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Uganda Judgment

Commercial Court of Uganda

Shell Kasese Services Ltd and Ors v The Cooperative Bank Ltd - (HTC-00-CC-MA 317 of 2005) [2005] UGCommC 23 (18 May 2005)

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01

Holding and result

The court found that the applicants raised bona fide triable issues regarding the sale of the security at an alleged undervalue, supported by conflicting valuation reports on both the market value and the built-up area of the property. The court held that these matters could not be resolved without a trial and that the applicants' cross action, if successful, could offset the respondent's claim. The court rejected the respondent's argument that such issues must be tried separately and found no authority barring a cross action in these circumstances. Accordingly, unconditional leave to appear and defend was granted, with costs to abide the outcome of the main suit.

Court disposition

application allowed

Orders

  • Unconditional leave to appear and defend the main suit is granted to the applicants.
  • The written statement of defence shall be filed within 10 days from the date hereof.
  • Costs of this application shall abide the outcome of the main suit.

02

Material facts

Parties

Shell Kasese Services Ltd

Applicant Counsel: Bernard Bamwine

J.W.K. Byakwaga

Applicant Counsel: Bernard Bamwine

Collin Byakwaga

Applicant Counsel: Bernard Bamwine

The Cooperative Bank Ltd (In Liquidation)

Respondent Counsel: Mathias Sekatawa

Amounts and remedies

  • Applicant's Property Sale Price: UGX 82,000,000
  • Applicant's 1997 Property Valuation: UGX 500,000,000
  • Respondent's Property Valuation: UGX 132,000,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Application for Unconditional Leave to Appear and Defend

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The applicants contend that the security provided to the respondent was sold at a gross undervalue, far below its market value, and that the sale proceeds should have satisfied the respondent's claim. They rely on a 1997 valuation of over Shs500,000,000, compared to the respondent's valuation of Shs132,000,000 and the actual sale price of Shs82,000,000. The applicants argue that these discrepancies raise triable issues and justify unconditional leave to defend.
Respondent
The respondent denies that the security was sold at an undervalue and argues that any claim regarding undervalue must be brought as a separate action for damages by originating summons. The respondent also asserts that the applicants have admitted the amount owing, and if leave is granted, it should be conditional upon payment of the admitted sum.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Order 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules (Uganda)

    Where there is a bona fide triable issue, unconditional leave to defend should be granted.

  2. 02

    General principles of civil procedure; no contrary authority cited

    A cross action for damages for sale of security at undervalue is not barred and may be raised if it offsets the plaintiff's claim.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the applicants raised bona fide triable issues regarding the sale of the security at an alleged undervalue, supported by conflicting valuation reports on both the market value and the built-up area of the property. The court held that these matters could not be resolved without a trial and that the applicants' cross action, if successful, could offset the respondent's claim. The court rejected the respondent's argument that such issues must be tried separately and found no authority barring a cross action in these circumstances. Accordingly, unconditional leave to appear and defend was granted, with costs to abide the outcome of the main suit.

Obiter and limits

  • The question of whether the respondent in selling the security did so at a reasonable price is one that can only be settled after a trial of all issues connected thereto.
  • No authority has been drawn to my attention that bars the bringing of a cross action against the plaintiff in respect of damages for selling property as security at an undervalue.

Court disposition

application allowed

  • Unconditional leave to appear and defend the main suit is granted to the applicants.
  • The written statement of defence shall be filed within 10 days from the date hereof.
  • Costs of this application shall abide the outcome of the main suit.

Source and reliance status

Commercial Court of Uganda

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Source document

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Judgment text

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Source document

Commercial Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2005] UGCommC 23

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UGANDA}{\b\insrsid4594768\charrsid6452746 \par }{\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 \par HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par \par COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION \par \par HTC-00-CC-MA-317-2005 \par \par (Arising from HCT-00-CC-CS-0140-2005) \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 SHELL KASESE SERVICES LTD }{\b\insrsid11607666 }{ \b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 APPLICANTS \par J}{\b\insrsid11607666 .}{\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 W}{\b\insrsid11607666 .}{\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 K}{\b\insrsid11607666 .}{\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 BYAKWAGA \par COLLIN BYAKWAGA \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6452746 {\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 \par THE COOPERATIVE BANK LTD }{\b\insrsid11607666 }{\b\insrsid12345420\charrsid6452746 RESPONDENT \par (In Liquidation) \par \par \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid12345420\charrsid11607666 BEFORE: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE F}{\b\ul\insrsid11607666\charrsid11607666 .}{\b\ul\insrsid12345420\charrsid11607666 M}{\b\ul\insrsid11607666\charrsid11607666 .}{\b\ul\insrsid12345420\charrsid11607666 S}{ \b\ul\insrsid11607666\charrsid11607666

.}{\b\ul\insrsid12345420\charrsid11607666 EGONDA-NTENDE \par \par RULING \par }{\insrsid12345420 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid6452746 \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\pararsid5601963 { \insrsid6452746 The applicants are seeking unconditional leave to appear and defend the main suit and that costs of this application abide the main suit. The application is brought by notice of motion with the affidavit of Applicant No. 2 in support thereof. The main ground of this application is that the applicants intend to file a cross action against the respondents for having sold the security provided to the respondent at an undervalue, far below its market value, whereas its worth should have satisfied the respondents claim against the applicants. }{\insrsid12345420

\par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid6452746 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\insrsid6452746 The Respondent opposed this application, filing an affidavit in reply sworn by Mr. Ben Sekabira, }{\insrsid9967414 an }{ \insrsid6452746 agent of the respondent.}{\insrsid9967414 The Respondents deny that the security to the loan was sold at an undervalue. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid9967414 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}Mr. Benard Bamwine, learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the sec urity of the applicant was sold at Shs82,000,000.00 which was an undervalue, given that }{\insrsid4854711 the }{\insrsid9967414 1997 valuation of the said property had put its value at over Shs500,000,000.00. The valuation of the responsents put the market value of the security at Shs132,000 ,000.00 which was so out of range with the 1997 value. The applicants valuation report records the built up area to be 1462 square metres wheras the respondent valuation records the built up area as slighly over 1000 square metres. This raises a triable i ssue for which the applicants should be gran}{\insrsid4854711 t}{\insrsid9967414 ed unconditional leave to appear to defend. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid9967414 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}Mr. Mathias Sekatawa, learned

counsel for the Respondent, submitted that }{\insrsid4195796 this application raised no triable issue. The question of whether the sale of the security was at an undervalue is matter that can only be tried in a separate action for damages. This must be brought by originating summons only. Secondly Mr. Sekatawa argued that admission had been made of the amount owing to the Respondent from the applicants. If l eave were to be granted it should be conditional upon payment of the amount admitted.}{\insrsid9967414 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid12287420 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 5.\tab}}{\insrsid12287420 No authority has been drawn to my attention that bars the bringing of a cross action against the plaintiff in respect of damages for selling property as security at an und ervalue. The applicant has argued that had the respondent acted properly, the sale of the security would have resulted in payment of the whole outstanding debt to the plaintiiff/respondent. Each party has submitted a valuation report of the security in qu e stion, and it is clear that there is a conflict between the two reports on both the market value of the security and consqeuntly the forced sale value, and on the area of the built up areas of the security. The difference in the bult up area is approximat ely 0.344 Square Metres.}{\insrsid4195796 \par

{\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid12287420 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 6.\tab}}{\insrsid12287420 I am satisified that triable issues are raised upon these matters which cannot be resolved without a trial. And indeed the question of whether the respondent in selling the security did so at a reasonable price is one that can onl y be settled after a trial of all issues connected thereto. As it is contended that the sale ought to have realised the outstanding amount, and more, there exists a cross action that would offset the whole of the plaintiffs claim. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\langnp2057\insrsid12287420 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 7.\tab}In the circumstances I will a}{\insrsid3689822 llow the applicant\rquote s application for unconditional leave to appear and defend the main suit. The written statement of defence shall be filed within 10 days from the date hereof. Costs shall abide the outcome of the main suit.}{\insrsid12287420 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5601963 {\insrsid3689822 Dated at Kampala this 18}{\super\insrsid3689822\charrsid3689822 th}{\insrsid3689822 May 2005 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3689822 {\insrsid3689822 \par \par \par \par \par FMS Egonda-Ntende \par Judge \par }}

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Authorities

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

Order 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules (Uganda)

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