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Uganda Judgment

Commercial Court of Uganda

Yudaya International Ltd v Attorney General (HCT-00-CC-MA 827 of 2006) [2007] UGCommC 5 (23 January 2007)

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01

Holding and result

The court found that the applicant failed to file the affidavit of service within the prescribed time, which was a mandatory procedural requirement under Order 5 Rule 1(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules. The subsequent filing of the affidavit and application for interlocutory judgment occurred after the suit had already been dismissed, rendering those actions irrelevant to the question of timely compliance. The applicant did not provide any satisfactory explanation or justification for the failure to file proof of service in time. The other grounds advanced by the applicant, including alleged agreements between parties and astonishment at the dismissal, were immaterial to the determination of the application. The court held that there was no basis to exercise its discretion to set aside the dismissal, and the application was accordingly dismissed.

Court disposition

application dismissed

Orders

  • The application to set aside the dismissal and reinstate the suit is dismissed.

02

Material facts

Parties

Yudaya International Ltd

Applicant Counsel: Mr. Tendo

Attorney General

Respondent

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Miscellaneous Application / Ruling

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The applicant argued that service of summons was effected on the respondent on 11th August 2006, but the respondent failed to file a defence within the time fixed. The applicant claimed to have filed an affidavit of service and applied for interlocutory judgment, seeking formal proof. The applicant was surprised to learn the suit had been dismissed for want of proof of service and asserted that both parties had agreed to the filing of an out-of-time defence. It was submitted that substantive and natural justice required the reinstatement of the suit.
Respondent
The respondent did not appear or file submissions. The application proceeded in their absence, but the applicant's counsel conceded that at the time of dismissal, the affidavit of service had not been filed, undermining one of the applicant's grounds.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Order 5 Rule 1(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules

    A suit may be dismissed without notice if service of summons is not effected within 21 days and no application for extension of time is made.

  2. 02

    Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act

    The court may exercise discretion to set aside dismissal if the applicant provides a satisfactory explanation for failure to comply with procedural requirements.

  3. 03

    General principles of civil procedure

    Applications to set aside dismissal must be supported by credible grounds and timely proof of service.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the applicant failed to file the affidavit of service within the prescribed time, which was a mandatory procedural requirement under Order 5 Rule 1(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules. The subsequent filing of the affidavit and application for interlocutory judgment occurred after the suit had already been dismissed, rendering those actions irrelevant to the question of timely compliance. The applicant did not provide any satisfactory explanation or justification for the failure to file proof of service in time. The other grounds advanced by the applicant, including alleged agreements between parties and astonishment at the dismissal, were immaterial to the determination of the application. The court held that there was no basis to exercise its discretion to set aside the dismissal, and the application was accordingly dismissed.

Obiter and limits

  • If the applicant's plea is not accepted, he has the option of filing the suit afresh, if he is still within time.
  • It is immaterial to this application whether the defendant had sought the consent of the other party to file a defence out of time, and in fact did not file such defence.
  • Alleged astonishment of the applicant at the dismissal of the suit is irrelevant to the application.

Court disposition

application dismissed

  • The application to set aside the dismissal and reinstate the suit is dismissed.

Source and reliance status

Commercial Court of 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.

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Source document

Commercial Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2007] UGCommC 5

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KAMPALA \par \par COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION \par }{\insrsid12596668 \par HCT-00-CC-MA-0827-2006 \par \par (Arising from HCT-00-CC-CS-0480-2006) \par \par YUDAYA INTERNATIONAL LTD APPLICANT \par \par VERSUS \par \par ATTORNEY GENERAL RESPONDENT \par \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid12596668\charrsid673972 BEFORE: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE FMS EGONDA-NTENDE \par }{\b\insrsid12596668\charrsid673972 \par RULING \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12596668 {\insrsid12596668 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid3629830 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid673972 { \insrsid3629830 The applicant/plaintiff filed the original civil suit on 8}{\super\insrsid3629830\charrsid3629830 th}{\insrsid3629830 August 2006. }{\insrsid7026918 Summons was}{\insrsid3629830 issued on 7}{\super\insrsid3629830\charrsid3629830 th}{ \insrsid3629830 August 2006 for service upon the defendant. }{\insrsid7026918 On the 14}{\super\insrsid7026918\charrsid3629830 th}{\insrsid7026918 September 2006 this suit was dismissed without notice under Order 5 Rule 1 (3) of the Civil Procedure Rules as there was neither proof of service on the court record nor an application for extension of the time for service of summons.}{\insrsid12596668

\par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid3629830 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\insrsid3629830 The applicant now seeks, in this application, an order of this court, setting aside the order of dismissal, and rei}{\insrsid7026918 n}{\insrsid3629830 stating the original suit. This application is made under Section 14(2) (c) of the Judicature Act, Chapter 13, Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act, Chapter 71 and Order 52 Rule 1 and 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules. It is supported by an affidavit sworn by Ms Kellen Kalemera, a director of the applicant.}{\insrsid14835216 }{\insrsid3629830 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid14835216 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}{\insrsid14835216 The applicant puts forth 6 grounds in support of this application. Firstly t}{\insrsid6756948 hat service of the summons was }{ \insrsid14835216 effected on the respondent on 11}{\super\insrsid14835216\charrsid14835216 th}{\insrsid14835216 August 2006. Secondly that the Respondent failed to file a defence before the day fixed in the summons. Thirdly that the applicant filed an affidavit of service and appl ied for interlocutory judgement, seeking to set down the suit for formal proof. Fourthly that the plaintiff was astonished to establish that on 14}{\super\insrsid14835216\charrsid14835216 th}{\insrsid14835216 September 2006 this suit had

been }{ \insrsid7026918 dismissed for}{\insrsid14835216 want of proof of service}{\insrsid12267944 . Fifthly the plaintiff and defenda nt had agreed to the filing of an out of time written statement of defence. Lastly that it is in the interests of substantive and natural justice that this application be allowed.}{\insrsid14835216 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid12267944 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}{\insrsid12267944 This application proceeded in the absence of the defendant who had been serv ed. Mr. Tendo appeared for the applicant. Mr. Tendo conceded at the hearing that at the time this suit was dismissed the applicant had not filed the affidavit of service. Ground three of the application cannot therefore stand. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid1976756 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 5.\tab}}{\insrsid1976756 Order 5 Rule 1 (3) of the Civil Procedure Rules states, }{\insrsid422833 \par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri1440\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1440\lin1440\itap0\pararsid422833 {\insrsid1976756 \lquote Where summons have been issued under this rule, and }{\insrsid422833 }{\insrsid1976756 (a) service has not }{\insrsid422833 been}{\insrsid1976756 }{\insrsid422833 e}{\insrsid1976756 ffected within twenty one days from the date of issue; and }{\insrsid422833 }{\insrsid1976756 (b) there is no

application for an extension of time under }{\insrsid7026918 sub rule}{\insrsid1976756 (2) of this rule; or }{\insrsid422833 }{\insrsid1976756 (c) the application for extension of time has been dismissed, the suit shall be dismissed without notice.\rquote }{\insrsid12267944 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid1976756 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 6.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid673972 { \insrsid1976756 The power to dismiss without notice is exercised when after the expiry of the period for filing of an application for extension of the time for service there is no proof on the court record that service was effected in the 21 days and there is no appl ication for extension of the time for service. Obviously }{\insrsid12086602 if the}{\insrsid422833 }{\insrsid1976756 party files the necessary papers as anticipated by the rules, no dismissal without notice would occur. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid1976756 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 7.\tab}What happens where}{\insrsid422833 ,}{\insrsid1976756 as in this case}{\insrsid422833 ,}{\insrsid1976756 the plaintiff in effect alleges that he served but did not file an affidavit of service? He may come to court as he has done seeking to show that he had in fact served but

for some reason he failed in his duty to avail proof of service}{\insrsid8591716 in a timely manner, and seeks the indulgence of the court to set aside the dismissal of the suit. The court may accept his plea and perhaps may not. If his plea is not accepted, he has the option of filing the suit afresh, if he is still within time.}{ \insrsid1976756 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid8591716 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 8.\tab}}{\insrsid8591716 For the court to exercise its discretion in favour of such an applicant, the applicant must}{\insrsid7026918 ,}{\insrsid8591716 at the minimum}{\insrsid7026918 ,}{\insrsid8591716 explain why he failed to act in a timely}{\insrsid6756948 manner or provide some kind of justification upon which a court can act. In this instant case he has provided a myriad of grounds, all of which do not explain why he did not offer pro of of service in a timely manner. Worse still it is contended in ground }{\insrsid7026918 no.3 and}{\insrsid6756948 on the affidavit filed in support, paragraphs 3 and 4 read together}{\insrsid7026918 ,}{\insrsid6756948 that the affidavit of service was filed in spite of which the court dismissed the suit. This is disingenuous. }{\insrsid8591716 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid6756948 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 9.\tab}}{\insrsid6756948 The application

}{\insrsid9533356 for interlocutory judgement and the supporting affidavit which is what is referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the affidavit and ground no.3 of the notice of motion was filed on 1}{\super\insrsid9533356\charrsid9533356 st}{\insrsid9533356 November 2006, long after this suit had been dismissed without notice in accordance with Order 5 Rule 1(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules.}{\insrsid6756948 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid9533356 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 10.\tab}}{\insrsid9533356 I am unable to see how all the other grounds put forth by the applicant provide any basis for this court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant. It is possible that service had been effected but no proof thereof was provided in a timely}{ \insrsid673972 manner}{\insrsid9533356 and no explanation is offered for this lapse. It is immaterial to this application whether the defendant had }{\insrsid422833 sought the consent of the other party to file }{\insrsid9533356 a defence }{ \insrsid422833 out of time, and in fact did not file such defence}{\insrsid9533356 . So is the alleged astonishment}{\insrsid422833 of the applicant}{\insrsid9533356 at }{\insrsid673972 the dismissal of the suit. }{\insrsid9533356 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid673972 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 11.\tab}}{\insrsid673972 This

application is dismissed. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid673972 {\insrsid673972 Dated, signed and delivered this 24}{\super\insrsid673972\charrsid673972 th}{\insrsid673972 day of January 2007 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid673972 {\insrsid673972 \par \par \par \par FMS Egonda-Ntende \par Judge \par }}

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Authorities used by the court

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

Judicature Act, Section 14(2)(c)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Civil Procedure Act, Section 98

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Civil Procedure Rules, Order 5 Rule 1(3)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Civil Procedure Rules, Order 52 Rule 1 and 3

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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