S Mwijakubi and Ors v British American Tobacco Uganda Ltd (HCT-00-CC-MA 298 of 2005) [2005] UGCommC 17 (4 May 2005)

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\rsid658720\rsid2426498\rsid4594768\rsid4656572\rsid5509199\rsid7042057\rsid8455187 \rsid12259043\rsid14295470\rsid15534136\rsid16597272}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.6568;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author Egonda-Ntende}{\operator Harry Mak}{\creatim\yr2006\mo2\dy7\hr10\min14}{\revtim\yr2006\mo2\dy7\hr10\min14} {\printim\yr2005\mo4\dy29\hr13\min39}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords460}{\nofchars2622}{\*\company Courts of Judicature}{\nofcharsws3076}{\vern24579}} \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1800\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1 \jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct \asianbrkrule\rsidroot15534136\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0{\*\ftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid8455187 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\ftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid8455187 \chftnsepc \par }}{\*\aftnsep \pard\plain \ql

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)}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15534136 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid15534136 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par \par [COMMERCIAL DIVISION] \par \par \par HCT-00-CC-MA-0298 -2005 \par \par [Arising from HCT-00-CC-CS-286-2005] \par \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15534136 {\insrsid15534136 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO UGANDA LTD }{\insrsid14295470 APPLICANT}{\insrsid15534136 \par }{\insrsid14295470 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14295470 {\insrsid14295470 Versus \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15534136 {\insrsid14295470 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14295470 {\insrsid14295470 1. SEDRACH MWIJAKUBI RESPONDENTS \par 2. MUKITALE ASIIMWE \par 3. JOSHUA BYANGIRE \par 4. FENAKANSI BYABESIZA \par 5. SOLOMON KIIZA \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15534136 {\insrsid14295470 \par

}{\insrsid15534136 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid15534136\charrsid5659149 BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE FMS EGONDA-NTENDE \par \par RULING}{\b\ul\insrsid15534136 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14295470 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14295470 \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\pararsid16597272 { \insrsid14295470 The Applicant seeks in this application to st rike out the head suit filed by the respondents. In the alternative the applicant seeks an order declaring the respondents as representing nobody as plaintiffs in this suit. The applicant further seeks costs of the head suit from the respondents. This app lication is made under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act. It is supported by an affidavit of a one Albert Byamugisha.}{\insrsid2426498 }{\b\ul\insrsid2426498\charrsid2426498 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2426498 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\insrsid2426498 Two grounds are advanced in support of this application. Firstly, it is contended that no permission was sought }{\insrsid4656572 by }{ \insrsid2426498 the respondents or granted by the court for the plaintiffs to sue on behalf of the persons who appear on annexture \lquote B\rquote to the plaint. Secondly that the court did not give and has

not published notice of the institution of }{ \insrsid4656572 the }{\insrsid2426498 suit to the said persons either by personal service or public advertisement.}{\b\ul\insrsid14295470\charrsid2426498 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2426498 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}{\insrsid2426498 This application is opposed by the respondents. An affidavit sworn by Mr. Mulema Mukasa, an Advocate, was filed in support of the respondents}{\insrsid4656572 \rquote }{\insrsid2426498 position. The affidavit provides ample proof }{\insrsid4656572 of }{ \insrsid2426498 both the permission of the court granted to }{\insrsid4656572 the }{\insrsid2426498 respondents to bring this action in a representative capacity and the publication by the court of the notice to the persons on whose behalf this suit was brought in the Monitor Newspaper of 30}{\super\insrsid2426498\charrsid2426498 th}{\insrsid2426498 March 2005.}{\b\ul\insrsid2426498\charrsid2426498 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid658720 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}{\insrsid658720 Dr. Byamugisha}{\insrsid4656572 ,}{\insrsid658720 learned counsel for the applicant}{\insrsid4656572 ,}{\insrsid658720 submitted that this suit was brought in contravention of Order 1 Rule 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules since court had granted permission for an action to be brought on behalf of

2500 people and the list published had 2838 people. Mr. Muwema, le arned counsel for the respondents, submitted that the discrepancy in figures did not contravene any provisions of the law. The basis of the permission is not the exact number of the group of persons on whose behalf the action is brought but the common int erest between all of them.}{\b\ul\insrsid2426498\charrsid658720 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid658720 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 5.\tab}}{\insrsid658720 Representative actions are instituted to avoid a multiplicity of legal proceedings over the same subject matter where there are numerous individuals having interest in the same subject matter. The community or group on who behalf the action is brought does not have to be ascertained by exact figures as it is possible to bring an action on behalf of a }{\insrsid4656572 fluctuating}{\insrsid658720 group or community of individuals as Mr. Muwema pointed out. The discrepancy in the figures given in the court order and in the notice published in the media is not fatal to the representative action.}{\b\ul\insrsid658720\charrsid2426498 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2426498 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 6.\tab}}{\insrsid2426498 I am satisfied that this ap}{\insrsid16597272 plication is without merit. It }{\insrsid2426498 is dismissed accordingly with

costs to the respondents.}{\b\ul\insrsid16597272 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16597272 {\insrsid16597272 \par }{\insrsid16597272\charrsid16597272 Dated at Kampala this 4}{\super\insrsid16597272\charrsid16597272 th}{\insrsid16597272\charrsid16597272 day of May 2005 \par \par \par \par \par FMS Egonda-Ntende \par Judge \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4594768 \par }}