Akugoba Transport Development Services Ltd v Sun Auto Company Ltd & Anor (HCT-00-CC-CS 501 of 2006) [2006] UGCommC 59 (26 July 2006)

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\par \par IN THE HIGH}{\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA}{\b\insrsid15477274\charrsid12865437 \par }{\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 (COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION) \par \par HCT-00-CC-CS-0501-2006 AND HCT-00-CC-CS-0759-2006 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 \par AKUGOBA BODA BODA TRANSPORT \par DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LTD :::::::::::::::::::::::::: PLAINTIFF \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 VERSUS \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 \par SUN AUTO COMPANY LTD :::::::::::::::::::: DEFENDANT}{\b\insrsid6636673\charrsid12865437 /PLAINTIFF}{\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 VERSUS \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid9712282\charrsid12865437 \par HAJJI SWAIBU KIZITO :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DEFENDANT \par }{\b\insrsid12596315\charrsid12865437 \par }{\b\i\ul\insrsid12596315\charrsid12865437 Cases cited: \par {\listtext\pard\plain\i\lang1033\langfe1033\langnp1033\langfenp1033\insrsid12596315\charrsid12865437 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\i\insrsid12596315\charrsid12865437 Solomon \endash Vs- Solomon & Co. Ltd [1897] AC 22. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\insrsid8262545\charrsid12865437 \par BEFORE: }{\b\ul\insrsid8262545\charrsid12865437 THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE YOROKAMU BAMWINE}{\b\insrsid8262545\charrsid12865437 \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid8262545\charrsid12865437 J U D G M E N T: \par }{\b\insrsid10289918\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 Akugoba Boda Boda Transport Development Services Ltd, herein after }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 conveniently }{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 referred to as \lquote Akugoba\rquote }{ \insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 where the context allows}{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 , is a Limited Liability company. It sued the defendant, Sun Auto Company Ltd, also a Limited liability company, for specific performance by way of delivery of registration number plates for 20 motorcycles, recovery of a certificate of title for land, recovery of one motor vehicle, general damages, interest and costs of the suit.}{ \insrsid10289918\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 \par In its written statement of defence, Sun Auto Company denied }{\insrsid8061328\charrsid12865437 dealing with}{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 Akugoba. It claimed that it had dealt with a one Hajji Swaibu Kizito in his individual capacity, which }{ \insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 Hajji }{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 Kizito executed the sale agreement and offered his own property as security for the }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 debt}{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 . \par As the hearing came to a close, it transpired that Sun Auto Company had indeed instituted a separate suit against Hajji Swaibu Kizito which suit was founded on the same facts. In that suit, HCCS No. 759/2006, Sun Auto Company claims a sum of Shs .26,160,000= being the balance due to it out of the sale of 20 motorcycles, the subject matter }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 also }{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 in }{\b\ul\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 HCCS No. 501 of 2006. }{ \insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 In order to save Court\rquote s time and because the issues in both cases revolve }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 around}{\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 who the }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 correct }{ \insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 parties to the contract were, both counsel proposed, and Court accepted the proposal, that the two suits be consolidated. Hence this judgment.}{\insrsid4412110\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 \par No point of agreement was generated at the Scheduling Conference. Three issues were framed for Court\rquote s determination in }{\b\ul\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 HCCS No. 501/2006: \par }{\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 1.\tab Whether the plaintiff and the defendant entered into any contract. \par 2.\tab The terms of the contract, if any. \par 3.\tab Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs sought. \par \par I will answer the same in the context of both suits. \par \par }{\i\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 Representations: \par }{\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 Mr. Musoke Suleiman for the plaintiff. \par Mr. Kiboneka Richard for the defendant. \par \par First, whether the plaintiff (AKUGOBA) and the defendant (Sun Auto Company Ltd)}{\insrsid6503950\charrsid12865437 entered into any contract.}{\insrsid10318719\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid6503950\charrsid12865437 \par A contract is simply an agreement enforceable at law. An essential feature of a contr act is a promise by one party to another to do or for bear from doing certain specified acts. One party has to make an offer to the other, who in turn must accept the offer, thus formulating an agreement. The agreement may be oral or written. Where com plaints of breach are raised, as herein, and it so happens that the parties had reduced their agreement to writing, Court}{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 s}{\insrsid6503950\charrsid12865437 resort to the said written agreements as an embodiment of the conditions and terms of the contract. }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 And t}{\insrsid6503950\charrsid12865437 his brings me now to the parol evidence rule. \par }{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 \par The parol evidence rule is to the effect that evidence cannot be admitted (or that even if admitted, it cannot be used) to add to, vary or contradict a written instrument. In relation to written contracts, the rule means that where a co ntract has been reduced to writing, neither party, can rely on evidence of terms alleged to have been agreed, which is extrinsic document, i.e. not contained in it. This rule is fundamental in interpretation of contracts. \par \par In the instant case, the basis of the relationship between the parties is a Sale Agreement, D. Exh. 1. The opening paragraph runs as follows: \par }\pard \qj \li935\ri1122\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1122\lin935\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\b\i\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 \'93 On behalf of M/S Sun Auto Company, I have transacted (sold) the above mentioned motor vehicle/cycle to Mr/Mrs/Miss Hajji Swaibu Kizito c/o Akugoba boda boda Transport Ltd.\'94 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 \par In law a company and its Managing Director are totally different and distinct persons. It is settled law that a company is a distinct legal entity, separate from such persons as may be members of it, and having legal rights a nd duties. It may enter into contracts in its own right, own property, pay taxes, employ people and be liable for torts and crimes. These are fundamental attributes of corporate personality recognized long ago in }{ \b\ul\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 Solomon \endash Vs- Solomon & Co. Ltd [1897] AC 22.}{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 \par \par From the agreements, the company, Akugoba, was used merely as the address of Hajji Swaibu Kizito. As such, the presumption is that it had no interest in the transaction. It cannot incur liability under it or take advantage of it. The reason is simp le: no stranger to the consideration can take advantage of a contract although made for his benefit. Only a person who is a party to the contract can sue on it. \par \par At the hearing, DW1 Mulinde testified that the person his company transacted business with was Hajji Swaibu Kizito. He did not know him }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 or his company }{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 before the incident. He }{ \insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 asked for}{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 motorcycles }{\insrsid9328754\charrsid12865437 on credit }{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 and he gave him 20 of them. As security for the payment, Kizito surrendered to the seller his }{\insrsid1726953\charrsid12865437 own }{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 certificate of title in respect of land d escribed as Block 205 Plot 78 Kyaggwe. On top of that he }{\insrsid8280650\charrsid12865437 surrendered to}{\insrsid9832008\charrsid12865437 the seller his own vehicle, a Pajero Reg. No. UAF 238 D. The two documents are indeed in the names of Hajji Swaibu Kizito.}{\insrsid16720949\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid9832008\charrsid12865437 \par From the evidence, Court is satisfied that the transaction was between Sun Auto Company Ltd and Hajji Swaibu Kizito. Akugoba was used as Kizito\rquote s contact address. In all these}{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 circumstances, Court makes a finding that the contract was between those two persons, Sun Auto Company Ltd and Hajji Swaibu Kizito.}{\insrsid9832008\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 \par I now turn to the terms of the contract. \par Both parties agree that the contract document is what was tendered in evidence, D. Exh.1. It is a standard form agreement, with terms and conditions printed in clear green ink. They are: \par }\pard \qj \fi-720\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 1.\tab The buyer shall gain full ownership after paying the outstanding balance \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 and the interest thereof B (iii) and meet the transfer costs in his names. \par }\pard \qj \fi-720\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 2.\tab In the event of not fulfilling the outstanding balance the company shall re-posess the above mentioned vehicle/cycle i.e. after th e elapse of the agreed period and sell it to off set the balance and interest; plus the costs incurred in recovery and the balance shall be given to the buyer. \par 3.\tab In case of motor cars, \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85..\'94 \par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12865437 {\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 The balance stated in the document is Shs.31}{\insrsid8280650\charrsid12865437 , 600,000}{ \insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 =; the date of delivery is 18/7/2005; and the agreed period 5 months only. It is argued for the plaintiff in HCCS No. 501/2006 that the terms were already written, favouring the defendant company. For as long as the terms were clear, not ambiguous, }{ \insrsid1726953\charrsid12865437 and were duly discussed, }{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 I do not see any problem with them to write home about. \par \par It is further argued that the parties agreed that the defendant would deliver the number plates of the motor cycles within a period of 14 days. No such }{\insrsid1726953\charrsid12865437 promise}{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 appears i n the Sale Agreement. It is trite that where the contract is in writing, its terms can be ascertained by means of documentary evidence. Where the}{\insrsid1726953\charrsid12865437 y}{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 are clear, a Court must give }{ \insrsid1726953\charrsid12865437 them effect}{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 . It is }{\insrsid3096636\charrsid12865437 therefore }{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 not the duty of the Court to re-write an express ly stated contract for the parties. As long as both parties}{\insrsid12990578\charrsid12865437 address themselves to the terms of the contract and agree to be bound by them, the duty of the Court is to construe the agreement as it was when it was executed.}{\insrsid13400924\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid12990578\charrsid12865437 \par From the evidence of DW1 Mulinde and the Sale Agreement itself, the parties agreed that the buyer would gain full ownership of the cycles after paying the outstanding balance. Evidence about the purported giving out of the number plates within 14 days is extrinsic document. It is inad missible, and even if admitted, it cannot be used to add to, vary or contradict a written instrument, D. Exh. 1. \par \par I now turn to remedies. \par \par From the evidence of DW1 Mulinde, which I found truthful, after the negotiations, Hajji Swaibu Kizito agreed to take the motor cycles on credit. DW1 agreed. Hajji Kizito issued his company\rquote s post-dated cheques to the seller and on top of the cheques pledged his own land and vehicle as security for payment. The goods were specific, ascertained and in a deliverable state. They were for a stated price. \par \par Section 19 of the Sale of Goods Act provides that where there is an unconditional contract for the sale of specific goods in a deliverable state, the property in the goods passes to the buy when the contract is made, and it is immaterial whether the time of payment or the time of delivery or both are post poned. This is subject to the intention of the parties. In view of this Court\rquote s finding that the agreement of the parties was that the buyer gains full ownership after paying the outstanding balance, their intention was that property in them would not pass till then. In cases of this nature, certain factors must be considered before damages can be calculated. One of these factors is the role of the injured party follo wing the breach: he is expected to do what he can to look after his own interest. He must in other words mitigate his loss. \par \par From the evidence, while Hajji Kizito claims that he had agreed with Mulinde that number plates would be given to him within 14 days, which he didn\rquote t, he (Kizito) went ahead and in turn sold them to third parties without the said number plates. The unpaid for cycles could not therefore be recovered from Hajji Kizito after the contract period of 5 months. In my view, by giving Sun Au to Company Ltd the post-dated cheques which in the end bounced and by surrendering to the company his own personal property (the land title and vehicle), Hajji Kizito committed himself to }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 pay for the cycles on demand. The company has prayed in }{\b\ul\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 HCCS No. 759/2006}{\ul\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 that it be paid a sum of Shs.26}{\insrsid10555728\charrsid12865437 , 160,000}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 = being the balance on the purchase price. In his evidence, DW1 Mulinde admitted receipt of some payment. He gave the outstanding balance as Shs.24,600,000= although, as stated above, the amount claimed in }{ \b\ul\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 HCCS No. 759/2006}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 is Shs.26,160,000=. PW1 Nabisalu put the figure at Shs.22}{\insrsid10555728\charrsid12865437 , 750,000}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 = and Hajji Kizito himself at Shs.24}{\insrsid10555728\charrsid12865437 , 000,000}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 =. I take the outstanding amount to be the figure admitted by Hajji Kizito. Accordingly, the sum of Shs.24}{ \insrsid10555728\charrsid12865437 , 000,000}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 = is decre ed to M/S Sun Auto Company Ltd as against Hajji Swaibu Kizito. The decretal sum shall attract interest at the commercial rate of 25% per annum from the date of judgment till payment in full. Given that Hajji Swaibu Kizito has himself parted with custody of the suit cycles, M/S Sun Auto Company Ltd shall maintain custody of Hajji Swaibu Kizito\rquote s certificate of title and the vehicle pending payment. In default, the same shall be sold in execution to recover the amount due and the balance, if any, shall be given to the judgment-debtor.}{\insrsid12990578\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 \par In the final result, judgment is entered for the plaintiff in HCCS No. 0759-2006 against the defendant therein on the terms stated herein above with costs as prayed. HCCS No. 0501-2006 is dismissed with no order as to costs. Upon being paid the decretal amount and costs, M/S Sun Auto Company Ltd shall release the 20 number plates to the judgment debtor. \par \par I so order. \par \par }{\insrsid10112850\charrsid12865437 \par }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 Yorokamu Bamwine \par }{\b\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 J U D G E \par }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 27/07/2006 \par \par }{\b\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 Order:}{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 This judgment shall be delivered on my behalf by the Registrar of this Court on the due date. \par \par Yorokamu Bamwine \par }{\b\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 J U D G E \par }{\insrsid1337149\charrsid12865437 27/07/2006 \par }}