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East African Court of Justice

Kahoho v Secretary General of East African Community (Application 2 of 2015) [2015] EACJ 22 (9 November 2015) (Appellate Division)

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The court found that the applicant and his counsel were duly served with notice of hearing but failed to appear or provide any explanation for their absence. This conduct indicated a lack of interest in prosecuting the application. In the absence of a specific rule governing such situations, the court relied on Rule 1(2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013, to dismiss the application with costs. The court emphasized that the ends of justice require dismissal for non-appearance, but the applicant retains liberty to apply for re-institution of the application.

Court disposition

application dismissed with costs for non-appearance of applicant

Orders

  • The application for review is dismissed for non-appearance of the applicant.
  • Costs are awarded to the respondent under Rule 1(2) of the Rules.
  • The applicant is at liberty to apply for re-institution of the application.

02

Material facts

Parties

Timothy Alvin Kahoho

Applicant Counsel: Emmanuel Augustino

Secretary General of the East African Community

Respondent Counsel: Antony Kafumbe

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Review Application / Application for Review of Appellate Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Respondent
Mr. Antony Kafumbe, counsel for the respondent, argued that the applicant had lost interest in the case, as evidenced by his absence and that of his counsel despite being duly served with the notice of hearing. He requested dismissal of the application with costs under Rule 1(2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013, noting the absence of a specific provision for such circumstances.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Rule 1(2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013

    An application may be dismissed for non-appearance of the applicant when duly served and no explanation for absence is provided.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the applicant and his counsel were duly served with notice of hearing but failed to appear or provide any explanation for their absence. This conduct indicated a lack of interest in prosecuting the application. In the absence of a specific rule governing such situations, the court relied on Rule 1(2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013, to dismiss the application with costs. The court emphasized that the ends of justice require dismissal for non-appearance, but the applicant retains liberty to apply for re-institution of the application.

Obiter and limits

  • The applicant is at liberty to apply for re-institution of the application.

Court disposition

application dismissed with costs for non-appearance of applicant

  • The application for review is dismissed for non-appearance of the applicant.
  • Costs are awarded to the respondent under Rule 1(2) of the Rules.
  • The applicant is at liberty to apply for re-institution of the application.

Source and reliance status

East African Court of Justice

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Judgment text

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Source document

East African Court of Justice

Judgment

[2015] EACJ 22

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IN THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE (APPELLATE DIVISION) AT ARUSHA

(Coram: Liboire Nkurunziza, VP; Edward Rutakangwa, JA; and Aaron Ringera, JA)

Application No. 2 of 2015

[An Application for Review arising from the Judgment of the Appellate Division of the Court at Arusha before Hon. Justice Liboire Nkurunziza, VP, Hon. Justices James Ogoola and Aaron Ringera, JJA) in Appeal No. 2 of 2013 dated 28<sup>th</sup> December, 2014]

TIMOTHY ALVIN KAHOHO ..................................

VERSUS

SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY ....................................

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ORDER OF THE COURT

- 1. This Application for Review of the Court's Judgment dated 28<sup>th</sup> December, 2014, in Appeal No. 2 of 2013, was scheduled for hearing today. However, when the same was called on for hearing, only Mr. Antony Kafumbe, learned Counsel for the Respondent, was in attendance. Neither the Applicant in person, who was duly served with today's notice of hearing, nor his Counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Augustino, entered appearance. Their absence was not accounted for in any way. - 2. Mr. Kafumbe, in the circumstances, was of the view, and rightly so in our considered opinion, that the Applicant has lost interest in his case. For this reason, he urged us to dismiss the Application with costs, under Rule 1 (2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013 ("the Rules"). He predicated his prayer on Rule 1 (2) of the Rules, because there is no specific provision in the Rules governing this situation. - 3. On our part, having considered the facts before us, we have found ourselves inclined to accede to Mr. Kafumbe's prayer: The Applicant was undeniably duly served and in good time. He has failed to account to the Court for his absence and that of his Counsel. What further evidence do we need to establish that the Applicant is no longer interested in prosecuting his case.

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- 4. The ends of justice, therefore, dictate that this Application be dismissed for non appearance of the Applicant. - 5. All said and done, we hereby dismiss the Application with costs under Rule $1(2)$ of the Rules. The Applicant is at liberty to apply for its re-institution.

WE SO ORDER.

DATED at Arusha, this 9<sup>th</sup> day of November, 2015.

CRUID Libóire Nkurunziza

VICE PRESIDENT

Spuffer

Edward Rutakangwa JUSTICE OF APPEAL

Aaron Ringera JUSTICE OF APPEAL

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Rule 1(2) of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2013

Legislation

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