Maria Nansubuga & Ors v Iganga Town Council (MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 05 OF 2008) (MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 05 OF 2008) [2008] UGHC 15 (3 October 2008)

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.}}{\*\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\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5188799 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799\charrsid11145192 REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT JINJA \par MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. }{\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 05}{\b\fs26\insrsid5188799\charrsid11145192 OF 200}{\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 8 \par \par IN THE MATTER OF THE DECISION OF THE TOWN CLERK OF IGANGA TOWN COUNCIL TO SUSPEND THE OPERATION LICENCE }{\b\fs26\insrsid2193307 OF }{\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 EASTERN TOURS AND TRANSPORT \par \par AND \par \par IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPLY FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW SEEKING THE PREROGATIVE ORDERS OF CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION AND MANDAMUS AND DAMAGES \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\fs26\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid5188799 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li360\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid5188799 { \b\fs26\insrsid5188799 MARIA NANSUBUGA \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\fs26\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid5188799 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}YOANA IRUNGU \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\fs26\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid5188799 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}GODFREY WALUMBE \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\fs26\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid5188799 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}GRACE MWASE :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\b\fs26\insrsid2193307 APPLICANTS}{\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5188799 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2193307 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5188799 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 \par IGANGA TOWN COUNCIL::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5188799 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799 RULING \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2193307 {\fs26\insrsid5188799 The applicants who are the operators of a transport business in Iganga brought this application under s. 36 of the Judicature Act and the Civil Procedure (Amendment) (Judicial Review) }{\fs26\insrsid2193307 Rules}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 , 2003, SI}{ \fs26\insrsid6515513 .}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 No}{\fs26\insrsid6515513 .}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 75 of 2003, now order 46A of the Civil Procedure }{\fs26\insrsid2193307 Rules}{\fs26\insrsid7424091 . They sought }{\fs26\insrsid5188799 for leave to file an application for judicial review of a }{\fs26\insrsid2193307 decision}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 made against them by Iganga Town Council, the }{\fs26\insrsid7424091 respondent}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 . The application was sup ported by a statement and the affidavit of the 1}{\fs26\super\insrsid5188799\charrsid5188799 st}{\fs26\insrsid5188799 applicant both dated the }{\fs26\insrsid7100303 15}{\fs26\super\insrsid7100303\charrsid7100303 th}{\fs26\insrsid7100303 of April 2008.} {\fs26\insrsid5188799 \par }{\fs26\insrsid2193307 \par The facts on which the application is based are contained in the affidavit in support and are briefly laid out here. }{\fs26\insrsid3234159 In}{\fs26\insrsid2193307 November 2007, the applicants register ed a business name with the registrar of Companies to carry out business as transport managers named Eastern Tours and Transport. They obtained a licence to carry on business from Iganga Town }{\fs26\insrsid7424091 Council}{\fs26\insrsid2193307 , Annexure B to the affidavit in support. The applicants carried on the business of transporting passengers and goods, and hire of motor vehicles}{\fs26\insrsid7424091 in Iganga Town}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 . \par \par On the 16}{\fs26\super\insrsid15811599\charrsid15811599 th}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 January 2008, Iganga Town Council official}{\fs26\insrsid7424091 s}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 served a notice on the applicants suspending their operation licence, Annexure \'93C\'94 to the affidavit in support of the application. It was alleged in the suspension letter that the applicants were reported by unspecified persons to be engaged in touting, loading and off loading of passengers along the streets of Iganga }{ \fs26\insrsid6515513 t}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 own contrary to their ma ndate which was to handle tourists travelling to predestined destinations and not passengers travelling on fixed routes. It was also alleged that the applicants were in their business jeopardising the collection o}{\fs26\insrsid7424091 f}{ \fs26\insrsid15811599 revenues by the council and that their activities were illegal. The business was suspended pending investigations by council into whether or not their activities were }{\i\fs26\insrsid15811599\charrsid6034635 ultra vires}{ \fs26\insrsid15811599 their mandate as }{\fs26\insrsid5857047 licensed}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 .}{\fs26\insrsid2193307 \par }{\fs26\insrsid15811599 \par The 1}{\fs26\super\insrsid15811599\charrsid15811599 st}{\fs26\insrsid15811599 applicant averred that th}{\fs26\insrsid16348155 e Council had deliberately set the wrong law, regulatio ns and conditions to govern their licence and that these had been used to suspend the applicants\rquote business which they had always known to have been }{\fs26\insrsid5857047 licensed}{\fs26\insrsid16348155 as general transport business.}{ \fs26\insrsid5857047 The 1}{\fs26\super\insrsid5857047\charrsid5857047 st}{\fs26\insrsid5857047 applicant also denied that they were engaged in touting along the streets of Iganga}{\fs26\insrsid7419504 , and averred that the vehicles alleged to have been engaged in the stated activities did not belong to the applicants. Further that the parties had paid the required fees for their licences and they were not in anyway prejudicing collection of revenues by the Council. It was }{\fs26\insrsid883254 therefore}{\fs26\insrsid7419504 the contention of the applicants that the punishment of suspension imposed by the council was unfair and intended to create an illegal m}{ \fs26\insrsid883254 onopoly for Taxi Park }{\fs26\insrsid1855411 tenderers, }{\fs26\insrsid883254 in effect }{\fs26\insrsid7419504 forcing all other operators to merge with them.}{\fs26\insrsid883254 As a result of this the applicant\rquote s 13 motor vehicles which were earning shs 910,000/= a day had to stop operating causing the applicants financial loss from the 16/01/08 to date. \par \par The applicants contend that the}{\fs26\insrsid4858329 se}{\fs26\insrsid883254 action}{\fs26\insrsid4858329 s}{\fs26\insrsid883254 of the council ha}{\fs26\insrsid1855411 d}{\fs26\insrsid883254 caused them suffering, }{\fs26\insrsid4858329 inconvenience }{\fs26\insrsid883254 and embarrassment and }{\fs26\insrsid4858329 the suspension is a}{\fs26\insrsid883254 denial of their right to earn a living, and that they have not pursued }{\fs26\insrsid4858329 damages}{\fs26\insrsid883254 against the respondent because they would not be adequate to compensate them for their loss. They thus seek leave to apply for the prerogative }{\fs26\insrsid7762516 writ}{\fs26\insrsid883254 of certiorari, prohibition}{\fs26\insrsid11366463 to restrain the Town Clerk from rescinding their license,}{\fs26\insrsid883254 and mandamus}{\fs26\insrsid7762516 to have the Town Clerk issue a license under the proper law or rules applying to the applicant\rquote s business}{\fs26\insrsid883254 , as well as damages against the respondent. \par }{\fs26\insrsid6034635 \par In order for this court to consider such an application the applicant must present facts that would satisfy court that a prima facie case exists for leave to be granted. This test was established in the case of }{\b\fs26\insrsid6034635\charrsid1646617 Kikonda Butema Farmers Ltd. v. In}{\b\fs26\insrsid1646617\charrsid1646617 spector General of Government, Uganda Court of Appeal Civil Appeal No. 35 of 2002}{\fs26\insrsid1646617 (Unreported). In the case of }{\b\fs26\insrsid1646617\charrsid1855411 Professor Francis Omaswa & Dr. Catherine Omaswa, Msc Application No. 179 of 2006,}{\fs26\insrsid1646617 this court held that further consideration of the court is }{\fs26\insrsid1855411 the}{\fs26\insrsid1646617 magnitude of seriousness }{ \fs26\insrsid1855411 of }{\fs26\insrsid1646617 he complaint raised by the applicant}{\fs26\insrsid3234159 ; the}{\fs26\insrsid1646617 more serious the complaint the greater the necessity that the same be investigated by the court by way of judicial review. }{\fs26\insrsid15353314 Having stated the law, }{\fs26\insrsid1646617 I shall now turn to the case made out by the applicants and examine whether it is deserving of an application before this court for judicial review.}{\fs26\insrsid6034635 \par }{\fs26\insrsid3234159 \par The applicants have a business which is duly registered under the laws of Uganda and was license d by the respondent Council to carry on business in Iganga town. Without any notice, the respondent suspended their operations and without giving them a hearing to establish whether they were guilty of the alleged offences or not. This is clearly agains t the rules of natural justice enshrined in Article }{\fs26\insrsid15353314 28}{\fs26\insrsid3234159 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.}{\fs26\insrsid15353314 The right to be heard in a civil dispute is an inalienable right that should be observed by the courts and civil authorities while exercising their discretion in matters that touch upon other important rights of citizens.}{\fs26\insrsid3234159 \par }{\fs26\insrsid15353314 \par The applicants }{\fs26\insrsid12342364 have also convinced this court that they have unjustly been prevented from carrying out their business by the respondent and they have suffered loss which cannot be atoned for by damages. The applicants are entitled to earning a living in the manner that they have chosen if it does not contravene any law. Article 40 (2) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that every person in Uganda has the right to practice his or her profession and to carry on any lawful occupation, trade or business. The respondent did not give the applicants an opportunity to be heard and unilaterally suspended their license. }{\fs26\insrsid6515513 \par \par }{\fs26\insrsid12342364 The applicants }{\fs26\insrsid6515513 further }{\fs26\insrsid12342364 contend that}{\fs26\insrsid6515513 the suspension of their license was}{\fs26\insrsid12342364 this was }{\fs26\insrsid6515513 effected in order}{ \fs26\insrsid12342364 to promote other transport operators favoured by the respondent. This needs to be investigated because Article 42 of the Constitution of Uganda provides that any person appearing before any administrative official body has a ri ght to be treated justly and fairly and shall have a right to apply to a court of law in respect of any administrative decision taken against him or her.}{\fs26\insrsid15353314 \par }{\fs26\insrsid14433955 \par In conclusion, I find that the applicants have made out a prima facie case against the respondent. T hey are therefore hereby granted leave to bring an application for judicial review for the reliefs claimed in their application. Such application shall be filed within 30 days from the date of this order and the costs of this application shall abide the main application for judicial review. \par }{\fs26\insrsid15142349 \par \par \par }{\b\fs26\insrsid15142349\charrsid5460426 Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza \par JUDGE \par 3/10/08 \par }{\fs26\insrsid14433955 \par }{\fs26\insrsid14433955\charrsid5188799 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5188799 {\b\fs26\insrsid5188799\charrsid11145192 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid12126055 \par }}