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Muwonge v Fatuma Abdalla (Administrator of the estate of late Rajab Salim ) and Another (Miscellaneous Application 1472 of 2022) [2023] UGHCLD 154 (12 June 2023)
- Citation
- [2023] UGHCLD 154
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Nkonge, J
- Case number
- Miscellaneous Application 1472 of 2022
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Nkonge, J
- Case number
- Miscellaneous Application 1472 of 2022
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the application to strike out the plaint could not be granted because the allegations of fraud raised by the respondents are serious and require evidence to be adduced at a formal trial. The issues raised by the applicant are triable and cannot be disposed of summarily at this stage. The applicant is at liberty to raise the same issues during the scheduling of the main suit. Accordingly, the application was declined and costs were awarded to the respondents.
Court disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- Application to strike out the plaint is declined.
- Applicant may raise the same issues during scheduling of the main suit.
- Costs awarded to the respondents.
02
Material facts
Parties
John Bosco Muwonge
ApplicantFatuma Abdalla (Administrator of the Estate of the Late Rajab Salim)
RespondentMusiime R. Muzungu Adreen Julie
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Strike Out Plaint
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the plaint in Civil Suit No.292 of 2021 discloses a cause of action against the applicant.
- 02
Whether the suit is statute barred.
- 03
Whether the suit is frivolous, vexatious, or otherwise an abuse of court process.
- 04
Whether the allegations of fraud require a formal trial.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The applicant argued that the plaint does not disclose a cause of action against him, is statute barred, and is frivolous and vexatious. He asserted that he lawfully acquired the land from the administrators of the estate of the late Rajab Salim, received the genuine duplicate certificate of title and transfer forms, and has enjoyed uninterrupted possession since 2011. He sought to have the suit struck out and costs awarded to him.
- Respondent
- The 2nd respondent raised issues of forgery of her signature on the transfer form, alleging fraud in the transaction. The respondents contended that the allegations of fraud are serious and require evidence to be adduced at a formal trial, and that the application to strike out the plaint should be dismissed to allow the matter to proceed to hearing.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
General principle of civil procedure; see also Uganda case law on fraud in land matters.
Fraud is a grave allegation which requires evidence in a formal trial and cannot be disposed of summarily.
- 02
Order 7 rules 11(d), (e) & 19 of the Civil Procedure Rules SI 71-1.
A plaint should only be struck out if it is plain and obvious that it discloses no cause of action or is otherwise an abuse of court process.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the application to strike out the plaint could not be granted because the allegations of fraud raised by the respondents are serious and require evidence to be adduced at a formal trial. The issues raised by the applicant are triable and cannot be disposed of summarily at this stage. The applicant is at liberty to raise the same issues during the scheduling of the main suit. Accordingly, the application was declined and costs were awarded to the respondents.
Obiter and limits
- Fraud allegations should be determined on evidence at trial, not on preliminary applications.
- The applicant may raise the same issues during the scheduling of the main suit.
Court disposition
application dismissed
- Application to strike out the plaint is declined.
- Applicant may raise the same issues during scheduling of the main suit.
- Costs awarded to the respondents.
Source and reliance status
HC: Land Division (Uganda)
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
HC: Land Division (Uganda)
Judgment
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA
(LAND DIVISIONI
MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO.1472 OF 2022
(Arlstng <sup>5</sup> lrom C|lll Sutt No.292 of 2027)
JOHN BOSCO MI'WONGE: :APPLICANT
VERSUS
1. FATUMA ABDALLA (Ad mlnlstrator of the Estate of the Late RAJAB SALIM)
10 2. MUSIIME R. MUZUNGU ADR,EEN JULIE::::::::: RDSPONDENT Before: Ladu Justlce Alexqndra Nkonqe Rugadgq.
Rulins.
Introductlon.
This application brought by way of chamber summons under the provisions of Section 98
- 15 of the Ctvtl Procedure Act cap.77, and Order 7 rules 77 (d), (e), & 79 of the Ctvtl Procedure Rules SI 77-7 seeks orders that Clull SUlt No.292 of 2027 be rejected or struck out for being frivolous, vexatious, failing to disclose a cause of action against the applicant, and for being statute barred. It also seeks orders that the applicant be granted costs of the application, and the main suit. - 20 The grounds upon which the application is premised are contained the affidavit in support thereof deponed by Mr. John Bosco Muwonge, the applicant herein. He stated that the plaint should be struck out because it does not disclose a cause of action against him, and that the suit is not only barred by law but also frivolous and vexatious thus the same should be rejected or dismissed. - 30 <sup>25</sup> That the applicant lawfully acquired the subject Iand from persons who represented themselves as the administrators of the estate of the late Rajab Salim vide AdministrdtTon Cause No.77 of I989 and that they handed him the genuine duplicate certificate of title as well as the transfer forms, and that he immediately took possession of the suit land without any incident and has continued to enjoy and utilize the land without any interference since 201 1.
The applicant admitted that the 1"t respondent ought not to have been party to this application. The 2"d respondent however raised issues of forgery of her signature on the transfer form. Details of their arguments are all on record.
Fraud is a grave allegation which requires evidence in a formal trial. This application raises a number of triable issues which cannot be disposed of by court before giving the 2<sup>nd</sup> respondent a hearing on the evidence that she intends to adduce against the applicant and the $1^{st}$ respondent.
$\mathsf{S}$ I therefore decline to grant this application. I will however allow the applicant to raise the issues in this application during the scheduling.
Costs to the respondents Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya
$\overline{a}$
Judge
12<sup>th</sup> June, 2023
Delivered via eail<br> $\n\begin{array}{c|cc}\n\text{Dolized} & \text{via each} \\ \text{G} & 13/06/2223\n\end{array}\n$
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