Judicature (Small Claims Procedure) Rules, 2011

Section Title Section These Rules may be cited as the Judicature (Small Claims Procedure) Rules, 2011.

Section Commencement Section These Rules shall come into force on the 30th day of May, 2011.

Section Interpretation Section In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires— " Court " means the High Court and in particular the Commercial Court Division, a Chief Magistrates’ Court and a Magistrate Grade 1 Court; " judicial officer " means a Judge, Chief Magistrate or Magistrate Grade 1; " small claim " means a matter whose subject matter does not exceed ten million Uganda shillings; " small claims procedure " means the procedure established under rule 4.

Section Establishment of Small Claims Procedure Section There is established a procedure known as the Small Claims Procedure. The objects of the Small Claims Procedure are to adjudicate over small claims and to perform any other matters that may be conferred by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice may by notice published in the Gazette designate a court where these Rules shall apply. The High Court shall have general powers of supervision over matters of small claims in magistrates courts.

Section Jurisdiction Section These Rules shall not apply to— A Small Claims Procedure shall cover a case whose subject matter does not exceed ten million Uganda shillings. family disputes relating to the management of an estate; a claim against the Government; a suit for defamation, malicious prosecution, wrongful imprisonment, wrongful arrest or seduction; a petition for divorce, nullification of marriage or separation of spouses; a case involving the validity of a will; a claim in which specific performance is sought without an alternative claim for payment of damages, except in the case of a claim for rendering an account or transferring movable property and disputes arising out of tenancy agreements not exceeding ten million Uganda shillings in value; or contracts of service and contracts for service.

Section Record of proceedings Section In every case, the Court shall keep a record of its proceedings in writing, and every record shall include the following particulars— the serial number of the case; the statement of claim; the date of hearing the case; the names and addresses of the claimant and his or her witnesses; the names and addresses of the defendant and his or her witnesses; a summary of the evidence of the witnesses; the documentary exhibits, if any; the judgment or final orders of the Court and the date of the judgment or final orders; the date of payment of the judgment debt, if any; and the particulars of execution of the judgment, if any.

Section Assignment to a judicial officer Section The Chief Justice may assign a judicial officer to— preside over a case in the Small Claims Procedure; and carry out any other duties incidental to the above objects.

Section Hearing Section The parties to a small claim shall, on the day and time of hearing— appear in person with all the relevant documents and exhibits to the claim, written statement of defence or counterclaim; ensure that any witness or witnesses in support of his or her claim are present in Court ; and have proof that the summons, written statement of defence or counterclaim was served upon the other party or parties.

Section Judicial officer’s duties at hearing Section A judicial officer shall ensure that the proceedings at the hearing are in accordance with the provisions of rule 25. The judicial officer shall request the claimant on oath to state the facts of his or her claim clearly and submit any document or exhibit relevant to the claim. The claimant shall answer any questions that may be asked by the judicial officer or any other party to the claim. The judicial officer shall request the defendant on oath to respond to the claim presented under sub-rule (2) and the defendant shall answer any questions asked by the judicial officer or the other party to the claim.

Section Alternative dispute resolution Section A judicial officer shall, in any appropriate case, refer the parties to mediation, arbitration or other form of alternative dispute resolution within fourteen days before the hearing of a case. Where the parties reach an agreement under sub-rule (1), the judicial officer shall register a consent judgment.

Section Witnesses Section A judicial officer may allow a witness to the case to give evidence on oath, which is relevant to the claim, a written statement of defence or counterclaim and the witness shall answer any questions asked by the judicial officer or any other party to the claim. The judicial officer shall permit only one witness to be present in the Courtroom at the time of giving testimony and a witness who has already testified in the case may attend the proceedings. A judicial officer shall have powers to summon a required witness where the circumstances warrant.

Section Cross examination Section Cross-examination between the parties or of any witness is not permitted, but the judicial officer may inquire into any aspect of the evidence that has been adduced in court.

Section Parties who may appear in Court Section Only a natural person may institute an action in court, but a body corporate may become a party to an action in a court as a defendant. A party to an action shall appear in person before a court and, shall not be represented by an advocate during the proceedings. In case of a body corporate, it may appear before court by a representative not being an advocate.

Section Notice of demand Section A person shall, before instituting a small claim under these Rules, give a notice of demand to the defendant specified in Schedule 1, requesting him or her to satisfy a small claim within fourteen days of receipt of the notice of demand.

Section Claim form Section A person instituting a small claim shall— A person may institute a small claim by filing a claim form specified in Schedule 2. attach to the claim a copy of the notice of demand specified in rule 10 and an affidavit of service specified in Schedule 4; attach to the claim a copy of any agreement, document or other proof upon which the claim is based; indicate the full name and address of the intended defendant; and give any other information relevant for the speedy disposal of the claim.

Section Where to institute a small claim Section Subject to rule 4(3), every suit shall be instituted in a court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the cause of action wholly or in part arises. In the case of a rental dispute or claim, a small claim shall be instituted in a Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is situated or where the defendant resides.

Section Service of summons Section A claimant shall, in person or through a designated Court process server, serve the summons specified in Schedule 4, upon the defendant. The claimant or Court process server shall, within seven days of service, file an affidavit of service specified in Schedule 3, showing proof of service of the claim upon the defendant.

Section Response of defendant Section A defendant shall, upon receipt of the summons— satisfy the debt or claim owed to the claimant; or deliver, to the Court , a written statement of defence and counterclaim as specified in Schedule 5, containing the nature of his or her defence and particulars of the grounds on which it is based; or institute a counterclaim by delivering a written statement of defence and counterclaim which contains particulars of the claim to the clerk of the Court .

Section Service of counterclaim Section The defendant or a designated Court process server shall serve a copy of the written statement of defence and counterclaim provided for in rule 13(b) or (c), upon the claimant, within fourteen days of filing the written statement of defence and counterclaim in Court .

Section Reply to counter claim Section Where the defendant has filed a defence which includes a counterclaim under rule 13(c), the claimant shall, within fourteen days of service of the written statement of defence and counterclaim— file a reply to the counterclaim specified in Schedule 6; or notify the Court in writing, that he or she shall reply to the counterclaim at the hearing of the case.

Section Satisfied claim Section Where a defendant satisfies a claim under rule 13(a), the claimant shall— give him or her a receipt or written acknowledgement of receipt of the money owed, a copy of which shall be given to the Court ; and inform the Court in writing within seven days of acknowledgement of receipt that he or she shall not proceed with the case filed in the Court .

Section Default judgment Section Where a defendant does not respond to the summons duly served upon him or her under rule 12, the Court shall, upon proof of service, enter judgment for the claimant.

Section Splitting of claims Section A claim exceeding the jurisdiction of a court and based on one and the same cause of action may not be split with the object of recovering it in more than one action, if the parties to those actions and the point in issue in those actions are the same.

Section Cumulative jurisdiction Section If two or more claims, each based upon a different cause of action are combined in one summons, the court shall have the same jurisdiction to adjudicate upon each claim as it would have had, if each claim had formed the sole object of a separate action.

Section Proceedings of Small Claims Procedure Section The Court shall hear every case before it expeditiously and without undue regard to technical rules of evidence or procedure, but in exercising its jurisdiction, the Court shall be guided by the principles of fairness, impartiality without fear or favour and adhere to the rules of natural justice, and in particular, shall ensure that— each party is given an opportunity to be heard; each party is accorded ample opportunity to call witnesses and to adduce any other evidence as he or she requires to support his or her case; and a judicial officer who has a direct or indirect interest of whatever nature in the dispute before him or her shall disqualify himself or herself from hearing the case.

Section Cessation of an action Section If a court is of the opinion that a case contains complex questions of law or fact which cannot be adequately adjudicated upon by it, it shall suspend the proceedings. If the proceedings are suspended in sub-rule (1), the claimant may institute a fresh action in another court of law which has the appropriate jurisdiction. Upon the claimant filing a fresh claim in another court of law in accordance with sub-rule(2), the claimant shall be deemed to have withdrawn the suspended proceedings and the file shall be closed accordingly.

Section Judgment Section Where the judicial officer has heard all parties and any witness to the case, he or she shall pass judgment specified in Schedule 7, immediately after the hearing or within fourteen days after hearing the case.

Section Inquiry into financial position Section After such an inquiry, the court may— Where court has granted judgment for payment of a sum of money, the court shall inquire from the judgment debtor whether he or she is able to comply with the judgment without delay, and if he or she indicates that he or she is unable to do so, the court may, in camera, conduct an inquiry into the financial position of the judgment debtor and into his or her ability to pay the judgment debt and costs. order the judgment debtor to pay the judgment debt and costs in specified instalments; or suspend the order under sub-rule (a) either wholly or in part on such conditions as to security or as the court may determine.

Section Expenses Section A party to a claim under these Rules shall bear his or her own expenses.

Section Review of certain judgments Section The court may upon application by an aggrieved party— review or vary any judgment granted by it in the absence of the person against whom that judgment was granted, where the application for set-down for hearing is made on a date within six weeks after the applicant first had knowledge of the judgment; review or vary any judgment granted by it which was void or was obtained by fraud or as a result of a mistake common to the parties, discovery of new and important matters provided the application is made not later than one year after the applicant first had knowledge of the voidness, fraud or mistake; correct latent errors in any judgment, provided, in the case of an application, the application is made not later than one year after the applicant first had knowledge of any errors.

Section Execution of judgment Section A person against whom a judgment is given shall abide by the Court ’s order specified in Schedule 8. Where a judgment debtor pays the decretal amount, the judgment creditor shall issue a receipt acknowledging payment and shall notify the Court in writing within seven days after receipt of the payment. Where a judgment debtor fails to comply with the judgment or order of the Court , the judgment creditor, may with the guidance of the court apply for execution of the judgment or order under section 38 of the Civil Procedure Act and order XXII, rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Section Extension of time Section Where any period is fixed or granted by the Court for doing any act prescribed or allowed by these Rules, the Court may, from time to time extend that period even where the period originally fixed or granted has expired.

Section Inherent powers of Court Section Nothing in these Rules, shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent power of Court to make such orders as may be necessary for the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the process of Court .

Section General power to amend Section The Court may, at any time, and on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit, amend any defect or error in any proceeding in a suit and all necessary amendments shall be made for the purpose of determining the real question or issue raised by or arising out of such proceedings.

Section Correction of judgments, decrees or orders Section The Court may, at any time, on its own motion or on application of any of the parties, correct a clerical or mathematical error in a judgment, decree or order of the Court .