[2008] UGCommC 65

[2008] UGCommC 65

The court held that the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has the constitutional and statutory authority to investigate allegations of corruption and to issue stop orders on government payments pending such investigations. While the plaintiff was entitled to seek enforcement of its contract against the Attorney...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2008] UGCommC 65
Parties
Plaintiff: American Procurement Company; Defendant: Attorney General; Defendant: Inspectorate of Government
Court
Commercial Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Suit No. 735 of 2006
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Judgment
Outcome
suit dismissed
Legal Topics
Government Contracts, Contract Enforcement, Public Procurement, Preliminary Objections
Source Language
en
Commercial and Corporate Civil Procedure Government Contracts Contract Enforcement Public Procurement Preliminary Objections

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

American Procurement Company

Plaintiff

Attorney General

Defendant

Inspectorate of Government

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Suit / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether or not the matter was properly before court and was therefore premature.
  2. 2 Whether the conduct of the investigations by the second defendant is a defence to the Plaintiff's claim which entitles the Court to dismiss the suit.
  3. 3 Whether receipt of a complaint alleging fraud disentitles the plaintiff of judgment against the first defendant.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has the constitutional and statutory authority to investigate allegations of corruption and to issue stop orders on government payments pending such investigations. While the plaintiff was entitled to seek enforcement of its contract against the Attorney General, the IGG, having been joined as a defendant, enjoys immunity from suit for acts done in good faith under the Inspectorate of Government Act. The plaintiff did not plead or prove bad faith on the part of the IGG, and therefore, the IGG's ongoing investigation and stop order constituted a valid defence to the plaintiff's claim. The court found that the suit was not premature...

Court Disposition

suit dismissed

Orders

  • The suit is dismissed.
  • As between the plaintiff and the Attorney General, each party shall bear its own costs.