Habre International Trading Co (u) Ltd v Kampala City Council (HCT-00-CV-CS-0763 OF 1994) (HCT-00-CV-CS-0763 of 1994) [2002] UGHC 27 (12 November 2002)

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Jessica chemeri}{\operator Wor. Jessica chemeri}{\creatim\yr2008\mo7\dy25\hr11\min38}{\revtim\yr2008\mo7\dy25\hr16\min42}{\version2}{\edmins6}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords865}{\nofchars4936}{\nofcharsws5790}{\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\rsidroot12587502\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0{\*\ftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid14181773 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\ftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid14181773 \chftnsepc \par }}{\*\aftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid14181773 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\aftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid14181773 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\pvpara\phmrg\posxr\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12853876 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs17\insrsid14181773 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs17\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid14181773 1}}}{\cs17\insrsid14181773 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri360\widctlpar\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin360\lin0\itap0\pararsid14181773 {\insrsid14181773 \par }}{\*\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\pararsid14181773 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \line HCT-OO-CV-CS-0763 OF 1994 \line HABRE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO. (U) LTD}{\b\insrsid14181773 :::::::::::::::::}{\b\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 PLAINTIFF \line VERSUS \line KAMPALA}{\b\insrsid14181773 CITY COUNCI}{\b\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 L }{\b\insrsid14181773 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\b\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 DEFENDANT \line }{\b\ul\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 BEFORE: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE FMS EGONDA-NTENDE \line JUDGEMENT }{\b\insrsid14181773

\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14181773 {\insrsid14181773 1. }{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 The plaintiff claims to be the owner of plots No. 3779 and 4805, Block 244 }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 situate}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 at Tank Hill, Muyenga within the city of Kampala. At the material time there was partial development of this property. It is alleged that in November 1993, the defendant\rquote s employees and servants entered on the said property and demolished one of the structures thereon, valued at shs.35,000,000.00 (Shillings thirty five million) only. The plaintiff seeks to re cover the said sum as well as general damages and costs of this suit. \line 2. The defendant opposes this action and has set up several defences including the claim that its servants or employees have never actually carried out demolition of the structure as al leged by the plaintiff. A number of points of law were raised, and one of them could dispose of this suit, should it prove to be successful. I will start with the same. \line 3. The defendant claims that this action was drawn and filed by a firm of Advocates, whose sole }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 proprietor}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 did not have a }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 practicing}{ \insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 certificate at the time the firm drew, signed and filed the present action in court. By a majority decision in }{\b\ul\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 Professor Syed Huq v The Islamic University of Uganda, Civil Appeal No. 47 of 1995}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 , the Supreme Court held that documents prepared or filed by an Advocate who did not have a valid }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 practicing}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 certificate at the material time are invalid, and of no legal effect, on the principle that courts will not condone or perpetuate illegalities. \par 4. The defendant tendered in evidence a certified copy of the list of advocates who had obtained }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 practicing}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 certificates for the year 1994. Mr. Dominic Kasirye was not on this list. The defendant tendered in evidence a certified copy of the certificate of registration of a business name for Kasirye and Company Advocates as well as the particulars registered in respect of Kasirye and Company Advocates. The particulars show that the firm was a sole proprietor with its owner being Dominic Kasirye. \line }{ \i\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 5. }{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 The plaintiff did not adduce any evidence in this regard. In his written submissions to this court the plaintiff\rquote s counsel states that these points of law were not raised at the beginning of the trial as they ought to have been. Secondly that at the time the point s were raised and supported with evidence the plaintiff had closed its case. It had no opportunity to rebut the evidence in question. Learned counsel for the plaintiff attacked the defence for failing to adduce evidence to show that Dominic Kasirye was th e only practitioner in the firm of Kasirye and Company Advocates. He claimed that the question of whether the lawyer who signed the pleadings had a }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 practicing}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 certificate or not remained unsubstantiated. \line 6. It has been shown by the defence that the firm th at filed this suit, Kasirye and Company Advocates was owned by one Dominic Kasirye as sole proprietor. At least this is the only conclusion one can draw from the particulars registered in respect of the said firm. Had there been any changes, notification of change in particulars registered would have had to be filed and t}{\insrsid14181773 he world notified accordingly. In}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 1994, Mr. Dominic Kasirye did not renew his }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 practicing}{ \insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 certificate. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it is reasonable to infer that the signature purporting to be for Counsel for the Plaintiff is that of Dominic Kasirye, sole proprietor of, Kasirye and Company Advocates, the firm that drew the plaint. In any case it is not in question that Kasirye and Company Advocates prepared and filed the plain t in this suit. \line }{\i\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 7. }{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 It is possible that the firm may have employees who were authorised to practise law, and could sign and present papers to court, among other things. It is only counsel for the plaintiff who would be in a position to show that that is the case. It would be within their exclusive knowledge. Counsel for plaintiff has submitted that he had no opportunity to rebut the evidence of the defence on this point, as it was not raised at the b}{\insrsid14181773 eginning of the proceedings.}{ \insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14181773 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 8. Of course it is desirab le that such points of law, such as this, be raised at the commencement of the proceedings, if for no other }{\insrsid14181773\charrsid7806163 reason;}{\insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 to save the public resources and the court\rquote s time, as trying such an issue may dispose of the whole suit. Nevertheless even if not raised at that early stage, the court is bound to adjudicate upon it once it is raised. The plaintiff could have applied for leave of court to present evidence in rebuttal. The plaintiff did not make any such application. He cannot now be heard to complain that he had no opportunity to rebut the evidence of the defence on this point. \line 9. Following the Supreme Court decision in }{\b\ul\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 Professor Syed Huq v The Islamic University in Uganda (Supra) (unreported)}{ \insrsid12587502\charrsid7806163 to the effect that \'93The documents prepared or filed by such an advocate whose practice is illegal, are invalid and of no legal effect on the principle that Courts will not condone or perpetuate illegalities.\'94 Per Wambuzi CJ, I am left with no alternative in the matter but to declare the plaint filed initially in this cas e invalid and of no legal effect, as it was prepared by Kasirye and Company Advocates, a firm that did not have a practitioner with a practising certificate. \line 10. In the result all the subsequent proceedings are incurably defective. I dismiss this suit with costs. It is unnecessary to consider any other issues, as the first one was fully determinative of this suit. \line Dated, signed and delivered at Kampala this 12th November 2002. \line }{\b\insrsid14181773\charrsid14181773 F. M.}{\b\insrsid12587502\charrsid14181773 S Egonda-Ntende \line Judge \line }{\insrsid10825639 \par }}