[2022] UGCA 273

[2022] UGCA 273

The Court of Appeal held that on a second appeal, its role is limited to questions of law and it cannot interfere with findings of fact unless there was no evidence to support those findings. Upon re-evaluating the record, the court found that the respondent had been in uninterrupted possession of the suit land for...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2022] UGCA 273
Parties
Appellant: Boiti Bonny; Respondent: Imalingat Lawrence
Court
Court of Appeal of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Appeal No. 239 of 2016
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Second Appeal From High Court Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Judges
Kibeedi Mutangula, JA, Gashirabake, JA, Musoke, JA
Legal Topics
Adverse Possession, Customary Land Ownership, Limitation of Actions, Appellate Review, Evidence Evaluation
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Adverse Possession Customary Land Ownership Limitation of Actions Appellate Review Evidence Evaluation

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Boiti Bonny

Appellant

Imalingat Lawrence

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Second Appeal From High Court Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the first appellate court erred in law by failing to properly re-appraise and evaluate the evidence, thereby wrongly concluding that the respondent was the lawful owner of the disputed land.
  2. 2 Whether the respondent acquired superior title to the suit land by adverse possession, considering the appellant's absence due to insurgency.
  3. 3 Whether contradictions in the appellant's evidence regarding local council letters and toll tax receipts were material to the determination of ownership.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that on a second appeal, its role is limited to questions of law and it cannot interfere with findings of fact unless there was no evidence to support those findings. Upon re-evaluating the record, the court found that the respondent had been in uninterrupted possession of the suit land for over thirty years, which, under the doctrine of adverse possession and the Limitation Act, extinguished the appellant's claim. The appellant's absence, even if caused by insurgency, did not prevent the operation of limitation laws, as there was no sufficient evidence of involuntary abandonment or intent to retain the land. The court also found that contradictions in the...

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondent.