Okeng Washington v Attorney General (Civil Suit No.16 Of 2004) (Civil Suit No.16 of 2004) [2008] UGHC 78 (25 February 2008)

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)}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA }{\b\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 \par }{\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 HOLDEN AT GULU \par HCT \endash 02 \endash CV \endash CS \endash 0016 \endash 2004 \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 OKENG WASHING}{\b\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 TON :::::::::::::::::}{\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 :::::::PLAINTIFF \par }{\b\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 VERSUS \par }{\b\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid7014125

{ \b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL) \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}MIKE OKELLO\tab \tab \tab )::::::::::DEFENDANTS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\b\ul\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 BEFORE HON}{\b\ul\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 .}{\b\ul\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 JUSTICE REMMY K. KASULE \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\b\ul\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 RULING \par }{\b\insrsid8213024\charrsid3951854 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\insrsid7014125\charrsid3951854 \tab Two preliminary objections have been raised by defence counsel, Mr. Joseph Nyeko, against the plaintiff \rquote s plaint. Both are points of law. \par }{\insrsid14619407\charrsid3951854 \tab \tab The first is that the plaintiff does not state in what capacity he is bringing the suit. Section 6(1) of the Law Reform(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap, 79 provides that an action like the one brought by the plaintiff must

be for the benefit of the deceased\rquote s family members and has to be brought either by and in the name of the executor/administrator}{\insrsid4285980\charrsid3951854 or a family member of the deceased. \par \tab \tab Admittedly it is not specifically pleaded in the plaint in what capacity the plaintiff is bringing the action. However, }{\insrsid1515959\charrsid3951854 taking the whole plaint together it comes out that plaintiff is bringing the action as a family member of the deceased. This is why, for example, he spent so much }{\insrsid7160810\charrsid3951854 on the deceased estate by way of special damages claimed in paragraph 7 of the plaint.}{\insrsid14619407\charrsid3951854 \par }{\insrsid10630146\charrsid3951854 \tab \tab At any rate, under section 1(}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 c)}{\insrsid10630146\charrsid3951854 (ii) of the Law }{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 Reform (}{\insrsid10630146\charrsid3951854 Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. 79, the plaintiff is entitled to sue as, one, under the law or custom, is responsible for administering the estate of the deceased person. \par }{\insrsid11548061\charrsid3951854 \tab \tab This court, is enjoined to administer substantial justice without undue regard to technicalities. Applying this principle to this case, court rejects the first preliminary objection. \par \tab \tab The second objection to the plaint is

more substantial. It is that the plaintiff\rquote s action is time barred in terms of section 6(3) of the Law Reform (}{\insrsid5712274\charrsid3951854 Miscellaneous}{\insrsid11548061\charrsid3951854 Provision) Act, Cap. 79. }{\insrsid5712274\charrsid3951854 The}{\insrsid11548061\charrsid3951854 section provides that every action like the one constituting the claim of the plaintiff shall be commenced within twelve }{ \insrsid10647055\charrsid3951854 calendar months after the death of the deceased person.}{\insrsid11548061\charrsid3951854 \par }{\insrsid5712274\charrsid3951854 \tab \tab The deceased, Francis Obira, the subject of the claim died on 26.06.2003 and th e suit was filed in court on 01.03.2004, more than a month outside the stipulated period of 12 calendar months. There is nothing pleaded in the plaint to bring out any disability; so as to bring the c}{\insrsid882175\charrsid3951854 au}{ \insrsid5712274\charrsid3951854 se of action within time. \par \tab \tab Plaintiff\rquote s counsel in reply to the point, just requested court to do substantial justice so as to make the ends of justice to be met. \par }{\insrsid4458543\charrsid3951854 \tab \tab But this is a point of substantial law. A suit that is time bared by statute must be rejected by court because in such a suit the court is barred by law from granting any remedy or relief: see

}{ \b\i\ul\insrsid4458543\charrsid3951854 IGA VS MAKERERE UNIVERSITY 91972) EA 65. \par }{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 In considering whether or not a plaint is time barred or discloses no cause of action the court must look only at the plaint and nothing else: See }{\b\i\ul\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 ONESIFOKO BAMUWAYIRA & 2 ORS VERSUS ATTORNEY GENERAL (1973) HCB 87. }{\b\i\ul\insrsid5712274\charrsid3951854 \par }{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 A plaint that is deficient in that it shows that the action is time barred or discloses no cause of action must be rejected: \par \tab }{\b\i\ul\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 PEARL MOTORS LIMITED VERSUS UGANDA COMMERCIAL BANK (1998) III KARL 1 \par }{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid1378020\charrsid3951854 It i s a prerequisite of a party who seeks to have substantial justice done to him or her that that party substantially complies with the law, more so where that law is the written law. This is why Article 126(2) of the constitution is wo}{ \insrsid882175\charrsid3951854 rd}{\insrsid1378020\charrsid3951854 ed as it is:-}{\insrsid2173074\charrsid3951854 \par }\pard \qj

\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid7421694 {\b\i\insrsid1378020\charrsid3951854 \'93 In a djudicating cases of both a civil and criminal nature, the courts shall, subject to the law, apply the following principles- (e) substantive justice shall be administered without undue regard to technicalities\'94}{\insrsid1378020\charrsid3951854 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\insrsid7681119\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid7681119\charrsid3951854 It is to be noted that section 6 (3) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap.79, operates on its }{\insrsid882175\charrsid3951854 own}{\insrsid7681119\charrsid3951854 , unaffected by the provisions of the Limitation Act, Cap.80. This is the case because section 32 of the Limitation Act, cap. 80, provides that the Limitation Act shall not apply to any action for which a period of Limitation is prescribed by any other } {\insrsid12329838\charrsid3951854 enactment}{\insrsid7681119\charrsid3951854 . \par }{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 This court upholds the second preliminary objection as valid. \par \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 Accordingly the plaint in this suit is rejected pursuant to }{\insrsid882175\charrsid3951854 O}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 rder 7 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

\par \tab }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \tab }{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 The defendant is awarded the costs of the rejected suit. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16588886 {\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 .................................. \par Remmy Kasule \par Judge \par 26}{\super\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 th}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 February 2008 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7014125 {\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 \par 26}{\super\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 th}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 February 2008 \par Stephen Ochan \endash court clerk \par Cox Ojuuku- principal state attorney }{\insrsid882175\charrsid3951854 f}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 or defendant \par Plaintiff and his counsel are absent \par Court: Ruling delivered. \par \par }{\insrsid16588886\charrsid3951854 \par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16588886 {\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 .................................. \par Remmy Kasule \par Judge \par 26}{\super\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 th}{\insrsid7421694\charrsid3951854 February 2008}{\insrsid1378020\charrsid3951854 \par }}