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Nassimbwa and 2 Others v Anwar Kalyowa and 2 Others (Civil Suit No. 464 of 2019) [2022] UGHCLD 117 (1 June 2022)
- Citation
- [2022] UGHCLD 117
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Nkonge, J
- Case number
- Civil Suit No. 464 of 2019
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Nkonge, J
- Case number
- Civil Suit No. 464 of 2019
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court determined that, given the dispute over the authenticity of several land sale agreements, it is necessary and just to subject the documents to handwriting expert analysis. Both parties consented to this approach, and the court will appoint a single expert to examine the agreements, verify signatures, compare handwriting, and advise on the likely period of document creation. The expert's report will be shared with both parties, and the costs of the analysis will be borne jointly. This process is to be completed before the substantive hearing of the suit to ensure a fair and efficient trial.
Court disposition
interlocutory orders granted for expert analysis of documents before trial
Orders
- The agreement dated 10th December 1974 is to be availed to court for inspection by counsel for the plaintiff on 30th May 2022 at noon.
- All disputed agreements shall be left in the custody of court for examination and analysis by a handwriting expert appointed by the Registrar.
- The expert shall verify the signatures of vendor and purchaser on the agreement dated 10th December 1974 and compare with other agreements dated 17th November 1972, 17th December 1972, and 6th August 1974.
- The defendant's side shall avail a copy of the document signed by the late Juma Kalyowa (appearing as Kiryowa).
- The expert shall advise, if possible, on the estimated period in which the documents were made.
- Each party shall be availed a copy of the expert's report.
- The costs of the analysis shall be jointly met by the parties.
- The Registrar is to ensure the expert files a report within two weeks from 30th May 2022.
02
Material facts
Parties
Nassimbwa Halima
Plaintiff Counsel: Okong InnocentJuma Kasujja
Plaintiff Counsel: Okong InnocentAmin Senfuka (suing as Administrators of the Estate of the Late Hajji Seifu Kasujja Bin Abdallah)
Plaintiff Counsel: Okong InnocentAnwar Kalyowa
Defendant Counsel: Kagimu DuncanMohammed Kalyowa Kaburiwazi
Defendant Counsel: Kagimu DuncanAziz Kalyowa
Defendant Counsel: Kagimu Duncan03
Procedural history
Posture
Civil Suit / Interlocutory Ruling on Document Inspection and Expert Analysis
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the disputed agreements are authentic and properly executed.
- 02
Whether the documents should be subjected to handwriting expert analysis before trial.
- 03
Whether both parties should have access to the expert's report and share costs.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The plaintiffs have always been ready to present the original agreements for inspection and object to the procedure where consent is subject to confirmation by experts. They request that all necessary expert analysis be conducted before the hearing, including analysis of the agreement dated 10th December 1974.
- Respondent
- The defendants request that the agreements be subjected to scrutiny by a handwriting expert to verify signatures and authenticity. They agree to the appointment of an expert by the court and request that the agreement dated 10th December 1974 be included in the analysis.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Uganda Evidence Act, Section 45
Documents in dispute may be subjected to expert analysis to determine authenticity and validity.
- 02
Civil Procedure Rules, Order 18 Rule 16
Court may appoint an expert and direct the manner of inspection and analysis of documents in the interests of justice.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court determined that, given the dispute over the authenticity of several land sale agreements, it is necessary and just to subject the documents to handwriting expert analysis. Both parties consented to this approach, and the court will appoint a single expert to examine the agreements, verify signatures, compare handwriting, and advise on the likely period of document creation. The expert's report will be shared with both parties, and the costs of the analysis will be borne jointly. This process is to be completed before the substantive hearing of the suit to ensure a fair and efficient trial.
Obiter and limits
- The court notes that both parties have demonstrated willingness to cooperate in the inspection and analysis process.
- The absence of prior surveys and the need for locus visit are also noted for future proceedings.
Court disposition
interlocutory orders granted for expert analysis of documents before trial
- The agreement dated 10th December 1974 is to be availed to court for inspection by counsel for the plaintiff on 30th May 2022 at noon.
- All disputed agreements shall be left in the custody of court for examination and analysis by a handwriting expert appointed by the Registrar.
- The expert shall verify the signatures of vendor and purchaser on the agreement dated 10th December 1974 and compare with other agreements dated 17th November 1972, 17th December 1972, and 6th August 1974.
- The defendant's side shall avail a copy of the document signed by the late Juma Kalyowa (appearing as Kiryowa).
- The expert shall advise, if possible, on the estimated period in which the documents were made.
- Each party shall be availed a copy of the expert's report.
- The costs of the analysis shall be jointly met by the parties.
- The Registrar is to ensure the expert files a report within two weeks from 30th May 2022.
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 DIVISION)
(CIVIL SUIT NO. 464 OF 2019)
1. NASSIMBWA HALIMA
2. JUMA KASUJJA
3. AMIN SENFUKA (SUING AS Administrators of the Estate of the Late Hajji Seifu Kasujja Bin Abdallah) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Versus
1. ANWAR KALYOWA
2. MOHAMMED KALYOWA KABURIWAZI
3. AZIZ KALYOWA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BEFORE: LADY JUSTICE ALEXANDRA NKONGE RUGADYA
Court Clerk: C. Nakayima
Okong Innocent for Plaintiffs
Kagimu Duncan for defendants. We have not yet inspected the documents. No response from Okongo when I asked. Interest of time, can subject the same to hand writing expert: for now can be marked as "Id".
Okongo:
Last here agreed that defendant counsel was to attend chambers of plaintiff counsel on 6<sup>th</sup> April 2022, at 2.00 pm. We waited. No phone call, no communication. He wrote last week seeking date for inspection. However time was too short for plaintiff to organize for that inspection.
We are not comfortable with the procedure he suggests that the consent will be subject to confirmation by experts. All that should be done before the hearing.
(I whole
Kagimu:-
6<sup>th</sup> April 2022. It was date for them to file Trial Bundle and Witness Statement.
My Client had been sick, this continued till 2 weeks ago. We had not set a date for the meeting.
Court:-
Noted:
No surveys done.
Parties are agreeable to survey/locus visit.
RULING:
Following the submissions from either side, it appears this matter cannot take off.
From Counsel for the plaintiff's submission, his side has always been ready to present the documents for inspection. They presented 2 original agreements: dated 17<sup>th</sup> December 1972 and the second one: 17<sup>th</sup> November 1972. E. Mpanga was selling portions of land to Bin Abdulla Kasujja. The third document is dated 6<sup>th</sup> August 1974, not in its original form.
Counsel for the defendant's prayer is to subject the documents to the scrutiny of the handwriting expert, which counsel for the plaintiff does not object to. For the plaintiff however the agreement dated 10<sup>th</sup> December 1974 should also be subjected to the analysis by the expert.
This court's decision, as consented to by both sides is that the expert should be the same and to be appointed by this court. He/she is to be summoned to attend as a court witness.
1. Accordingly as prayed by counsel for the defendants, the agreement dated 10<sup>th</sup> December 1974 is to be availed to court for inspection by counsel for the plaintiff on 30th May 2022, at noon.
$\mathsf{Z}$
abhay
The documents shall bc lcft within thc custody of court, and for purposc of cxamination and analysis by thc cxpcrt appointed by thc Registrar, who will file a report within two wecks from 30l5/2022.
Thc spccific instructions to thc handwriting cxpcrt arc
- 7. To oerifg the signature of uend.or Jor the agreenent dated 1Uh December 7974, as roell as signature oJ purchase. - 2. The defendant's side to auail a copg of the document signed bg the late Juma Kalgowa, uhich nanne dppedrs as Kiryoua in that agreement. - 3. Cornpare the three agreements dated 7Vh Noaentber, 7972, the other 7Vh December 7972 and 6th August 7974 and establish their authenticitg through the handuriting and signatures appearing on e4ch. - 4. It possible, aduise on the estitnated period/gears in uhich the documents utere made, - 5. Each side shall be a oailed uith a copg oJ the report, - 6. The costs o.f the ozalysis shall be jointlg met bg the parties.
Original agrccmcnt datcd lOl12l1974 bctwccn Mpanga Ii. and. Juma Kiryowa
prcscntcd to court on 3llOSl2022.
^,".,4#,f6ilge Rugadya
JUDGE
1/6/2022.
$\frac{\bullet}{\cdot}$ $\overline{a}$
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