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Tukube George William v Nabukenya Jesca and Commissioner Land Registration (Miscellaneous Application 893 of 2024) [2025] UGHCLD 80 (5 May 2025)
- Citation
- [2025] UGHCLD 80
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Alividza, J
- Case number
- Miscellaneous Application 893 of 2024
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- HC: Land Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Alividza, J
- Case number
- Miscellaneous Application 893 of 2024
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the Applicant had filed the summons for directions in March 2023, but the Registrar had not signed them, which prevented further progress in the suit. The delay was not attributable to the Applicant, and the interests of justice required that the suit be reinstated. The court exercised its inherent powers under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act to review the dismissal order and directed the Deputy Registrar to sign the summons for directions. No order was made as to costs.
Court disposition
application_granted
Orders
- Civil Suit No. 126 of 2023 is reinstated.
- Deputy Registrar is directed to sign the summons for directions.
- No order as to costs.
02
Material facts
Parties
Tukube George William
Applicant Counsel: T. Odeke & Co. AdvocatesNabukenya Jesca
RespondentCommissioner Land Registration
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the dismissal order in Civil Suit No. 126 of 2023 should be reviewed and the suit reinstated.
- 02
Whether the Applicant was prevented from prosecuting the suit due to failure by the Registrar to sign summons for directions.
- 03
Whether the interests of justice require reinstatement of the suit.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The Applicant argued that he filed the necessary summons for directions on 31st March 2023, but the Registrar had not signed them, preventing service on the Respondents. He contended that the dismissal of Civil Suit No. 126 of 2023 was premature and unjust, as he had taken all required steps and the delay was not his fault. He sought reinstatement of the suit and determination on its merits.
- Respondent
- The Respondents did not file any written submissions or reply to the Application.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 98, Civil Procedure Act
The court has inherent power to make orders necessary for the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of process.
- 02
Section 82, Civil Procedure Act
Review of court orders is permissible where sufficient cause is shown and interests of justice demand.
- 03
Order 46 rules 1 and 2, Civil Procedure Rules
Dismissal for want of prosecution should not occur where the applicant has taken reasonable steps and delay is attributable to court administration.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the Applicant had filed the summons for directions in March 2023, but the Registrar had not signed them, which prevented further progress in the suit. The delay was not attributable to the Applicant, and the interests of justice required that the suit be reinstated. The court exercised its inherent powers under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act to review the dismissal order and directed the Deputy Registrar to sign the summons for directions. No order was made as to costs.
Obiter and limits
- Applicants must actively follow up on administrative steps to avoid procedural delays.
- The court prioritizes substantive justice over technicalities where delay is not the party's fault.
Court disposition
application_granted
- Civil Suit No. 126 of 2023 is reinstated.
- Deputy Registrar is directed to sign the summons for directions.
- No order as to costs.
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)
MISC. APP NO. 893 OF 2024
(ARISING FROM CIVIL SUIT NO.126 OF 2023)
TUKUBE GEORGE WILLIAM::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(BENEFICIARY OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE CHARLES $MWASE$ )
VERSUS
NABUKENYA JESCA:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: COMMISSIONER LAND REGISTRATION:::::::::::2<sup>ND</sup> RESPONDENT BEFORE HON LADY JUSTICE ELIZABETH JANE ALIVIDZA RULING
REPRESENTATION
The Applicant was represented by $M/s$ T. Odeke & Co. Advocates.
The Respondents were unrepresented.
INTRODUCTION
The Applicant brought this Application under Section 33 of the Judicature Act, Section 82 and 98 of the Civil Procedure Act and Order 46 rules 1 and 2 and Order 52 rules 1 and 3 of the Civil Procedure *Rules* seeking orders that;
- a) This honorable Court be pleased to review a dismissal order in Civil Suit No. 126 of 2023 be reinstated and determined on merit - b) Costs of this Application be provided for.
The grounds of this Application are contained in the Notice of Motion and the Applicant's Affidavit in support of this Application.
BACKGROUND
The Applicant fited Civil suit No. 126 of 2023 seeking for orders inter alia, a declaration that the suit land subdivided into Kibuga Block 21 plot 682 land at Busega was transferred fraudulently and still forms part of the estate of the late Charles Mwasa, an order for cancellation of all entries and actions made affecting the deceased land formerly comprised in Kibuga Block 2lPlot 312 now plots 682 and 683, an order for the cancellation of all entries on the certificate of title comprised in Kibuga Plot 682 issued to the l"t Respondent.
The 1"t Respondent filed a written statement of defence on the 9th March 2023. The 2"d respondent filed a written statement of defence out of time on the 1"t Jwne 2023.
The Applicant contends that he extracted summons for directions on 31"t March 2023 however the Registrar is yet to sign the same to enable the Applicant to effect service onto the Respondents.
Then this court dismissed civil suit No.l26 of 2023 on the 21"1 February 2024 for failure of the Applicant to extract summons for directions.
RESOLUTION
This Court issued directives for the parties to file reply to the Application and written submissions. Only the Applicant filed written
<sup>2</sup> ak
submissions that I have taken into consideration in determining this Application.
I will a1low this Application and note that whereas the Deputy Registrar ought to have given consideration to the summons for directions filed, the Applicant ought to have made follow-ups on the summons for directions with the office of the Deputy Registrar having received a ruling for the temporar5r injunction to ensure that the summons for directions are signed having filed the same in March 2023.
This court is alive to Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act that gives this Court power to make such orders as may be necessary for the ends ofjustice or to prevent abuse ofthe process ofthe Court.
Therefore in the interest of justice, Civil suit No. 126 of 2023 is reinstated and the Deputy Registrar directed to sign the summons for directions.
Application is granted and I make no order as to costs.
Ita <sup>L</sup>
Elizabeth Jane Aliuidz a
Judge
Sth Mo.g 2025
$5^{th}$ May
Ruling delivered on ECCMIS
lindzo $\bigcirc$
Elizabeth Jane Alividza
Judge
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