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Uganda Judgment

High Court of Uganda

Uganda v Jumaine s/o Kabunga (Revision CR, CAsE No. 16/95) [1996] UGHC 83 (1 July 1996)

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Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The trial magistrate erred in dismissing the charge under section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act after the complainant had already testified. Section 117 only applies when the complainant fails to appear before giving evidence. Once the complainant has testified and no further prosecution evidence is forthcoming, the magistrate must treat the prosecution as having closed its case and proceed to determine whether the accused has a case to answer under section 125. If a case to answer exists, the accused should be put on his defence under section 126; if not, the accused should be acquitted. The High Court, exercising its revisional jurisdiction under section 167(1), set aside the dismissal order and directed the trial magistrate to write a ruling, summon the accused, and proceed in accordance with the law.

Court disposition

Order of dismissal set aside; case remitted to trial magistrate for proper determination under sections 125 and 126 of the Magistrates Courts Act.

Orders

  • The order dismissing the charge under section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1970 is set aside.
  • The trial magistrate is directed to write his ruling, summon the accused, and deliver the same in open court.
  • Depending on the ruling, the magistrate must proceed under section 125 or 126 of the Magistrates Courts Act and dispose of the case accordingly.

02

Material facts

Parties

Uganda

Applicant

Jumaine s/o Kabunga

Respondent

Amounts and remedies

  • Value of Stolen Timber: UGX 737,500

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Revision / Revisional Order/confirmation

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The prosecution did not make further submissions but indicated through the DPP that the state did not wish to be heard in the event of a revision order being made.
Respondent
No argument from the accused/respondent is recorded in the judgment.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Section 117, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

    Section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act applies only when the complainant fails to appear at the hearing before giving evidence, allowing for dismissal and discharge of the accused.

  2. 02

    Section 125, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

    If the complainant has already testified and no further evidence is forthcoming, the magistrate must treat the prosecution case as closed and determine whether the accused has a case to answer under section 125.

  3. 03

    Sections 125 and 126, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

    If a case to answer is found, the accused is put on his defence under section 126; if not, the accused is acquitted under section 125.

  4. 04

    Section 167(1), Magistrates Courts Act 1970

    The High Court has power to revise and set aside orders of lower courts where there is a procedural error.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The trial magistrate erred in dismissing the charge under section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act after the complainant had already testified. Section 117 only applies when the complainant fails to appear before giving evidence. Once the complainant has testified and no further prosecution evidence is forthcoming, the magistrate must treat the prosecution as having closed its case and proceed to determine whether the accused has a case to answer under section 125. If a case to answer exists, the accused should be put on his defence under section 126; if not, the accused should be acquitted. The High Court, exercising its revisional jurisdiction under section 167(1), set aside the dismissal order and directed the trial magistrate to write a ruling, summon the accused, and proceed in accordance with the law.

Obiter and limits

  • The proper application of procedural provisions in criminal trials is essential to ensure justice is served and that neither the prosecution nor the accused is prejudiced by technical errors.

Court disposition

Order of dismissal set aside; case remitted to trial magistrate for proper determination under sections 125 and 126 of the Magistrates Courts Act.

  • The order dismissing the charge under section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1970 is set aside.
  • The trial magistrate is directed to write his ruling, summon the accused, and deliver the same in open court.
  • Depending on the ruling, the magistrate must proceed under section 125 or 126 of the Magistrates Courts Act and dispose of the case accordingly.

Source and reliance status

High Court of Uganda

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Source document

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Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

High Court of Uganda

Judgment

[1996] UGHC 83

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA ..

REVISION CR, CA3E NO, 16/95

(arising OUT of cr. case no, mka 5/95)

UGANDA:.: <sup>1</sup>1: t: n 11:::: utu<sup>1</sup> u 1: t::: <sup>1</sup> hi 11111: iPROSECUTOR

VERSUS

JUMAINE s/O KABUNGAs:: nh nm:n <sup>h</sup> n <sup>j</sup>r; u u: n:: : lACCUSEB # ' \ .. . . • \*

BEFORE: THE HQNOURABIE MR. JUSTICE I, MUKANZA,

REVISIONAL ORDER/CONFIRMATiaN . \* \* ' • <sup>&</sup>gt; / ' ' \*.\* <sup>1</sup> vi. . • - ?

The accused Jumaine S/O Kabunga was charged with the offence of theft contrary, to section <sup>252</sup> of the penal code. The Particular being that on the 4th day of March <sup>1992</sup> at Hamurwa, Rubanda, Kabale listriot -stole. 330 timber valued at- shillings 737»5Oo/«= the property of Bakasigaki

The prosecution called the evidence of the complainant PW1 after which the case was adjourned for .further.hearing. Ch two subsequent. occassions the case was called for hearing the accused was in attendance but PW1 the coEiplainant was absent. .. The trial magistrate purported to dismiss the charge under section 117 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1970\*

Section <sup>117</sup> deals with non appearance of the complainant. It envisages a situation whereby the accused appears to the obedience of summons served upon him, at the time and place appointed in the summons for the hearing of the case and if. the complainant/prosecutor being \* . ' \*\* • aware of the time and place appointed and doe& not show up then and only then the case could be dismissed mder S.117 of the MCA 1970 and the accused would then be discharged.

In the instant case the complainant had already testified and if no more evidence was forth coming the trial magistrate would have treated the prosecution as having closed its case and would have made use-, of the provisions of secticn 125 of the magistrates courts Act <sup>1970</sup> and find out whether the accused had a case to answer or not. If the accused had a case to answer could have been put on his defence see 5. 126 MCA 1970 and would thereby have proceeded to write his judgment. Ehereas if the accused had no case to answer the trial magistrate would have dismissed the charge and have the accused

acquitted forthwith under section 125 of the MCA 1970.

Whem the DPP (The Director of Public Prosecutions) was contacted whether he would like to be heard in the event of a possible revision order he had this to say -

$2^{\cdots} \cdot \cdots$

"The state does not wish to be heard in the event of a revision order being made. The file is hereby returned." The latter is reference NO. DPPO4/9 dated 2nd November 1995. From what has transpired above the order dismissing the charge under S. 117 of the MCA 1970 is hereby set aside as per the powers conferred upon this court under section 167(1)MCA 1970. The trial magistrate must proceed to write his ruling, summon the accused and deliver the same in open court. Then depending on the result of his ruling he

would proceed either under section 125 of the MCA 1970 or under section 126 of the same Act and dispose of this case as explained above. This file is therefore remitted back to the trial magistrate's with instructions that he complies with this order.

$\mathcal{L} = \{x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_n\}$ $\mathcal{A} = \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A} \mathcal{A}$ L MUKANZA

$\mathcal{L} = \mathcal{L}$

$\mathcal{F}_1 = \mathcal{F}_1 \cup \mathcal{A} \cup \mathcal{F}_2 \cup \mathcal{F}_3$

$\label{eq:1} \text{where } \mathbf{F} = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \text{rank}(\mathbf{F} \mathbf{F}) \times \mathbf{I} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{A}^T = \mathbf{F} \times \mathbf{$ $1.7.1996.$ $\lim_{\varepsilon \to 0} \mathcal{L}_{\varepsilon}(\varepsilon) = \lim_{\varepsilon \to 0} \mathcal{L}_{\varepsilon}(\varepsilon) = \lim_{\varepsilon \to 0} \mathcal{L}_{\varepsilon}(\varepsilon) = \lim_{\varepsilon \to 0} \mathcal{L}_{\varepsilon}(\varepsilon) = \mathcal{L}_{\varepsilon}(\varepsilon)$ and the particular of the secondaries the parameters

a suitable that a find that the same I this property that is played in a set of the $\mathcal{L}(x)$ and the form $\mathcal{L}(x)$ . The remainder $\mathcal{L}(x)$ with $\mathcal{L}(x)$ the adjusted to the first that the the sense of the sense of the sense of $\mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L}) = \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L}) \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L}) \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L}) \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L}) \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{L})$ $\label{eq:1} \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) = \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) = \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) = \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) = \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) = \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \qquad \mathcal{M}(\mathcal{M}) \$ CONTRACT the property of the property of the property of the property of the property of the property of the property of $\mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} = \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A} \mathbf{A}$ MAR PERSONAL REPORTS OF THE OWNER. ATT CONTINUES TO A VALUE OF TAXABLE

$\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ , $\mathbf{r}$ ,

$\rightarrow \quad \ldots \quad$

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Section 117, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 125, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 126, Magistrates Courts Act 1970

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 167(1), Magistrates Courts Act 1970

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 252, Penal Code Act

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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