Nabyonga and Another v Kamoga and 2 Others (Miscellaneous Application No. 583 of 2022) [2022] UGHCLD 135 (14 July 2022)

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA

(LAND DIVISION)

MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO.583 OF 2022

(Arising out of Civil Suit No.521 of 2021, Civil Suit No.386 of 2021 & Civil Suit $\mathsf{S}$ No.516 of 2021)

1. NABYONGA HARRIET

2. KATENDE ABDALLAZIZ:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

$10$

$\mathbf{S} = \mathbf{S}$

VERSUS

- 1. KAMOGA MOHAMMAD - 2. BIBAGAMBA PETER - 3. NABBANJA SHAMIM BIRUNGI:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: - Before: Lady Justice Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya. 15

RULING.

Introduction:

This application is brought under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act Cap.71 and Order

11 rules 1 & 2 of the Civil Procedure Rules S I 71-1, seeking order for consolidation of 20 three suits to wit; High Court Civil Suit No.521 of 2021, High Court Civil Suit No.386 of 2021 & High Court Civil Suit No.516 of 2021 to be tried jointly and an order that costs of the application be provided for.

The background of this application as per the applicants' respective affidavits in support of the application, is that the 1^st respondent was a donce of powers of attorney from the 2^nd 25 respondent with specific instructions to negotiate with, and settle all lawful squatters on land comprised in Busiro Block 435 plots 8, 10, 19 & 96 at Kikaya and was also in occupation of the kibanja on plot 96 which was developed with a house and gardens.

The 2^nd respondent on his part stated that at the time the 1^st respondent was granted the power of attorney, he was not only in possession, but also in full occupation of the kibanja at 30 plot 96 having purchased the same and was only waiting for issuance of his certificate of title but the 1^st respondent instead chased away all the squatters and transferred the land into his names.


That instead of settling all the squatters, the 1^st respondent chased all of them from the land including the 1^st applicant and that his actions led to the revocation of the grant of powers of attorney by the 2^nd respondent which prompted the 1^st respondent to institute Civil Suit No.516 of 2021 against the $2^{nd}$ & $3^{rd}$ respondents challenging the said revocation.

That in his written statement of defence, the $2^{nd}$ respondent raised a counterclaim for among $\mathsf{S}$ others, declaratory orders that the 1^st respondent's actions pursuant to the grant of powers of attorney were null and void.

That after the demolition of her house and gardens by the 1^st respondent, the 1^st applicant filed Civil Suit No. 521 of 2021 against him for declaratory orders as well as a permanent injunction while the 2^nd applicant who was also a squatter on the land and had purchased a legal interest from the 2^nd respondent filed Civil Suit No.386 of 2021 against all 3 respondents seeking declaratory orders and a permanent injunction.

That based on the advice of her lawyers, it is the applicant's belief that all the suits arise from the same/similar series of transactions to wit; the grant of powers of attorney to the 1^st respondent by the 2^nd respondent, which resulted in the forceful eviction of the applicant as 15 well as the other squatters hence the 3 suits in which the $2^nd$ respondent is a key witness who needs to explain to the extent of the powers of attorney to court and that it is also important to determine who the rightful owner/landlord of the land is since there are two competing landlords following the grant of the powers of attorney.

In addition, that the consolidation of all the above suits is necessary to avoid multiple 20 proceedings in court over the same issues and that it is in the interest of justice that they be consolidated.

Representation:

$\mathbf{1}$

$\mathcal{L}$

The applicants were represented by *M/s Kavuma Kabenge & Co. Advocates* while the 3^rd respondent was represented by *M/s Ssekandi & Co. Advocates*.

Neither the $1$ ^st nor the $2$ ^nd respondents or their respective legal representatives filed any reply to oppose this application despite the fact that they were all served through their respective lawyers, as per the affidavit of service on record.

The 3^rd respondent on her part filed a reply in opposition to this application. There is no evidence however that she served it to the applicant. The applicants did not file any rejoinder to her reply since they had not been served. This application is accordingly uncontested.

Consideration of the application by court.

The main issue for consideration is whether or not the applicants have established sufficient grounds for consolidation of the suits.

$2$ Orlong

Consolidation of suits is generally governed by the Civil Procedure Rules S. I 71-1 under Order 11 rule (1) of the CPR, which stipulates that:

"Where two or more suits are pending in the same court in which the same or similar questions of law or fact are involved, the court may, either upon the application of one of the parties or of its own motion, at its discretion, and upon such terms as may seem fit-

- a) order a consolidation of those suits; and - b) direct that further proceedings in any of the suits be stayed until further order." - It is well established that where two or three suits are filed involving the same parties and 10 arising from the same cause of action, they should either be consolidated for purpose of determining liability or only one of them, first in point of time heard first. (See: Teopista Kyebitama v Damiyano Batuma (1976) HCB 276, Luyimbazi Saul vs Mukasa Benon & others MA No.351 of 2021) - Ordinarily, consolidation of suits should be ordered where there are common questions of 15 law or fact, consolidation of suits should not be ordered where there are deep differences between the claims and defence in each action. (See: Stumberg and another v Potgieter $(1970)$ EA 323)

Civil Suits No.516 and 521 of 2021

$\mathbf{1}$

$\mathbf{A} = \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A}$

$\mathsf{S}$

$\overline{C}$

Civil Suits No.516 and 521 of 2021 according to the Electronic Court Case Management 20 Information System (ECCMIS), both suits were initially filed in this court on 28^th May, 2021 and allocated to this court.

In High Court Civil Suit No.516 of 2021, the 1st respondent sued the 2nd respondent seeking among others a declaration that he (1st respondent) is entitled to 35% of the land

- recovered by him in respect of land comprised in Busiro Block 435 Plot 8, 10, 19 and 96 25 land at Bukoyo; a declaration that part of the land recovered that was retained by the plaintiff/1^st respondent herein forms part of the 35% that he is entitled to according to the memorandum of understanding executed between the 1st & 2nd respondent and that the certificates of title advanced by the 1^st respondent to the 2^nd respondent make up 65% of the - land that the $2^nd$ respondent is entitled to; a further declaration that the defendant/ $2^nd$ 30 respondent has no interest whatsoever in the land that constitutes the 35% retained by the $1^st$ respondent.

In High Court Civil Suit No.521 of 2021, the 1st applicant sued the 1st respondent for trespass, detinue and conversion. She sought a permanent injunction restraining the defendant (1^st respondent), his agents and those deriving authority from him, any further 35

Jubal

trespass and interfering with the lawful occupancy of the kibanja situated Busiro Block 435 Plot 96 land at Bukoyo measuring approximately 5 acres.

High Court Civil Suit No.386 of 2021

$\bullet$

- High Court Civil Suit No.386 of 2021 on the other hand was initially filed in this court on 26^th April, 2021, seeking among others a declaration that the plaintiff therein, the 2^nd $\mathsf{S}$ applicant herein was the lawful owner of the suit land comprised in Busiro Block 435 Plots 462 & 463 land at Bukaya; a declaration that the $2^{nd}$ & $3^{rd}$ defendants therein, (the $1^{st}$ & 3^rd respondents herein) fraudulently got registered as proprietors of the suit land and an order for cancellation of their registration as proprietors of the suit land. - It is quite evident from the plaints in the above suits that the suit property comprising the 10 subject matter in all three suits is the same that is to say; the suit property claimed by the applicants to wit a kibanja situate in plot 96 and that plots 462 & 463 claimed by the 2^nd applicant emanated from the subdivision of plot 96.

It is also noteworthy that one of the plots of land claimed by the 1^st respondent as part of the land forming part of the 35% of the land he is entitled to is plot 96. All the three suits relate 15 to one transaction to wit; the grant of and validity of the exercise of powers of attorney to the $1^st$ respondent by the $2^nd$ respondent which resulted in the eviction, transfer and institution of the above suits.

This court's determination of the legality of the said transaction in Civil Suit No.516 of 2021

would have a direct bearing on the prosecution and outcome of Civil Suit No.386 & 521 of 20 2021 as the same would determine the reliefs that the applicants and respondents are entitled to.

Courts of law are enjoined to settle all manner of disputes to effective conclusion. The fundamental consideration is to enable the court to effectually and completely deal with all matters brought before it and to avoid multiplicity of proceedings. See: Kololo Curring Co.

$25$ Ltd. vs. West Mengo Co-op Union Ltd. [1981] HCB 60.

I therefore allow this application and order that from the date of this, my order, HCCS NO. 386 of 2021, HCCS 516 of 2021 and HCCS NO.521 of 2021 are consolidated and shall be heard by this same court, to be effected with the guidance of this court during a scheduling conference that is to be fixed before the Registrar of this court.

Each party shall meet their own costs.

I so order.

(lehaly

.............

Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya ${\it Judge}$

$14^{th}$ July, 2022.

$\mathsf{S}$

Delivered by email Delivered by email Delivered $\frac{13}{7}/2022$ .