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Uganda Judgment

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Nakamya v Nakityo and 4 Others (Miscellaneous Application No. 1944 of 2021) [2021] UGHCLD 185 (20 December 2021)

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01

Holding and result

The court found that the applicant, having obtained letters of administration for the estate of the late Benna Muwanga, is the proper legal representative entitled to be substituted as appellant in Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 and to prosecute or defend all related applications. The law under the Succession Act and Civil Procedure Rules supports substitution of a deceased party by their legal representative. The respondents did not object, and the applicant demonstrated a legitimate interest in the pending matters. The court therefore granted the application for substitution and allowed the applicant to proceed in all related applications.

Court disposition

application granted

Orders

  • The applicant, Nakamya Sylvia, is substituted as appellant in Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 in place of the deceased Benna Muwanga.
  • The applicant is allowed to prosecute or defend all applications arising from Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016.
  • Costs of the application to be in the cause.

02

Material facts

Parties

Nakamya Sylvia

Applicant Counsel: M/s Sserwada & Co. Advocates

Nakityo Teddy

Respondent Counsel: M/s Prudens Law Advocates

Namukasa Racheal

Respondent Counsel: M/s Prudens Law Advocates

Nalunkuuma Annet

Respondent Counsel: M/s Prudens Law Advocates

Kivumbi John

Respondent Counsel: M/s Prudens Law Advocates

Ssonko Fred

Respondent Counsel: M/s Prudens Law Advocates

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Substitution of Party Due to Death of Appellant

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The applicant argued that she is the biological daughter and administrator of the estate of the late Benna Muwanga, the original appellant. She obtained letters of administration and seeks to be substituted as appellant and to prosecute or defend all related applications, as there is a pending application (Miscellaneous Application No.2001 of 2018) requiring representation of the deceased's estate.
Respondent
The respondents, through the 1st respondent, agreed that the late Benna Muwanga passed away before determination of Miscellaneous Application No.2001 of 2018. They did not object to the substitution, acknowledging that the applicant, as legal representative, should replace the deceased to enable the court to proceed.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Section 180 of the Succession Act

    The executor or administrator of a deceased person is his or her legal representative for all purposes.

  2. 02

    Section 264 of the Succession Act

    After a grant of letters of administration, only the person to whom the grant is made has power to sue or prosecute any suit as the representative of the deceased.

  3. 03

    Order 24 rule 3(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules

    Court may, on application, cause the legal representative of a deceased defendant to be made a party and proceed with the suit.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the applicant, having obtained letters of administration for the estate of the late Benna Muwanga, is the proper legal representative entitled to be substituted as appellant in Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 and to prosecute or defend all related applications. The law under the Succession Act and Civil Procedure Rules supports substitution of a deceased party by their legal representative. The respondents did not object, and the applicant demonstrated a legitimate interest in the pending matters. The court therefore granted the application for substitution and allowed the applicant to proceed in all related applications.

Obiter and limits

  • The directives for filing replies and rejoinders in Miscellaneous Application No.2001 of 2018 were not complied with, so the court will determine the application on the basis of the pleadings.
  • Ruling to be delivered on notice.

Court disposition

application granted

  • The applicant, Nakamya Sylvia, is substituted as appellant in Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 in place of the deceased Benna Muwanga.
  • The applicant is allowed to prosecute or defend all applications arising from Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016.
  • Costs of the application to be in the cause.

Source and reliance status

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

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Source document

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Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

HC: Land Division (Uganda)

Judgment

[2021] UGHCLD 185

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA

(LAND DIVISION)

MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO.1944 OF 2021

ARISING FROM CIVIL APPEAL NO.26 OF 2016

(ALL ARISING OUT OF MAKINDYE CHIEF MAGISTRATES' COURT CIVIL SUIT NO.77

OF 2008)

NAKAMYA SYLVIA::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

VERSUS

10 1. NAKITYO TEDDY

$\mathsf{S}$

- 2. NAMUKASA RACHEAL - 3. NALUNKUUMA ANNET - 4. KIVUMBI JOHN - 5. SSONKO FRED :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: - 15 Before: Lady Justice Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya.

RULING

Introduction:

The applicant, Mrs. Nakamya Sylvia filed this application under the provisions of Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act Cap.71, Order 24 rules 1, 3, 10 & 12 as well as Order 51 rule 6 and Order 52 rules 1 & 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules S. I 71-1 seeking for orders that;

- 1. This court be pleased to record the applicant herein as the appellant in Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 to replace BENNA MUWANGA a deceased person. - 25

2. The applicant herein be allowed to prosecute or defend all applications arising from Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016.

3. Costs of the Application be in the cause.

The grounds of the application are contained the affidavit in support of Ms. Nakamya Sylvia wherein she deponed that she is one of the biological daughters of the late Benna Muwanga who was the appellant in *Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016* and that she obtained a grant of letters of administration over the deceased's estate on 21st September, 2021 vide HCT-00-FD-AC-346 of 2019.

That while Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 was determined in favor of the late Benna Muwanga 35 who was the appellant therein, the respondents filed *Miscellaneous Application No.2001*

ambit

of 2018 which is still pending before this court, seeking clarification of the said judgement and that the applicant is willing to prosecute and defend all applications arising from the Civil Appeal No.26 of 2016 therefore it is in the best interest of justice that the deceased be substituted with the Applicant.

$\mathsf{S}$ In reply, the 1<sup>st</sup> respondent filed an affidavit on behalf of 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup> respondents wherein she stated that the late Benna Muwanga passed on before the determination of Miscellaneous Application No.2001 of 2018.

That on the advice of her lawyers, the 1<sup>st</sup> respondent believes that in the interest of justice, the late Benna Muwanga ought to be replaced by her legal representative, Ms. Nakamya Sylvia to enable court proceed with hearing the pending application.

Representation:

The applicant was represented by *M/s Sserwada & Co. Advocates* while the 1<sup>st</sup> respondent was represented by *M/s Prudens Law Advocates*.

The respondents were served through their counsel on 26<sup>th</sup> October, 2021, who acknowledged receipt of both and applicant's submissions and the directives of this court under which parties had been required to file the written submissions.

The respondents did not object to the application. Her counsel accordingly did not file any submissions. In dealing with this matter I have taken into consideration all pleadings as well as the submissions by the applicant.

20 Consideration of the application.

The Law.

Section 180 of the Succession Act stipulates that the executor or administrator, as the case may be, of a deceased person is his or her legal representative for all purposes.

Furthermore, section 264 of the Succession Act (supra) provides that after a grant of letters of administration, no other person other than to whom the same has been granted has power 25 to sue or prosecute any suit or otherwise act as the representative of the deceased until such grant has been recalled or revoked.

Order 24 rule 3 (1) empowers court, on an application made for that purpose, to cause the legal representative of the deceased defendant to be made a party and thereafter to proceed with the suit.

This court has noted that there is a pending application before this court to wit; Miscellaneous Application No. 2001 of 2018 which sought a clarification of the judgment in Civil Appeal No. 26 of 2016. The application had however been dismissed on 4th February, 2020, but later reinstated on 5<sup>th</sup> May, 2021, and is now still pending determination.

Chellorg

The record also shows that on 21<sup>st</sup> September, 2021, the applicant had obtained letters of administration of the estate of the late Benna Muwanga, vide: AC No. 346 of 2019, implying therefore that as a daughter of the deceased and administrator of her estate, the applicant has interest in the outcome of M. A 2001 of 2018.

The leave is therefore granted to make the substitution of the name of Benna Muwanga with $\mathsf{S}$ that of the applicant herein as the respondent in the reinstated application: M. A 2001 of 2018.

The applicants in M. A 2001 of 2018 had been directed by this court to file reply to the application within 14 days after delivery of the ruling which was delivered on 5<sup>th</sup> May, 2021; a rejoinder by 12<sup>th</sup> May, 2021.

Since the directives were not complied with, this court shall proceed to determine the said application on the basis of the pleadings. Ruling to be delivered on notice.

I so order.

Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya Judge 20<sup>th</sup> December, 2021.

Delver of on $\frac{13}{20}$ as by enail<br> $20|12|2021$ by enail<br> $20|12|2021$ <br> $50|12|2021$

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act Cap.71

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Order 24 rules 1, 3, 10 & 12 of the Civil Procedure Rules S.I 71-1

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Order 51 rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules S.I 71-1

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Order 52 rules 1 & 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules S.I 71-1

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 180 of the Succession Act

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 264 of the Succession Act

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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