[1992] UGSC 2

[1992] UGSC 2

The Supreme Court held that the High Court Judge erred by not giving detailed reasons for her ruling and by misstating the basis for proceeding ex parte. However, upon reviewing the record, the Supreme Court found that the hearing date had been fixed by consent and that the appellant's advocate's failure to appear...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[1992] UGSC 2
Parties
Appellant: Departed Asians Property Custodian Board; Respondent: Isa Bukenya t/a New Mars Wear House
Court
Supreme Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court Ruling Refusing to Set Aside Ex Parte Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Ex Parte Judgment, Setting Aside Decree, Tenant Landlord Dispute, Service of Process
Source Language
en
Civil Procedure Land and Property Ex Parte Judgment Setting Aside Decree Tenant Landlord Dispute Service of Process

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Parties

Departed Asians Property Custodian Board

Appellant

Isa Bukenya t/a New Mars Wear House

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court Ruling Refusing to Set Aside Ex Parte Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the High Court erred in dismissing the application to set aside the ex parte judgment without giving detailed reasons.
  2. 2 Whether the High Court erred in failing to exercise its discretion to set aside the ex parte judgment when there were alleged good grounds for doing so.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the High Court Judge erred by not giving detailed reasons for her ruling and by misstating the basis for proceeding ex parte. However, upon reviewing the record, the Supreme Court found that the hearing date had been fixed by consent and that the appellant's advocate's failure to appear was due to forgetfulness, not to any sufficient cause or procedural irregularity. The Court emphasized that, under Order 9 Rule 24 of the Civil Procedure Rules, sufficient cause must be shown to set aside an ex parte decree. Forgetfulness of counsel does not meet this threshold. The Court concluded that, despite the High Court's error in reasoning, the decision to refuse to set...

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
  • The decision of the High Court refusing to set aside the ex parte judgment is upheld, with the Supreme Court substituting the correct reasons.