Tumwebaze v Kanyabwera (HCCS No.595 of 1997) [2001] UGHC 17 (27 October 2001)

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f200\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;} {\f201\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\f203\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\f204\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\f205\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);} {\f206\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\f207\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\f208\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255; \red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0; \red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 \styrsid11501042 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph

Font;}{\*\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}{ \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \styrsid11501042 Normal (Web);}} {\*\latentstyles\lsdstimax156\lsdlockeddef0}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid241851990\listhybrid{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid-1314470276 \'03(\'00);}{\levelnumbers\'02;}\fbias0 \fi-390\li750\jclisttab\tx750\lin750 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'01.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;} \fi-360\li1440\jclisttab\tx1440\lin1440 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'02.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li2160\jclisttab\tx2160\lin2160

} {\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'03.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li2880\jclisttab\tx2880\lin2880 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0 \leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'04.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li3600\jclisttab\tx3600\lin3600 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1 \levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'05.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li4320\jclisttab\tx4320\lin4320 }{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext \leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'06.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li5040\jclisttab\tx5040\lin5040 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713 \'02\'07.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li5760\jclisttab\tx5760\lin5760 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'08.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li6480 \jclisttab\tx6480\lin6480 }{\listname

;}\listid1003163082}{\list\listtemplateid1423609494\listhybrid{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid520671386 \'02\'00.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fbias0 \fi-360\li720\jclisttab\tx720\lin720 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'01.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;} \fi-360\li1440\jclisttab\tx1440\lin1440 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'02.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li2160\jclisttab\tx2160\lin2160 } {\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'03.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li2880\jclisttab\tx2880\lin2880 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0 \leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'04.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li3600\jclisttab\tx3600\lin3600 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1 \levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'05.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li4320\jclisttab\tx4320\lin4320

}{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext \leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'06.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li5040\jclisttab\tx5040\lin5040 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713 \'02\'07.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li5760\jclisttab\tx5760\lin5760 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'08.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li6480 \jclisttab\tx6480\lin6480 }{\listname ;}\listid1263300631}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid1263300631\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid1003163082\listoverridecount0\ls2}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid1070478\rsid3036265\rsid6769959\rsid6905684 \rsid9201705\rsid9333203\rsid9910922\rsid10954035\rsid11501042\rsid12389470\rsid12802101\rsid14770474\rsid16136491}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author DELL}{\operator

DELL} {\creatim\yr2009\mo11\dy10\hr16\min29}{\revtim\yr2009\mo11\dy11\hr9\min6}{\version10}{\edmins49}{\nofpages7}{\nofwords1932}{\nofchars11019}{\nofcharsws12926}{\vern24689}} \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\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\rsidroot11501042\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid9201705\sftnbj {\*\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 \s15\qc

\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par HCCS NO.595 OF 1997 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 PASTORI TUMWEBAZE\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85 .. PLAINTIFF \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 VERSUS \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 EDISON KANYABWERA\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.

DEFENDANT \par }{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 BEFORE: THE HON. MR. JUSTICE E. S. LUGAYIZI \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 JUDGMENT}{\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 The plaintiff sued the defendant for negligence and claimed both special and general damages on account of the loss he sustained. In his WSD the defendant denied the plaintiff\rquote s claim. The suit was fixed for hearing . However, despite the fact that the defendant was served, he did not show up for the hearing. As a result, the hearing proceeded on an exparte basis. The plaintiff called four witnesses in support of his case. They were Tumwebaze Pastori (PW1); No. 400 S ergeant Namisano (PW2); Herbert Barungi (PW3); and Wilson Katurebe (PW4). In brief terms those witnesses testified as follows. That Tumwebeze Pastori was the owner of a Toyota}{\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035 Hilux pick-up registration No. }{ \insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 UPP 482. His driv}{\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035 er for that pick-up was Wilson Katurebe. On 10}{\super\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035

th}{\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035 August 1995, the}{\insrsid12802101 driver of the plaintiff\rquote s pick-}{\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035 up left Kabale and headed for }{\insrsid10954035 Buhinda on Kabale-}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Mbarara road to fetch bananas. When he reached Buhinda the defendant\rquote s driver who was driving a Toyota Hilux pick-up registration No. }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 854}{\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 UAQ overtook him. He ten stopped somewhere ahead of him. At this point, the plaintiff\rquote s driver proceeded to overtake the defendant\rquote s driver. However, as he was doing so, the }{\insrsid9333203\charrsid10954035 defendant\rquote s}{ \insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 driver returned to the road and endeavoured to drive off once again. The plaintiff\rquote s driver rammed into the back part of the defendant\rquote s pick-up. One of the tyres of the plaintiff\rquote s pickup broke off and the pick-up fell into a ditch on the right hand side of the road. The defendant\rquote s pick-up remained on the left hand side of the road. The plaintiff\rquote s pick-up was severely damaged all over. Eventually, the police visited the }{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 scene of the accident and took away the two pick-ups. Subsequently, the plaintiff did not repair his pick-up because it was

not economical to do so. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 The issues for}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 determination are as follows. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 1. Whether the plaintiff\rquote s pick-up registration No. UPP 482 was involved in an accident with the defendant\rquote s pick-up registration No. 854 UAQ on 10}{\super\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 th}{ \b\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 August 1995? \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 2. Whether the def}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 endant\rquote s driver was negligent? \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 3. Whether the defendant is vicariously liabl}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 e for his driver\rquote s negligence? \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 4. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the remedie}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 s he prayed for in the plaint? \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Court will resolve t}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 he above issues in that order. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 With regard to the first issue, Wilson Katurebe testified that on 10}{\super\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 th}{\b\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 August 1995 as he drove the }{ \insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 plaintiff}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \rquote

}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 s}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 pick-up }{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 registration }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 No:} {\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 UPP 482 on kabale}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \emdash M}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 barara road near Buhinda, the}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 defendant\rquote s driver over took him. He was driving the defendant\rquote s pick-up registration No. 854 UAQ. However, after overtaking him the defendant\rquote s driver stopped somewhere ahead. At this point, Katurebe endeavoured to drive past the defen}{ \insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 dant\rquote s pick-up, but the defendant\rquote s driver d}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 rove it}{\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 back into the ro}{ \insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ad. Katurebe then collided with the defendant\rquote s pick-up. The plaintiff\rquote s pick-up ended up in a ditch on the right hand side of the road. It was severely damaged. The plaintiff and No. 400 Sergeant Namisano the police officer who visited the scene of the accident that day confirmed the occurrence of the accident between t he plaintiff\rquote s pick-up registration No. UPP 482 and the}{\insrsid1070478\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 defendant\rquote s pick-up registration No.

854 UAQ. All that evidence was not challenged or contradicted. For that reason, Court is willing to rely on it and find that the plaintiff proved, on a balance of probabilities, that his pick-up registration No. UPP 482 was involved in a motor accident with the defendant\rquote s pick-up registration No. 854}{\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 UAQ on 10}{ \super\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 th}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 August 1995. The first issue i}{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 s therefore resolved in favour of the plaintiff. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 With regard to the second issue, it is the plaintiff\rquote s case that the accident in question was caused by the defendant\rquote s driver\rquote s negligence. Negligence as a tort is generally defined as \'93 the breach of a legal duty to take care which results in damage ... }{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 to the plaintiff\rquote (See}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Winfield and Jolowicz on Tort}{ \ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Ninth Edition at page 45}{\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ). }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 It goes without saying, therefore, that }{ \b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 a }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 driver

}{\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 of a motor-vehicle }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 is under a duty of care to ensure that he drives his motor vehicle safely on the road without knocking or running into other road users. He breaches that duty, if he does the opposite and ends up knocking other road users and causing them injury. In parag raph 6 of the plaint the plaintiff spelt out the following as the acts of negligence that resulte}{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 d in the accident in question. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \'93(a) the defendant\rquote s driver drove at an excessive speed and with}{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 out any due regard for other road}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 users }{ \insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 or}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 traffic. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (b) the defendant\rquote s driver failed to apply brakes sufficiently or in time or at al}{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 l so as to avoid the accident. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (c) the defendant\rquote s driver failed to steer, control, }{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 maneuver}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 or }{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 otherwise avoid knocking the plaintiff \rquote s vehicle. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (d) the defendant\rquote s

driver failed to exercise sufficient care and skil}{\insrsid3036265\charrsid10954035 l in driving the said vehicle. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (e) the defendant failed to keep and maintain the said vehicle in good mechanical state and road worthy condition.\'94 \par Did the plaintiff prove those acts of negligence or any one of them? In essence, Katurebe testified as follows. That on 10th}{\b\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 August 1995 as he was overtaking the defendant\rquote s pick-up which had stopped a head of the}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 plaintiff\rquote s pick-up on Kabale-}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Mbarara road near Buhinda, the defendant\rquote s driver suddenly returned to the road. At that poin}{ \insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 t, Katurebe rammed the plaintiff\rquote s pick\endash up into the defendant\rquote s pick-up. }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 Going }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 by that }{ \insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 evidence}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 , }{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 which is not}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 challenged, it appears that when the defendant\rquote s driver returned }{\insrsid12389470 to the road all of a sudden he }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 left Katurebe with no other choice but to

collide with him. For that reason, the manner in which the defendant\rquote s driver drove the defendant\rquote s pick-up at that time fits the particulars of negligence in paragraphs (a)}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 , }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (b)}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 , }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (c) and (d) above. Consequently, Court is satisfied that the plaintiff proved, on a balance of probabilities, that the defendant\rquote s driver was negligent. The second issue is also resolv}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 ed in favour of the plaintiff. \par With regard to the third issue, Exh.}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 P1 (}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 i.e.}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 the accident report) shows that the registered owner of a Toyota Hilux (pick-up) registration No. 854 UA Q is Edison Kanyabwera (the defendant). Whether the defendant is vicariously liable for the negligence of his driver depends on whether that driver caused the accident in question in the course of his employment with the de}{ \insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 fendant. In the case of }{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Muwonge v Attorney}{\b\ul\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 General I1967 E}{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 . A}{\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 . }{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035

17}{\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 the East African Court of Appeal had this to say on that subject, }{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9910922 {\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \'93A master is liable for the acts of his servant committed }{ \insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ... }{\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 within the exercise of his duty}{\i\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 \'85}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\i\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 The master remains liable whethe} {\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 r}{\i\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 th}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 e }{\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 acts of he servant are }{\i\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 negligent}{ \i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 or deliberate or wanton or criminal. The test is, were the acts done in the course of his employment... The acts may be so done even though they are done contrary to the orders of the master}{ \i\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 \'94}{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 . \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 {\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 Exh.

P1}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 further shows that at the time of the acci dent Mugisha Benon was driving the defendant\rquote s pick-up. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, that fact implies that Mugisha \par Benon had authority from the defendant to drive the said pick-up. That aside, if the defendant was to escape liability he bo re the burden of proving that his driver was driving his pick-up on a frolic of his won at the time of the accident. However, the defendant failed to bring such evidence. In Court\rquote s opinion, therefore, that too implies that }{\insrsid12389470 the defendant acknowledged the }{\insrsid9910922\charrsid10954035 fact that his driver caused the accident in question in the course of his employment}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 . In view of all the above facts and presumptions, Court is satisfied that the plaintiff proved, on a balance of probabilities, that the defendant is vicariously liable for the negligence of his driver. The third issue is also resolv}{ \insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 ed in favour of the plaintiff. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 With regard to the fourth issue, the law is that the defendant must compensate the plaintiff for loss or injury that is the proximate result of the breach of duty by the defendant. }{ \b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Donoghue v}{\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035

}{\b\ul\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Stevenson [19321 A. C. 562). }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 In paragraph 15 of the plaint the plaintiff prayed for the following r}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 emedies, \par (a) Special damages; \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (b) Alternatively, the rep}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 lacement value of his pick-up; \par (c) General damages; \par (d) Costs of the suit; \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (e) Interest at the rate of 25% per annum from the date of}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 judgment till payment in full. \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 There is no doubt that }{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 the damage that is covered under}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 the above heads}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 was the proximate}{ \i\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 result of the defendant\rquote s driver\rquote s negligence. However, the important question to answer is whethe r the plaintiff led evidence to prove the loss he claims to have suffered under those heads. Court will discuss below the contents of each head in turn. \par Under the head of special damages the plaintiff made two separate claims. The first claim is in respec t of the cost of repairs which are needed to replace the damaged parts of his pick-up. The second claim is for

loss of income in respect of the said pick-up from the day of the accident until now. For the first claim, Herbert Barungi (PW3 who is a valuer o}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 f motor vehicle}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 from the Ministry of Works at Kabale) introduced in evidence an inspection report}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 (}{ \insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 i.e. Exh. P5}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ) to show that the spare parts and labour which were required to replace the damaged parts of the pick-up were worth shs. 9,049,500/=. In addition, the plaint iff testified that he paid shs. 4,500/= for the accident report. He produced a Uganda Revenue Authority recei}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 pt serial No. BSI 028592 (Exh. P2}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ) to support that claim. In all, therefore, under that area of special dam}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 ages the plaintiff claimed shs.}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 9,054,000/}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 =.}{ \i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 That evidence was neither challenged nor contradicted. In the circumstances, Court would have been willing to grant the plaintiff that aspect of special damages. However, Herbert Barungi also testified that the value of the plaintiff\rquote s pick-up after

t}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 he accident was only Shs. 1 .8m/}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 =. For that reason (he thought that) it was not economical to spend shs. 9,049,500/= in a bid to repair the said pickup. He, therefore, suggested that the better option was to replace it. He gave the pre-accident value of the plaintiff\rquote s pick-up as shs. 12m1=. That evidence was not challenged or contradicted. Court }{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 agr}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 ees}{\i\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 }{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 with Barungi that it is }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 alwa}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 ys better to do what is wiser. }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 Consequently, instead}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 of awarding the plaintiff shs. }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 9,054,000}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 /=}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 to enable him to buy the necessary spares to replace the damaged parts of his pick-up, it is better to order the replacement of }{ \insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 the plaintiff\rquote s pick-up at shs.12m/}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 =. }{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 That takes care of the first part of the plaintiff\rquote }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 s claim for special damages}{\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035

.}{\b\insrsid14770474\charrsid10954035 \par }{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 The second part of the plaintiff\rquote s claim for special damages is in respect of lost income since the time of the accident until today; and it is as follows. The plaintiff testified that each day his pick-up was on the road it brought in an average of shs.30,000/ as net profit. That was }{ \insrsid6769959\charrsid10954035 after deducting costs of repairs and service. The pick-up was on the road for 5 days each week. Therefore, in a month the plaintiff claimed that he earned, at least, Shs.600,000/= from it. However , that evidence was not backed up by any document, such as receipts, books of accounts or anything to show the plaintiff paid tax on those earnings. To make matters worse, even the plaintiff\rquote s driver (Wilson Katurebe) did not say a word concerning the daily earnings from the pick-up. For those reasons, court is not satisfied that the plaintiff was earning a net amount of Shs.600,000/= per month from his pick-up before the accident in question; and that since then the plaintiff has lost such earnings. That aspect of special damages will, therefore, not be granted.}{\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \par }{\insrsid6769959\charrsid10954035 That }{\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 takes court to the head of general damages. There is no doubt that the plaintiff has suffered a lot

of inconvenience and stress since his pick-up was involved in the accident in question. Considering that fact court is willing to award him a sum of Shs.2m/= as general damages.}{ \insrsid6769959\charrsid10954035 \par }{\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 The plaintiff will also be paid the costs of this suit; and interest on the special damages and general damages at court rate. However , the interest on special damages will run from the date of filing the suit till payment in full; and that on general damages will run from the date of judgment till payment in full. \par All in all, the plaintiff\rquote s suit has succeeded; and court hereby enters judgment in the plaintiff\rquote s favour in the following terms. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \s15\qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16136491 {\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 The defendant shall pay the plaintiff Shs.12m/= as the replacement value for his pick-up. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}The defendant shall further pay the plaintiff a sum of shs.2m/= as general damages. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}The

defendant shall also pay interest in respect of the amounts awarded in paragraphs 1 and 2 above at court rate as follows, \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (a)\tab}}\pard \s15\qj \fi-390\li750\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx750\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin750\itap0\pararsid16136491 {\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 in respect of the amount awarded in paragraph 1- from the date of filling the suit till payment in full; \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (b)\tab}in respect of the amount awarded in paragraph 2- from the date of judgment until payment in full. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}\pard \s15\qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16136491 {\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 The defendant shall also bear the costs of this suit. \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16136491 {\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li6480\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin6480\itap0\pararsid16136491 {\b\insrsid16136491\charrsid10954035 E. S LUGAYIZI \par JUDGE \par 27/10/2001 \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11501042 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid11501042\charrsid10954035 \par \par }}