[2024] UGHC 198
The court found that the Consent Judgment was entered into under a misapprehension of material fact, as the Respondent was not the lawful owner of the land subject to compensation. The subsequent court decision established that Kaggwa Michael was the true owner, rendering the basis for the Consent Judgment invalid....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] UGHC 198
- Parties
- Applicant: Attorney General; Respondent: Oola Peter
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application 141 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
- Outcome
- application_granted
- Judges
- Okello, J
- Legal Topics
- Setting Aside Consent Judgment, Compensation for Land, Ownership Dispute, Exparte Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Attorney General
Applicant
Oola Peter
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Consent Judgment entered in Civil Suit No. 035/2018 should be set aside due to misapprehension of material fact or mistake.
- 2 Whether the compensation agreed upon in the Consent Judgment was valid given the subsequent determination of land ownership in favour of a third party.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Consent Judgment was entered into under a misapprehension of material fact, as the Respondent was not the lawful owner of the land subject to compensation. The subsequent court decision established that Kaggwa Michael was the true owner, rendering the basis for the Consent Judgment invalid. The Applicant proved mistake on the balance of probability, justifying the setting aside of the Consent Decree. The court ordered that the original suit be heard on its merits and made no order as to costs due to the exparte nature of the proceedings.
Court Disposition
application_granted
Orders
- Consent Decree entered in Civil Suit No. 035/2018 between Oola Peter & Attorney General on 09th July 2019 is set aside.
- Civil Suit No. 035/2018 shall be heard on merit.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
# THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA HOLDEN AT GULU MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 0141 OF 2023 (ARISING FROM CIVIL SUIT NO. 035 OF 2018)
ATTORNEY GENERAL .................................... 10
#### **VERSUS**
**OOLA PETER ...................................** ......................................
## 15
$\mathsf{S}$
#### BEFORE: HON. MR. JUSTICE GEORGE OKELLO
#### **RULING**
This is an application for setting aside Consent Judgment entered into by the Parties in Civil Suit No. 035/2018. Therein, the Attorney General agreed to compensate the Respondent for land occupied by the UPDF on Plot 91 Kanyagoga, Gulu City but subject to conditions stipulated in paragraph 2 & 3 of the Consent. The conditions were that, compensation 25 would only be paid upon disposal of Civil Suit No. 001/2018 between Opio Anthonette Adam Vs. Attorney General, then pending in Court, and, upon valuation of the suit land by Chief Government Valuer. Unknown to the Attorney General, (the present Applicant), the subject – matter of 30 compensation and Consent Decree was subject of another suit between the Respondent and a one Kaggwa Michael. That suit was lost by the present Respondent and Kaggwa Michael apparently was found to own the suit land. Given these developments, the Applicant now seeks to have the
Mutodu:
$\mathbf{1}$
- Consent Decree dated 09<sup>th</sup> July 2019 entered before Hon. Justice Mubiru $\mathsf{S}$ Stephen, set aside. The impunged Consent Decree is attached to the Motion, and the decision in which the Respondent is shown to have lost legal battle to Kaggwa Michael is also attached to the affidavit in support of the motion. The law on setting aside Consent Decree is well settled. 10 The grounds upon which Courts proceed need no further emphasis. It is those grounds upon which a Court would set aside a contract. See Attorney General & Uganda Land Commission Vs. James Mark Kamoga & James Kemala (SCU) Civil Appeal No. 08/2004. In this case, misapprehension of material fact, and or mistake thereof, has been pleaded. I find that the same has been proved on the balance of 15 probability. I allow the Motion, and Order as follows; - 1. Consent Decree entered in Civil Suit No. 035/2018 between Oola Peter & Attorney General, on 09<sup>th</sup> July 2019 before this Court, is set aside.
2. Civil No. $035/2018$ shall be heard on merit.
3. No order is made as to costs, since the matter has proceeded exparte. It is so ordered.
Delivered and dated at Gulu this 08<sup>th</sup> April, 2024.
eorge Okello JUDGE
Ruling read in Open Court $\mathsf{S}$
# 08th April, 2024
## **Attendance**
Mr. Amuru Shaffi, SSA from Attorney General's Chambers, for the
Applicant. 10
> Maj. Fredrick Kangwamu, Legal Officer Military Land Board, Ministry of Defence & Veterans Affairs, in court.
$\overline{8}$
The Respondent absent.
No Counsel for the Respondent (unrepresented).
Mr. Ochan Stephen, Court Clerk. 15
> George Okello **JUDGE**
$20$