[1993] UGSC 14

[1993] UGSC 14

The Supreme Court held that the trial court erred in awarding special damages and loss of business income to the respondent when these were neither explicitly pleaded nor strictly proved in the plaint. The respondent's claim was limited to recovery of property and general damages for trespass, but the pleadings did...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[1993] UGSC 14
Parties
Appellant: Departed Asians Property Custodian Board; Respondent: Issa Bukenya t/a New Mars War House
Court
Supreme Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
appeal_allowed
Legal Topics
Pleadings and Particulars, Damages Assessment, Trespass to Goods, Detinue, Conversion of Property
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Pleadings and Particulars Damages Assessment Trespass to Goods Detinue Conversion of Property

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Parties

Departed Asians Property Custodian Board

Appellant

Issa Bukenya t/a New Mars War House

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the trial court erred in awarding special damages not explicitly pleaded or strictly proved.
  2. 2 Whether the award for loss of business income was supported by sufficient evidence and proper pleadings.
  3. 3 Whether the Currency Reform Statute of 1987 should have been applied to the damages awarded.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the trial court erred in awarding special damages and loss of business income to the respondent when these were neither explicitly pleaded nor strictly proved in the plaint. The respondent's claim was limited to recovery of property and general damages for trespass, but the pleadings did not support a claim for the value of the goods or damages for their detention. The court emphasized that remedies must be grounded in the pleadings and supported by evidence, and that the distinction between general and special damages must be observed. The trial judge should have required the respondent to amend the plaint if additional remedies were sought, and such amendment...

Court Disposition

appeal_allowed

Orders

  • Appeal allowed.
  • Judgment of the trial court set aside.