[2007] UGCommC 99
The court found that the respondent had raised a serious and arguable point of law regarding whether a counsel, whose information forms the basis of an affidavit, is a potential witness and should be disqualified from representing a party. The judge noted that this issue is appropriate for guidance by an appellate...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] UGCommC 99
- Parties
- Applicant: Dynasity Africa Limited; Respondent: Moses Mugabi and Others
- Court
- Commercial Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 409 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Application for Leave to Appeal
- Outcome
- leave to appeal granted
- Legal Topics
- Leave to Appeal, Disqualification of Counsel, Affidavit Evidence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Dynasity Africa Limited
Applicant
Moses Mugabi and Others
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Application for Leave to Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether leave to appeal should be granted against the ruling dismissing the application to disqualify counsel for the applicant.
- 2 Whether a counsel whose information forms the basis of an affidavit is a potential witness and should be disqualified from representing a party.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the respondent had raised a serious and arguable point of law regarding whether a counsel, whose information forms the basis of an affidavit, is a potential witness and should be disqualified from representing a party. The judge noted that this issue is appropriate for guidance by an appellate court, as it is not uncommon for affidavits to be based on information from counsel. The court exercised its discretion to grant leave to appeal, as the matter merited consideration by a higher court and there was no evidence of dilatory conduct by the applicant.
Court Disposition
leave to appeal granted
Orders
- Leave is granted to the respondent to appeal against the ruling delivered on 12th November 2007.
- The order as to costs in the intended appeal shall bind the costs of this application.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
3 paragraphs
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\par \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par (COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION) \par }{\b\i\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 HCT-00-CC-MA-0409 OF 2007 \par (Arising from HCT-00-CC-CS- 0246 of 2007) \par }{\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 DYNASITY AFRICA LIMITED\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\b\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 AP}{ \b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 PLICANT \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 VERSUS \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 MOSES MUGABI AND OTHERS \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\b\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 R}{ \b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 ESPONDENT \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 BEFORE: }{\b\ul\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 HON. MR. JUSTICE}{\b\ul\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 LAMECK N. MUKASA}{\b\ul\insrsid6754790\charrsid6449266 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }{\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 RULING:}{\b\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 2}{\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\b\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }{\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 When Miscellaneous }{\insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 application No}{\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 . 409 }{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 of 20}{\insrsid792160\charrsid6449266 07 was called for }{ \insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 hearing one}{\insrsid792160\charrsid6449266 }{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 o}{\insrsid792160\charrsid6449266 f}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 }{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 t}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 he Respondents Mr. Muhwezi who is an Advocate, applied that Mr. Charles Dalton Opo}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 n}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 ya}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 ,}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 Counsel for the Applica}{ \insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 n}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 t, be disqualified from the }{\insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 conduct of}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 the Applicants case. The reasons for the application }{ \insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 were basically that the application }{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 was supported by an affidavit sworn by Nasser Sekandi in some instances base}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 d}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 on information supplied }{\insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 by Mr}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 . Opo}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 n}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 ya. It was argued that Mr. Opo}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 n}{ \insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 ya was a potential witness intended to be called and cross-examined on information provided to the said Na}{\insrsid677132\charrsid6449266 s}{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 ser Sekandi}{\insrsid677132\charrsid6449266 .
\par \par In my ruling delivered on 12}{\super\insrsid677132\charrsid6449266 th}{\insrsid677132\charrsid6449266 November 2007 I rejected the application and dismissed it with costs. Mr. Muhwezi immediately }{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 orally app lied for leave to }{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 appeal to }{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 the Court of Appeal against the ruling. \par \par The governing principle in such application}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 s}{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 is that if the applica}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 nt has raised arguable grounds o}{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 f appeal and there are serious matters which merit consideration on appeal, and is not guilty of dilatory conduct the Court shall }{\insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 exercise its}{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 discretion and }{ \insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 grant the}{\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 applicant leave to appeal. See }{\i\ul\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 The Commissioner General Uganda Revenue Authority Vs Me}{\i\ul\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 era Investments Ltd H. C}{\i\ul\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 . Misc. App No 359 of 2006, Sango Bay Estates Ltd Vs Dresdmer }{\i\ul\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 B}{\i\ul\insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 ank (1971) EA 17}{ \insrsid10056706\charrsid6449266 }{\insrsid291945\charrsid6449266 }{\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 \par Mr. Muhwezi argued that it was necessary for a higher court to decide on the issue whether a Counsel representing a party in }{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 an }{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 application based on an affidavit based substantially on information supplied by that counsel, is not}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 a}{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 potential witness. I have on many occasions come across application}{ \insrsid792160\charrsid6449266 s}{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 }{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 supported by affidavits }{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 base on information obtained}{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 by the deponents from the party \rquote }{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 s counsel. I therefore find that Mr. Muhwezi has raised a serious point which is appropriate for guidance by an }{\insrsid13008697\charrsid6449266 A}{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 ppellante Court. \par \par }{\insrsid6449266\charrsid6449266 The application}{\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 is accordingly allowed. Leave is hereby granted to Mr. Muhwezi to appeal against the ruling delivered on 12}{\super\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 th}{ \insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 November 2007. The Order as to costs in the intended appeal shall bind the costs of this application. \par \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 \par Hon, Mr. Justice Lameck N. Mukasa \par Judge \par 7/12/2007 \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6449266 {\insrsid352920\charrsid6449266 \par \par \par \par }{\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }{\insrsid1320711\charrsid6449266 \par }}