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Uganda Judgment

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Ms Marketing Support Services Limited v Administrator General (Miscellaneous Application 2834 of 2023) [2025] UGHCLD 127 (8 July 2025)

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01

Holding and result

The court found that the documentary evidence, specifically the transfer of land from the Administrator General to the Applicant, established a direct link between the parties regarding the suit property. The entries on the certificate of title and the prayers in the amended plaint justified the issuance of a third party notice for contribution or indemnity. The court applied Order 1 Rule 14 of the Civil Procedure Rules, which allows a defendant to seek contribution or indemnity from a non-party by way of a third party notice, provided there is a legal basis for such a claim. The Respondent's argument that it is no longer the Administrator was not sufficient to defeat the application, as the transfer and the Applicant's derived interest were clear. Accordingly, the application was granted.

Court disposition

application_granted

Orders

  • A third party notice hereby issues against the Administrator General for the contribution/indemnity of M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd, the 5th Defendant in Civil Suit No. 961 of 2018.
  • Costs in the Cause.

02

Material facts

Parties

M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd

Applicant

Administrator General

Respondent

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Ruling

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether a third party notice ought to issue as prayed by the Applicant.

Party arguments

Applicant
The Applicant contends that the Administrator General should be the rightful party to whom the third party notice is issued, relying on the doctrine of privity of contract and the fact that the Administrator General transferred the suit land to the Applicant. The Applicant maintains that their interest in the property derives from the Respondent, justifying the issuance of the notice.
Respondent
The Respondent opposes the application on the ground that it is no longer the Administrator of the Estate of the late Atwooki and therefore should not be subject to a third party notice in the pending suit.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Order 1 Rule 14 of the Civil Procedure Rules

    A defendant may, by leave of court, issue a third party notice to any person not a party to the suit if entitled to contribution or indemnity.

  2. 02

    Annexure 'C' to the Application; Transfer of Land dated 29th August 1997

    Transfer of land by the Administrator General confers interest to the transferee, establishing a basis for contribution or indemnity claims.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the documentary evidence, specifically the transfer of land from the Administrator General to the Applicant, established a direct link between the parties regarding the suit property. The entries on the certificate of title and the prayers in the amended plaint justified the issuance of a third party notice for contribution or indemnity. The court applied Order 1 Rule 14 of the Civil Procedure Rules, which allows a defendant to seek contribution or indemnity from a non-party by way of a third party notice, provided there is a legal basis for such a claim. The Respondent's argument that it is no longer the Administrator was not sufficient to defeat the application, as the transfer and the Applicant's derived interest were clear. Accordingly, the application was granted.

Obiter and limits

  • The submissions of counsel for both parties were appreciated for their helpfulness.
  • The court was persuaded by the documentary evidence, particularly the transfer of land document and entries on the certificate of title.

Court disposition

application_granted

  • A third party notice hereby issues against the Administrator General for the contribution/indemnity of M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd, the 5th Defendant in Civil Suit No. 961 of 2018.
  • Costs in the Cause.

Source and reliance status

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

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Judgment text

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Source document

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Judgment

[2025] UGHCLD 127

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

$\mathbf{1}$

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA

(LAND DIVISION)

MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 2834 OF 2023

(ARISING FROM CIVIL SUIT NO. 961 OF 2018)

M/S MARKETING SUPPORT SERVICES LTD ...................................

VERSUS

<table>

ADMINISTRATOR GENERAL RESPONDENT

Before: Hon. Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya

RULING

The Applicant, M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd, seeks for leave to be granted for a third party notice to be issued against the Respondent who is not a party H. C. C. S No.961 of 2018.

By way of background, sometime in December 1997, the Respondent, Administrator General of Uganda, was registered on the Certificate of Title of the land comprised in LRV 15 1415 Folio 1 Plot-3793 Kyadondo Block 244, land at Muyenga as Administrator of the Estate of the Late Yosamu Kamanyire Atwooki – vide Administration Cause No. 379 of 1993.

In the same month and year, the Applicant, M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd was registered on the title.

Presently, High Court Civil Suit No. 961 of 2018 is a pending suit which consolidated H. C. C. S No. 961 of 2018 and H. C. C. S No. 930 of 2022. The Plaintiff, Mr. Kiggundu Moses is suing six (6) Defendants including the 5<sup>th</sup> Defendant, M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd, for a declaration that the land at Muyenga comprised in Kyadondo Block 244 Plot 3793 Volume 1415 Folio 1, belongs to him and among other things, an order directing the

$25$

$\mathsf{S}$

Defendants jointly and/or severally to pay general damages for fraudulent acquisition of the suit land.

The Respondent, the Administrator General opposes this Application on grounds that it is no longer the Administrator of the Estate of the late Atwooki.

In rejoinder, the Applicant maintains that the doctrine of privity of contract demands that $\mathsf{S}$ the Administrator General be the rightful party to whom the third party notice should issué.

ISSUE

Whether a third party notice ought to issue as prayed by the Applicant?

DETERMINATION OF ISSUE

Order 1 Rule 14 of the Civil Procedure Rules provides: $10$

14. Notice to third party

(1) Where a defendant claims to be entitled to contribution or indemnity over against any person not a party to the suit, he or she may, by leave of the court, issue a notice (hereafter called a "third party notice") to that effect.

(2) The leave shall be applied for by summons in chambers *ex parte* supported by affidavit. 15

(3) A copy of the notice shall be filed and shall be served on such person according to the rules relating to the service of a summons.

(4) The notice shall state the nature and grounds of the claim and shall, unless otherwise ordered by the court, be filed within a time limited for filing his or her defence.

(5) The notice shall be in or to the effect of Form 23 in Appendix A to these Rules with such $20$ variations as circumstances require, and a copy of the plaint shall be served with the notice.

I have perused the submissions of the Counsel for the parties which I have appreciated for being helpful. My attention was drawn to Annexure "C" to the Application titled "Transfer of Land." It is dated 29<sup>th</sup> August 1997. The subject matter land described as

Block 244 Plot 3793, area 0.268 hectares' land at Muyenga. 25

I shall reproduce it in part below:

"Transfer of Land

The Administrator General of Uganda, of P. O Box 7151, Kampala being the Registered Proprietor of the land comprised in the above Register, DO HEREBY transfers all the said land to M/S MARKETING SUPPORT SERVICES, of P. O Box 1, KAMPALA a purchaser of the estate of DR KAMANYIRE YOSAMU ATWOOKI (deceased) to hold for all my interest therein.

DATED AND SEALED AT KAMPALA THIS 29<sup>th</sup> DAY OF August 1997 BY THE ADMINSITRATOR GENERAL

signed.................................... ADMINISTRATOR GENERAL"

I am persuaded that this document read together with the entries on the certificate of title 10 to the consolidated suit property and their prayers in the amended plaint thereunder, justify the issuance of the third party notice to the respondent from whom the Applicant derived their interest in the suit property.

In conclusion, I hereby grant this Application and order as follows:

1. A third party notice hereby issues against the Administrator General for the $15$ contribution/indemnity of M/S Marketing Support Services Ltd, the 5<sup>th</sup> Defendant in Civil Suit No. 961 of 2018.

2. Costs in the Cause.

I so order.

$\mathsf{S}$

Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya JUDGE 8th July 2025

Delivered by ECCMIS $25$

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Order 1 Rule 14 of the Civil Procedure Rules

Legislation

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