Kitgum Taxi Owner & Drivers Assoc. v Richard Anywar & oers (Civil Suit No. 87 Of 2007) (Civil Suit No. 87 of 2007) [2009] UGHC 31 (29 January 2009)

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{\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 \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2241879 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT GULU \par HCT \endash 02 \endash CV \endash CS \endash 087 \endash 2007 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2241879 {\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \par }{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 KITGUM TAXI OWNER & DRIVERS ASSOCATION::::::}{\b\insrsid2241879\charrsid10619535 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 ::::::::::PLAINTIFF \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2241879 {\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 VERSUS \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid2241879 { \b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 RICHARD ANYWAR \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}OTTO PETER ANKON \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}OBITA SAM \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}ODONGTOO OSMAN \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 5.\tab}OCAY}{\b\insrsid2241879\charrsid10619535 A CHURCHILL::::::::::::}{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 :::::::::::::::::DEFENDANTS \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2241879 {\ul\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 BEFORE: HIS LORDS JUSTICE REMMY K. KASULE \par \par RULING \par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2241879 {\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 The plaintiff, an organization of Taxi owners and drivers in Kitgum District, }{ \insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 sued }{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 the defendants, its members, for various reliefs arising out of the defendants\rquote management of the plaintiff in various capacities during the years 2003 to 2006. }{ \insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 The}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 defendants filed a defence to the suit. Both plaintiff and defendants were represented by legal counsel in the suit. \par \par On 21}{\super\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 st}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 August 2008, when the suit came up for hearing, the }{\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 plaintiff}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 , through their learned counsel, Pius Olaka, withdrew the suit against the defendants. The defendants, also through their learned counsel, Gilbert Nuwagaba, did not object to the withdraw of the suit, but insisted that the d efendants be awarded the costs of the withdrawn suit. Plaintiff}{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 \rquote }{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 s counsel prayed that each party meets }{\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 its}{ \insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 own costs. \par \par The issue to be resolved by court is who is to be awarded the costs of the withdrawn suit. \par \par The general rule is that costs shall follow the event and a successful party should not be deprived of costs except for good cause. See section 27 of the }{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 C}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 ivil }{ \insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 P}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 rocedure Act. In effect a successful party in a cause is entitled to costs unless that party is guilty of misconduct or there is other good cause for not awarding costs to that party.

\par \par In determining good cause}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 court considers the conduct of the parties in actual litigation and also matters which led to the litigation. The discretion of the court has to be }{ \insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 exercised}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 judiciously}{\insrsid9516201\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 and on the right principles}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{ \insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 and reasons for the decision ought to be given: }{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 See }{\b\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 Francis}{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 Butagira }{\b\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 V }{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 . Deborah Namukasa: (}{\b\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 1992 \endash 1993) H. C. B. 98; a supreme court of Uganda decision: see also D. N. DATTANI VS H. K. DAWDA (1949) EACA 35, and MULTIHOLDINGS Ltd v UGANDA C OMMERCIAL BANK (1973) E}{\b\insrsid2241879\charrsid10619535 .}{\b\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 A}{\b\insrsid2241879\charrsid10619535 .}{\b\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 28}{\b\insrsid16283638\charrsid10619535 \par }{\b\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 \par }{\insrsid2958051\charrsid10619535 In the case under consideration, court notes that the defendants are members of the plaintiff organization and according to the written statement of defence, they are the lawful executive of the plaintiff. \par }{\insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 It would appear that at the time the suit was instituted, there was another group of members}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 who too}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{ \insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 asserted they were the executive of the plaintiff. Therefore the fact that the suit was brought in the names of the plaintiff, and not in the individual names of any one, means that an order for costs}{ \insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 for or against the plaintiff will}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 have to be satisfied by whoever is the legitimate executive of the plaintiff. Such }{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 executive }{\insrsid339611\charrsid10619535 could as well be that constituted by the defendants. In such an event, in practical terms, the costs will be for and at the same time against the defendants as the executive of the plaintiff. \par }{\insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 \par Court also notes from the pleadings in the suit that the}{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 r}{\insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 e were serious issues for resolution as regards the internal management of the plaintiff, of which t he defendants are part and parcel thereof}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 ,}{\insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 as members, and also, according to their assertion in the written statement of }{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 defence, as executive. }{ \insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 It cannot be said therefo}{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 r}{\insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 e that the institution of the suit, let }{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 alone the filing of the defence, was an act of misconduct on the}{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 }{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 part of the plaintiff as an }{\insrsid2241879\charrsid10619535 organization}{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 , or the defendants as those being }{ \insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 sued}{\insrsid3357287\charrsid10619535 .}{\insrsid15745828\charrsid10619535 \par }{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 \par Bearing in mind the Law and the facts of the case and the conduct as well as the relationship of the parties to the suit, court, in the exercise of its }{\insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 discretion}{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 , orders that each}{ \insrsid1247101\charrsid10619535 }{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 party does bear its own costs of the withdrawn suit. It is so ordered. \par \par \par \par ................................................... \par Remmy K. Kasule \par Judge \par 30}{\super\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 th}{\insrsid8858096\charrsid10619535 January, 2009 \par }}