Star Super Market (U) Ltd v Attorney General (Civil Suit No. 485 of 1999) [2000] UGHC 25 (24 April 2000)

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)}}{\*\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\ipgp1\pararsid2319349 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 THE REPUB}{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 LIC OF UGA}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 ND}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 A \line IN }{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 THE}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 HIGH COURT OF }{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 UGANDA}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 AT }{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 KAMPALA}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \line }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 CIVIL SUIT 485/99 }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \line STAR SUPER }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 MARKET}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 (U) LTD}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 PLAINTIFF \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 - }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 VERSUS }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 - \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 ATTORNEY GENERAL}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 DEFENDANT \line BEFORE: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. O. }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349\charrsid2319349 OKU}{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 MU}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 WENGI \line }{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid2319349 JUDGEMENT }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid14113507 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 The plaintiff brought this suit ag ainst the Attorney General to recover the sum of Shs. 101,032,000. This was the balance of the value of emergency dry rations the plaintiff supplied to the Uganda Peoples Defence forces in May 1998. The plaintiff\rquote s case is that he was required to make the emergency supply he did at short notice as he was required to do. He further claimed that he received payment of half of this money only on 26th March 1999, some 9 months after the supply, yet he had been assured of payment by cash immediately after deliv ery. In his plaint he has claimed the above sum together with damages for loss resulting from a differential in exchange rates and loss of profits and interest. \line In his defence which was filed late the Attorney General generally required strict proof of the debt. The plaintiff called only one witness while the }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349 defendant called none. In his }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 testimony, the }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2319349\charrsid14113507 plaintiffs}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Managing Director described the transaction subject of this action and provided all the documents needed to prove it. He tendered the order an d letters indicating the action by the UPDF in expediting the clearing of the food items at Entebbe Airport. He also provided delivery notes and invoices. The Managing Director also indicated that his company had ordered the goods in dollars and as such t he claim was made at the old exchange rate then subsisting in 1998. He further stated that by having the money locked up he was denied turnover in profits and claimed this loss as well. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Having seen the pleadings and the evidence led in proof thereof this c ourt is satisfied that indeed there was a clear contract which was fulfilled by the plaintiff but which was only partly honoured by the UPDF who firstly paid late only 50% of the value of the goods it received. The defendant is clearly liable for the brea ch which occurred and must pay the claim. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Accordingly I enter judgment in favour of the plainti}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 ff for the sum of Shs. 101,032,00}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 0 which is pleaded in paragraph 3, 4 (c) and (g) and in the prayers. There is no pleading or prayer indicating what the total cla im was in dollars. Even all the documents and evidence adduced related to Uganda shillings. It must be taken that the transaction subject of this suit was purely in Uganda shillings and judgement has been recorded in Uganda shillings. There is therefore n o way that the exchange rate of shs. 1200 or shs. 1450 to the dollar referred to in paragraph 5(a) of the plaint arises and in what way. This Court can only conclude that the parties clearly dealt in Uganda shillings and profits were included in the values }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 put forward and }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 the plaintiff must have included this in these values. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 On the question of delayed pay}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 ment the mechanism of interest }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 is sufficient to compensate the plaintiff. I accordingly award him interest on the decretal sum at the rate of (six) 6% effective from 19th June 1998 to the date of payment. The defendant will also pay the costs of this suit. Since interest has been awarded there is no reason to decree general damages as this turned out to be a claim for a liquidated demand. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid6494659 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 R. O. Okumu }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 W}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 engi \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Judge }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \line 25/4/2000 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid6494659 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 24/4/2000 Wambuga for plaintiff \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Musika for defendant. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Rose Emeru - Court clerk. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1\pararsid14113507 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 Judgment read in open court in the presence of the above persons. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6494659 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \line \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14113507 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid10776386\charrsid14113507 \par }}