John Kibyami v Mission & Relief Transport Ltd (HCT-00-CC-CS 236 of 2006) [2006] UGCommC 49 (5 December 2006)

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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 \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6321784 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION \par \par HCT-00-CC-CS-0236-2006 \par \par JOHN }{\fs24\insrsid6321784\charrsid6321784 KIBYAMI \'85}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.\'85\'85\'85. \'85\'85. PLAINTIFF \par \par VERSUS \par \par MISSION AND RELIEF TRANSPORT LTD. \'85\'85\'85\'85 DEFENDANT \par \par \par BEFORE HON. MR. JUSTICE LAMECK N. MUKASA \par }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 \par }{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 \par RULING: \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6321784 {\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 \par }\pard \qj

\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6321784 {\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 This suit was filed against Mission}{\fs24\insrsid8938301\charrsid6321784 and Relief Transport Ltd}{ \fs24\insrsid6321784\charrsid6321784 , stated}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 in paragraph 2 of }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 the plaint}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 to }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 be a}{ \fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 L}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 imited }{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 L}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 iability Company incorporated }{ \fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 in Uganda.}{\fs24\insrsid9700111\charrsid6321784 \par }{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 \par }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 When the}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 case came up before me for a }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 Scheduling Conference}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 Mr. }{ \fs24\insrsid6321784\charrsid6321784 Suleiman}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 \endash Musoke informed Court that Counsel for the defendant Mr. Daniel Rutiba, had }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 informed him}{ \fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 that there are two }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784

company\rquote s}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 with }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 similar names}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 of }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 the defendant}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 . He therefore }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 applied for}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 an ad}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 journment to verify the information. When the case came up again Mr. Musoke applied to amend the particulars of the defendant by deleting the word \'93limited\'94}{\fs24\insrsid11605782\charrsid6321784 \par }{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 \par Mr. Rutiba objected to the amendment sought. He argued that M/S Mission and Relief Transport Ltd}{\fs24\insrsid8938301\charrsid6321784 ,}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid8938301\charrsid6321784 i}{ \fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 s a local company incorporated in Uganda while M/s and Missions and Relief Transport is a company incorporated in Netherlands only registered in Uganda under secti}{\fs24\insrsid8938301\charrsid6321784 on 370, Part x of the Companie}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 s Act as a Foreign Company carrying on business in Uganda. That }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 the two}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 }{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 were

separate}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 entities. His argument was that }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 by the}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 amendme nt the plaintiff was substituting the }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 foreign company}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 for the Uganda}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 n}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 Company. He therefore prayed that the }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 suit be}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 struck out under }{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 O}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 rder 6 rule 29 of the Civil Procedure Rule}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 s}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 . \par \par The p}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 lai}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 nt}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 iff\rquote }{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 s claim arises from a hire agreement refe}{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 r}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 red to in paragraph }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 4 (}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 a) of the plaint and annexed to the plaint as annexture A. The agreement }{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 it }{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 is }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 between

the}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 plaintiff and }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 Mission &}{ \fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 Relief Transport. In the signature part }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 o}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 f the agreement }{\fs24\insrsid5518259\charrsid6321784 it }{ \fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 is signed for Mission & Relief Transport Uganda}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 but with a stamp for Mission and Relief Transport, Great \endash Lakes Region Office P. O. Box 10439, Kampala. Therefore, the plaintiff }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 knew the}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 party whom he }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 was dealing}{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 with in }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 the agreement}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 which gives rise to this suit as Mission and Relief Transport. }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 The existence}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 of another part}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 y with a similar name Mission and Relief Transport Ltd was only }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 brought to}{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 the attention of the plaintiff}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 \rquote }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 s counsel by the defendant\rquote s

counsel. \par \par The circumstances of this case show that the inclusion of the word \'93Ltd}{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 \'94 in}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 the name of the defendant was merely an error most probably committed by Counsel }{ \fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 since the agreement}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 supplied to}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 him as the basis of }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 the plaintiff\rquote s claim}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 was }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 between the}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 plaintiff and }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 Mission and}{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid6446593\charrsid6321784 Relief Transport}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 . In }{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 JB K}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid5518259\charrsid6321784 oh}{ \i\fs24\ul\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 l}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid5518259\charrsid6321784 i}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 & Others Vs Ba}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 chulal Popatlal}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 (1964) EA 219}{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 it was held that whe re a reasonable man reading all the documents in the proceedings before Court and having regard to

all the circumstances would entertain no doubt as to the person to be sued it would be a case of mis}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 nomer}{ \fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 . In the circumstances of this}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 case }{\fs24\insrsid13267780\charrsid6321784 there is no doubt }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 that the}{ \fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 defendant,}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 in view of the agreement attached to the plaint is }{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 M}{ \fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 ission and }{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 R}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 elief Transport. An error }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 which is}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 a mere }{ \fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 mis}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 nomer}{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 can}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 be co}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 rrected by amendment. The law as regards amendment }{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 of pleadings was discussed in detail by }{\i\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 Ntabgoba PJ }{\i\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 in}{ \i\fs24\ul\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 Edward}{\i\fs24\ul\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 Seninde Vs Fred Luwaga (1995)

IV KALR 149}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 where it was held, inter alia, that most importantly an amendment may be allowed at }{\fs24\insrsid5518259\charrsid6321784 a }{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 very late stage, where it is necessitated solely by a drafting error and where there is no element of surprise. In the }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 instant case}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 the error was a drafting error and }{ \fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 there is}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 no element}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 of surprise since it was the defendant}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 \rquote }{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 s Counsel who p}{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 o}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 inted out }{\fs24\insrsid14227120\charrsid6321784 to }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 the plaintiffs}{ \fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 Counsel the}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 existence of }{\fs24\insrsid6828304\charrsid6321784 another entity}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 }{ \fs24\insrsid6828304\charrsid6321784 with more}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 or less a similar name.}{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 \par }{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 \par I

accordingly allow }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 the application}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 to amend the}{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 p}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 laint as sou}{ \fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 gh}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 t by str}{\fs24\insrsid5518259\charrsid6321784 i}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 cking out the word \'93Limited\'94 from the }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 defe}{ \fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 ndant\rquote s name. Costs shall be in the cours}{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 e}{\fs24\insrsid6297793\charrsid6321784 of the suit. \par }{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 \par \par \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6321784 {\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 Hon. Mr. Lameck N. Mukasa \par }{\b\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 Judge \par }{\fs24\insrsid6773704\charrsid6321784 6}{\fs24\super\insrsid6773704\charrsid6321784 th}{\fs24\insrsid6773704\charrsid6321784 December}{\fs24\insrsid6503426\charrsid6321784 , 2006 \par }{\fs24\insrsid16198040\charrsid6321784 \par \par }}