[2023] UGCA 405

[2023] UGCA 405

The court held that the withdrawal of a constitutional petition is governed by rule 16 of the Constitutional Court Rules, which requires consent of all parties for dismissal without costs. In the absence of such consent, as in this case, the petition stands dismissed with costs to the non-consenting party unless the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] UGCA 405
Parties
Applicant: Agency for Transformation; Applicant: Morrison Rwakakamba; Respondent: Attorney General of Uganda; Respondent: National Social Security Fund
Court
Court of Appeal of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Constitutional Petition 5 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment on Withdrawal and Costs
Outcome
Petition dismissed with costs to the Second Respondent, restricted to disbursements and nominal professional fees.
Judges
Monica K. Mugenyi, JCC, Buteera, JCC, Kiryabwire, JCC, Mulyagonja, JCC, Kibeedi Mutangula, JCC
Legal Topics
Withdrawal of Petition, Award of Costs, Public Interest Litigation, Court Discretion on Costs
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Withdrawal of Petition Award of Costs Public Interest Litigation Court Discretion on Costs

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Parties

Agency for Transformation

Applicant

Morrison Rwakakamba

Applicant

Attorney General of Uganda

Respondent

National Social Security Fund

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment on Withdrawal and Costs

  1. 1 Whether costs should be awarded upon withdrawal of a constitutional petition where public interest litigation is involved.
  2. 2 Whether the absence of consent from all parties to withdrawal entitles the non-consenting party to costs under the Constitutional Court Rules.
  3. 3 Whether public interest litigation constitutes good reason to depart from the general rule that costs follow the event.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the withdrawal of a constitutional petition is governed by rule 16 of the Constitutional Court Rules, which requires consent of all parties for dismissal without costs. In the absence of such consent, as in this case, the petition stands dismissed with costs to the non-consenting party unless the court orders otherwise. The court found that public interest litigation may constitute good reason to depart from the general rule that costs follow the event, but such discretion is limited where the petition is withdrawn before trial and the rules explicitly provide for costs in the absence of consent. The petitioners failed to secure the necessary consent or make an...

Court Disposition

Petition dismissed with costs to the Second Respondent, restricted to disbursements and nominal professional fees.

Orders

  • The petition is dismissed with costs to the Second Respondent.
  • Costs awarded are restricted to disbursements and nominal professional fees.