel for the applicant, }{\insrsid612972 submitted that this application is governed by Order 40 Rules 1(2) } {\insrsid7999503 &}{\insrsid612972 }{\insrsid7999503 (}{\insrsid612972 4}{\insrsid7999503 )}{\insrsid612972 and Order 39 of the Civil Procedure Rules, both of which are silent on time. As a result this court should turn to Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act which provides 30 days within which appeals may be filed. Mr. Kabatsi further indicated that he was aware the Co urt of Appeal Rules provided for a time period of 14 days but this was extendible. And as the intended appeal involved very important

questions of law, this application ought to be heard, and the appeal filed.}{\insrsid14034107 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid612972 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}{\insrsid612972 Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules provides, }{\insrsid10110169 \par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri1440\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1440\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10110169 {\fs20\insrsid612972\charrsid10110169 \'93 where an appeal lies with leave of the High Court, application for leave shall be made informally at the time when the decision against which it is so desired to appeal is given; or failing that application, or if the Court so orders, by notice of motion within fourteen days of the decision.\'94 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid612972 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10110169 { \insrsid612972 Section 80 }{\insrsid7999503 of the Civil Procedure Act }{\insrsid612972 provides for the time within which appeals may be lodged, and provides for an opportunity to seek extension of time in case a party is out of time. It directs that such decision for extension of time will be made by the appellate court.}{\insrsid11426351 It states, }{\insrsid10110169 \par }\pard \ql

\li1440\ri1440\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1440\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10110169 {\fs20\insrsid11426351\charrsid10110169 \'93(1)}{\fs20\insrsid2427360\charrsid10110169 Except as otherwise specifically provided in any other law, every appeal shall be entered\emdash }{\fs20\insrsid10110169 }{\fs20\insrsid2427360\charrsid10110169 (a) wi thin thirty days of the date of the decree or order of the court; or (b) within seven days of the date of the order of a registrar, }{\fs20\insrsid10110169 }{\fs20\insrsid2427360\charrsid10110169 as the case may be, appealed against: }{\fs20\insrsid10110169 }{\fs20\insrsid2427360\charrsid10110169 Provided tha t the appellate court may for good cause admit an appeal though the period of limitation prescribed by this section has elapsed.\'94}{\fs20\insrsid612972\charrsid10110169 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2427360 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 5.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10110169 { \insrsid2427360 It is for the appellate court to grant extension of time for filing an appeal in respect of those appeals that are governed by Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Act}{\insrsid7999503 , and these are appeals as of right without leave of the court of first instance}{\insrsid2427360 .

It is not for the court of first instance to make this decision. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7999503 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 6.\tab}}{\insrsid7999503 The applicable rule here is Rule 39(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules. It requires that application for leave to appeal out of time, should be made within 14 days of the decision intended to}{\insrsid6319086 be}{\insrsid7999503 appealed from. In this case the decision intended to be appealed against was made on the 15}{ \super\insrsid7999503\charrsid7999503 th}{\insrsid7999503 June 2005. This application was lodged into this court on 11}{\super\insrsid7999503\charrsid7999503 th}{\insrsid7999503 July 2005, more than 14 days since the decision intended to be appealed against was made. This application is time barred. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7999503 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 7.\tab}Mr. Kabatsi submitted that I should disregard this rule suggesting that there are numerous cases where court s have done so. Unfortunately he did not refer me to a particular case. }{\insrsid10110169 I am not sure that it would be prudent for the High Court not to follow the rules of the Court of Appeal. I can only say I am not persuaded that this is a viable option for this court.}{\insrsid7999503 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10110169

\hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 8.\tab}}{\insrsid10110169 Accordingly I find that this application was made out of time and it is accordingly dismissed with costs. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10110169 {\insrsid10110169 Dated at Kampala this 24}{\super\insrsid10110169\charrsid10110169 th}{\insrsid10110169 day of August 2005. \par \par \par \par FMS Egonda-Ntende \par Judge \par }}

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Authorities

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

Companies Act (Cap 110)

Legislation

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Civil Procedure Act, Section 80

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Civil Procedure Rules, Order 39 and Order 40 Rules 1(2) and 4

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Court of Appeal Rules, Rule 39(2)(a)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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