Elinesti Babumba & 2 Ors V Ester Nakasi Kizito (Civil Suit No. 173 of 1987) [1992] UGHC 4 (13 April 1992)

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\rsid812848\rsid4271487\rsid6297286\rsid8541314\rsid11626573\rsid14251809\rsid14645594\rsid15423493}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UNUA }{\author DELL} {\operator skivumbi}{\creatim\yr2009\mo10\dy29\hr17\min2}{\revtim\yr2009\mo11\dy6\hr13\min22}{\version4}{\edmins17}{\nofpages4}{\nofwords901}{\nofchars5138}{\nofcharsws6027}{\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\rsidroot6297286\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\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\pararsid812848 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 THE REPUBLIC }{ \ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 OF UGANDA}{\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 \line IN }{\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 T}{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 HE HIGH COURT OF}{\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 UGANDA}{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 }{\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 AT KAMP}{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 A}{\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 LA \line CIVIL SUIT NO. 173 OF 1987}{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6297286 {\insrsid8541314 E}{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 LINE}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 STI BABUMBA & TWO OTHERS }{ \insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 PLAINTIFFS }{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \fi720\li2880\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin2880\itap0\pararsid812848 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 VERSUS }{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid812848 {\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 ESTER NAKASI }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 KIZITO}{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 DEFENDANT}{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6297286 {\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 BEFORE: }{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 THE HON. MR. JUSTICE G. M. OKELLO \par }\pard \s15\qj \fi720\li2880\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin2880\itap0\pararsid812848 {\ul\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 JUDGMENT:}{\ul\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6297286 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 This suit arose from a contentious application for grant of Letters of administration of the Estate of the late Er}{\insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 ifasi Kizito. It was brought in }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 accordance with section 265}{ \i\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 of the succession Act. The three Plaintiffs were the Petitioners for grant of Letters of Administration in administration cause No. 202/86. They petitioned for the grant a}{ \insrsid812848\charrsid4271487 s}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 brother, nephew and niece of the deceased respectively. The caveator who claimed to be the widow of the deceased}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 is the defendant in the suit. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 In the s}{\insrsid8541314 uit, the Plaintiffs sought for:-}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard \s15\qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8541314 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 (1) An order to }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 remove the defendant\rquote s caveat. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 (2) An order grantin}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 g to the plaintiffs letters of Administration and \par (3) Cost of the suit. \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6297286 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 When the case came up for hearing before me on 8/4/92, the plaintiffs and their counsel appeared but neither the def}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 endant nor her counsel appeared.}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 No explanation was given for their absence yet there was evidence of due service of Hearing Notice on the defen}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 dant personally. A similar app}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 lication for grant of Letters of administration of the Estate of the same deceased was filed by the de}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 fendant in the Chief Magistrate\rquote s c}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ourt of Mengo under administration cause No. 79/86. The present Plaintiffs lodged a caveat a}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 gainst the grant of Letters of a}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dministration of the Estate of the deceased in that }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 application}{ \insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 as a similar application was pending in the High Court. The application in th}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 e Chief Magistrate\rquote s court of Me}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ngo was eventually dismissed for want of prosecution under }{\b\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 0.15 r. 6 of the}{\b\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 CPR. \par }{\b\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 In the instant case, after satisfying myself that there was satisfactory evidence of service of the }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 Hearing}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 Notice on the defendant, I allowed the application by counsel for the Plaintiffs that }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 the hearing of this suit should proceed ex-parte }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 unde}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 r 0.9 r.17 (1) (a) of the CPR. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 At the hearing, I was informed that the first p}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 laintiff}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 Erinesti Babumba had died in 1987 leaving only two plaintiffs. Hearing therefore proceeded w}{ \insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 ith only two plaintiffs, Edward}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 B}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 amujje, 2}{\super\insrsid14251809\charrsid8541314 nd}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 plaintiff, gave evid}{ \insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ence as PW1. In his evidence Bamujje told court }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 that at a meeting which was held}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 after the death of the deceased, by elders and the children of the deceased, Erinesti Babumba, Keti Namyalo and himself were selected to apply for Letters of }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 Administration to A}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dminister the Est}{\insrsid8541314 ate of the deceased Erifasi Kizi}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 to according to law. That an earlier such meeting had appointed him a customary heir of the deceased. That following the }{ \insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 authorization}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 by that meeting they approached the office of the }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 Administrator General which gave them a l}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 etter of No abjection dated 19/6/86. That armed with that letter of No objection, they petitioned for }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 grant of Letters of Administration to enable them A}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dminister}{ \insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 the Estate of the late Erifasi}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 Kizito according to law. }{\i\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 That the deceased was not married to any }{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 woman customarily or otherwise b}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ut that he was survived by nine children whom he got from six different women friends. T}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 hat the defendant was one of those six women friends of the deceased }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 and had mothered two children K}{\insrsid14251809\charrsid4271487 itengeza and Nabibubu Florence. }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 That the defendant never stayed together with the deceased. T}{\insrsid11626573\charrsid4271487 hat she stays at Bugerere. Bam}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ujje further testified that a lady called Dorothy Nabazziwa also mothered three children for the deceased but that he never lived together with her. Keti Namyalo PW2 c}{ \insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 orroborated the evidence of Bam}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ujje (PW1) in all material particulars.}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 From the above evidence Mr}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 . Balikuddembe counsel for the}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 Plaintiffs prayed that the defendant\rquote s caveat}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 be removed and the Letters of Ad}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 ministration granted to the two surviving plaintiffs to }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 administer}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 the Estate of the deceased Eri}{ \insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 f}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 a}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 s}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 i Ki}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 zito. }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 That there }{ \insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 should be no order as to cost. \par Under section 6 of the Administrator General Act}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 no grant of Letters of}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 Administration}{\b\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 shall be made to any person except an executor appointed by will or to a widower or a widow until the applicant}{\b\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 has produce}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 d to the court proof that the A}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dministrator General or its }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 agent}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 has declined to administer the Estate or proof that Notice of at least 14 cl}{ \insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 ear days has been given to the A}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dministrator General of inte}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 ntion to apply for such grant. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 In the instant case, there is sufficient }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 evidence that the Administrator G}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 eneral has declined to administer}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 the Estate of this deceased. T}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 he Letter of No objection issued to the Plaintiffs from that office on 19/6/86 is evidence of that decl}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 ine. It is on the court record. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 It is the law that when considering grant of Letters of Administration, the widower or widow of the deceased takes }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 precedence}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 over all other relatives of the deceased. This is covered under section}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 6 of the Administrator General\rquote s Act. \par }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 In the instant case, there is contention for grant of Letters of }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 A}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 dministration between the plaintiffs and the defendant who claims to be the widow of the deceased. Under the pr}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 ovision of the above section of }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 the Administrator General\rquote s Act, the defendant should take precedence}{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 over the plaintiffs in }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 consideration for th is grant if only it can be shown that she is infact a widow of the deceased. Unfortunately no evidence was adduced to show that she was married to the deceased either customarily or at all or that she was }{\insrsid15423493\charrsid4271487 cohabitating with the deceased at}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 the time of his death. Having a child or children by the deceased is not enough to confer on the women widowhood. In the absence of the above type of evidence, the defendant\rquote s issue of widowhood is not proved. In the circumstanc}{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 es her }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 claim must fail. Consequently the caveat which she had lodged against the plaintiffs}{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 \rquote }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 application must be removed and}{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 the Letters of Administration granted to the }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 two surviving Pla}{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 intiffs. Judgment is therefore }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 given to the Plaintiffs in those terms. No order is made as to cos}{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 ts of this suit.}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 }{\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487

\par \par }\pard \s15\qj \li6480\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin6480\itap0\pararsid14645594 {\insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\insrsid4271487 ..}{ \insrsid14645594\charrsid4271487 G. M. OKELLO \line JUDGE}{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 \line }{\i\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 13/4/92 \line }{\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6297286 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid6297286\charrsid4271487 \par }}