Kusiima Geofrey v Yahaya Jas and Gerison Katanywa - Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003 (Civil Suit No 0067 of 2003) [2003] UGHC 3 (1 January 2003)

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\rsid934691\rsid1453427\rsid1770113\rsid1975629\rsid2229420\rsid2884014\rsid3044677\rsid5666151\rsid6163490\rsid6373761\rsid6903009\rsid9583504\rsid9721493\rsid9772625\rsid10505816\rsid12539748\rsid13070169 \rsid16402321}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.6568;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author Galiwango Esther}{\operator Harry Mak}{\creatim\yr2006\mo7\dy13\hr17\min42}{\revtim\yr2006\mo7\dy13\hr17\min42}{\printim\yr2006\mo6\dy7\hr15\min6} {\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords993}{\nofchars5666}{\*\company Courts of Judicature}{\nofcharsws6646}{\vern24579}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\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\rsidroot1975629\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0\sectd \linex0\headery708\footery708\colsx708\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 \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid8933123 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par \par IN THE }{\fs28\insrsid1975629 HIGH}{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid8933123 COURT OF }{\fs28\insrsid1975629 UGANDA}{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid8933123 AT FORT PORTAL}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 \par \par }{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 CIVIL SUIT NO 0067 OF 2003 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \par KUSIIMA GEOFREY \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 \'85..}{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.. PLAINTIFF \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 {\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1975629 { \fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 YAHAYA JAS\tab \tab }{\fs28\insrsid1975629 }{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \} \par {\listtext\pard\plain\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}GERISON KATANYWA}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 }{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \} \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.. DEFENDANTS}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 {\fs28\insrsid1975629 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 {\fs28\insrsid1975629 BEFORE: HON.}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 MR.}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 JUSTICE LAMECK N. MUKASA \par \par JUDGMENT: \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid1975629 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid1975629 \tab The plaintiff\rquote s claim against the Defendant\rquote s is for recovery of special and general damages, interest thereon and costs. On 6}{\fs28\super\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 th}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 October, 2003 summons to file written statements defence were served on the defendants as per an affidavit sworn by Jackson Mwesigye and filed in Court on 22}{\fs28\super\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 nd}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 October 2003. Both }{ \fs28\insrsid2229420 defendants did not file their written statements of defence and an interlocutory judgment was entered against the}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 m}{\fs28\insrsid2229420 under the provisions of Order 9 rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules by the Deputy Registrar. The suit was set down for formal proof hearing.}{\fs28\insrsid1975629 \par }{\fs28\insrsid2229420 \par \tab The plaintiff was represented by Mr. Jonathan B. Abaine. In his evidence the Plaintiff, Geoffrey Kusiima, testified that he had }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 rented}{\fs28\insrsid2229420 land at Masindi from the first defendant Yahaya Jas f or purposes of grazing his cattle. The plaintiff kept the}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 r}{\fs28\insrsid2229420 e 120 heads of cattle. He left the cattle under the care of his two herdsmen, Kayibanda and Kayumba, who were working under the supervision of the first defendant. The plaintiff received communication from one Sande}{\fs28\insrsid6163490 that his }{ \fs28\insrsid5666151 cow}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 s}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 ha}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 d}{\fs28\insrsid6163490 been sold and seven of them traced at Uganda Meat Packers at Kampala. That at Kampala seven heads of cattle were recovered from the second defendant Gerison Katanywa. The second defendant informed the plaintiff that the cows had been given to him by the first defendant to sell them from him. At the farm }{\fs28\insrsid2884014 the plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid6163490 found that 70 heads of cattle were missing. The herdsmen told the plaintiff that the first defenda}{ \fs28\insrsid1770113 n}{\fs28\insrsid6163490 t had told them that the Plaintiff has directed him to sell the cows. When asked the first defendant informed the plaintiff that the missing cows had died. The first defendant could not show the plaintiff the hides as proof of death. The plaintiff is seeking to recove}{\fs28\insrsid12539748 r the value of the missing cows from the defendants. \par \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid12539748 In support of his claim the plaintiff called the evidence of Kezimbira Ephraim. The witness testified that he intercepted five of the plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 \rquote }{\fs28\insrsid12539748 s cows. That he first intercepted two cows which he found being loaded on a truck by the second defendant in the market at Kijunjubwa Masindi. That when the witness inquired from the }{\fs28\insrsid16402321 second defendant}{\fs28\insrsid12539748 why he was selling the Plaintiffs cows the second defendant informed the witness }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 that }{\fs28\insrsid12539748 he had been requested by the first defendant to sell the cows. About a month later the witness saw }{ \fs28\insrsid9583504 another }{\fs28\insrsid12539748 three of the plaintiffs cows brought in the market by one Kayondo.}{\fs28\insrsid9721493 When asked Kayondo informed the witness that the cows had been sold to him by the second defendant. When the witness contacted the second d efendant, he informed the witness that he had bought the cows from the first defendant. That when the witness asked the first defendant , the first defendant only admitted having sold only one cow to get money for the cows treatment. The first defendan t informed the witness that the other four cows had died. The witness decided to inform the Plaintiff about the five cows he had seen being sold. }{\fs28\insrsid2229420 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid9721493 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid9721493 The above evidence show}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 s}{\fs28\insrsid9721493 that the plaintiff had entrusted the supervision }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 o}{\fs28\insrsid9721493 f his cattle with the first defendant. Seventy heads of cattle out of the 120 on the plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 \rquote }{\fs28\insrsid9721493 s farm went missing. On two occasions PW2 Kazimbira Ephraim., who was familiar with the plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid5666151 \rquote }{\fs28\insrsid9721493 s cattle as they shared the same Kraal, found five cows of the plaintiff in the market at Kaj unjubwa Masindi }{\fs28\insrsid16402321 being loaded on trucks. On the first occasion he saw two cows and on the second occasion he saw three cows. On the first occasion the cows were being loaded by the second }{\fs28\insrsid1453427 defendant. On the second occasion the cows were being loaded by one Kayondo who claimed that he had brought them from the second defendant. On both occasions the second defendant claimed }{\fs28\insrsid3044677 to have got the cows from the first defendant. It is the evidence of the plaintiff }{\fs28\insrsid5666151 that when}{\fs28\insrsid3044677 he learnt of this illegal practice and t ook action seven of his cows were recovered from the second defendant at the Uganda Meat Packers, Kampala. The evidence shows that the defendants were in the practice of converting the plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 \rquote }{\fs28\insrsid3044677 s cows to their personal financial gain. It is the evidence of }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 the}{\fs28\insrsid3044677 plaintiff and }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 his}{\fs28\insrsid3044677 witness that the cows were mature and the prevailing market price at Masindi was Shs350,00}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 0}{\fs28\insrsid3044677 /= per cow.}{\fs28\insrsid9721493 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid3044677 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid3044677 None of the defendants filed a written statement of defence. In the circumstances the plaintiff}{ \fs28\insrsid5666151 \rquote }{\fs28\insrsid3044677 s evidence is neither denied nor rebutted by any evidence or pleading to the contrary. In }{\fs28\ul\insrsid3044677\charrsid9772625 Agadi Did}{\fs28\ul\insrsid9583504\charrsid9772625 i}{ \fs28\ul\insrsid3044677\charrsid9772625 V/S Jane Namakajo H. C. C. S. No. 1230 of 1998}{\fs28\ul\insrsid9583504\charrsid9772625 (}{\fs28\ul\insrsid3044677\charrsid9772625 (1989) KALR 180)}{\fs28\insrsid10505816 it was held that failure to file a defence raise}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 s}{\fs28\insrsid10505816 a presumption or constructive admission of the claim made in the plaint and the story by the plaintiff }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 in }{\fs28\insrsid10505816 the absence of a defence to contradict it, must be accepted as the truth }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 S}{\fs28\insrsid10505816 ee also }{\fs28\ul\insrsid10505816\charrsid9583504 Francis Babuzabirwa V/S Faidi Ali t/a Muhamed\rquote s Garage H. C. C. S. No. 623 of 1992}{\fs28\insrsid10505816 . }{\fs28\insrsid3044677 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid10505816 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid10505816 In the circumstances I find that the plaintiff has on a balance of probabilities proved that the defendants took the plaintiffs cows from his farm and sold them for their personal gain. In total 70 heads of cattle wee taken of which only seven heads of cattle were recovered from the Uganda Meat Packers by t he Plainti}{\fs28\insrsid1770113 ff. 63 heads of cattle were not recovered. The plaintiff is entitled to recover the value of the 63 cows at the prevailing price of Shs350,000/= per head making a total sum of Shs22,050,000/=. The plaintiff is awarded special damages in the sum of shs22,050,000/=.}{\fs28\insrsid10505816 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid1770113 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid1770113 The plaintiff also claimed for general damages. The evidence shows that the plaintiff did no authorize the sale of his cattle. Neither is there evidence to show that the Plaintiff had intentions of to sell the cows at the material tim e. It is the Plaintiff}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 \rquote s}{\fs28\insrsid1770113 evidence that after learning of the sale of his cows he reported the matter at the Police Headquarters at Kampala where he was referred to Masindi Police Station }{ \fs28\insrsid9583504 where}{\fs28\insrsid1770113 he was advised to file this suit. The seven cows recovered from the Uganda Meat Parkers had to be transported back to Masindi. The plaintiff must have incurred expe}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 n}{ \fs28\insrsid1770113 s}{\fs28\insrsid9583504 e}{\fs28\insrsid1770113 s and }{\fs28\insrsid5666151 was inevitably inconvenienced . There was no guidance offered in this regard, however, I find the sum Shs2,200,000/= adequate as general damag es and award the same. }{\fs28\insrsid1770113 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 The Plaintiff is awarded interest on both the special and general damages at the court rate from the date of this judgment until payment is }{\fs28\insrsid9583504 in }{\fs28\insrsid5666151 full. The plaintiff is also awarded costs of this suit. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6373761 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5666151 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 Lameck N. Mukasa \par Judge \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1975629 {\fs28\insrsid5666151 \par }{\fs28\insrsid3044677 \par \par }{\fs28\insrsid1975629\charrsid1975629 \par \par }{\insrsid1975629 \par }}