Omo Simon v Amon Tomusange (Civil Suit No 201 of 2004) (Civil Suit No 201 of 2004) [2004] UGHC 3 (31 December 2004)

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\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid12549209 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\aftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid12549209 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid880773\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\pvpara\phmrg\posxc\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid880773 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs18\insrsid13588365 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs18\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid10374226 1}}}{\cs18\insrsid13588365 \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid13588365 \par }}{\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\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\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA HOLDEN AT NAKAWA \par }{\b\fs24\insrsid880773\charrsid880773 CIVIL SUIT NO}{\b\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 201 OF 2004 \par }\pard\plain \s1\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \b\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 OMO SIMON}{ \b0\fs24\insrsid880773 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.}{\b0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 PLAINTIFF \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 AMON TOMUSANGE}{\fs24\insrsid880773

\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85 ..}{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 DEFENDANT \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 {\b\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \par BEFORE HON. JUSTICE GIDEON TINYINONDI: \par \par RULING: \par }{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \par }\pard\plain \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \f38\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 On 23/09/2004 t he Plaintiff filed the present suit seeking special and general damages for wrongful and malicious eviction of him by the Defendant, damages for loss of property and wrongful detention and trespass to his goods. \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 On 19/10/2004 the Defendant filed a written statement of defence with a counter claim. On 26/11/2004 the Plaintiff/Defendant filed a reply to the written statement of defence and counter claim.}{\fs24\insrsid13983540 \par }{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 On 13/04/2006 the matter came up for hearing. Counsel for the Defendant

}{\fs24\insrsid880773\charrsid880773 applied}{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 to be discharged from the suit because since drafting the written statement of defence he had never again set eyes on the Defendant. Court obliged this application. \par \par }\pard\plain \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \f38\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 Thereafter Counsel for the Plaintiff informed court that on 14/10/2004 the Plaintiff obtained an interlocutory judgement. He applied for the Defendant\rquote s written statement of defence struck off on account of it having been filed out of time and without court\rquote s leave or consent by the Plaintiff. I reserved my ruling which I now give. If the Plaintiff had pressed for formal proof following the }{ \f0\fs24\insrsid880773\charrsid880773 Registrar\rquote s}{\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 order of 14/10/2004 court would have regarded him as seriously aggrieved and seeking justice. The Plaintiff did not but went ahead to file the said reply.

\par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \par In the circumstances I will cite the judgment in }{\b\i\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 P}{\b\i\fs24\ul\insrsid880773\charrsid880773 etro Kasule Vs Daniel S S Kato: (C A 13/51) [1952 \endash 1956] Vii 4 Lr }{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 where it was stated: \par \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin720\itap0\pararsid13983540 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \'93 The question should be, I think, given all that, how may justice best be done. Lord Justice Bowen in }{\b\i\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 Cropper v. Smith }{\b\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 [1884] 26 Ch. Div. At p.}{ \fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 }{\b\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 710}{\b\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 }{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 said \'93I know of no kind o f error or mistake which, if not fraudulent or intended to overreach, the Court ought not to correct, if it can be done without injustice to the other party.\'94 and \par }\pard\plain \s16\qj \li720\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin720\itap0\pararsid13983540

\f38\fs26\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \'93It seems to me that }{\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 where a defendant though in default appears}{\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 before the Court and indi cates that he has a defence, and shows the Court what that defence is, then if the defence disclosed has merits, and the plaintiff can reasonably be compensated by costs for the delay, it is proper for the Court to take steps to try the case upon the meri ts, both sides being given a hearing. There are a number of English cases which indicate how slow the Court should be to shut out a defendant who, though in default, has shown a defence and seeks to defend.\'94}{\f0\fs24\insrsid880773 }{ \f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 and}{\f0\fs24\insrsid880773 }{\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \'93In my view that is not the sole matter whic h must be considered in cases of this kind. The nature of the action should be considered, the defence if one has been brought to the notice of the Court, }{\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 however irregularly}{ \f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 , should be considered, the question as to whether the plaintiff can reasonably be compensated by costs for any delay occasioned should be considered, }{\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 and

finally}{ \f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 I think it should always be remembered that to deny the subject a hearing should be the last resort of a Court.\'94[Emphasis is mine] \par }\pard \s16\qc \li720\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin720\itap0\pararsid13983540 {\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 In this vein I will allow the Defendant to defend this suit but award costs fixed at Shs. 200,000/= to the Plaintiff in any event. \par \par }\pard\plain \s2\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \b\f38\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 Sgd:\tab Gideon Tinyinondi \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13983540 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \tab }{ \b\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 JUDGE.\tab \tab }{\fs24\insrsid13588365\charrsid880773 \par }}