[1998] UGCA 3
The Court of Appeal found that the specimen signature (D2) and other related evidence, which were crucial for determining the authenticity of the signature on the sale agreement and transfer deed, were missing. Both parties agreed that D2 was vital. The court rejected the proposal to allow the first respondent to...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1998] UGCA 3
- Parties
- Appellant: George V. Katongole; Respondent: Mariam Nabyonga; Respondent: 2 Others
- Court
- Court of Appeal of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Civila Appeal No. 22 0f 1997
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Ruling
- Outcome
- retrial_ordered
- Legal Topics
- Sale of Land, Fraud in Property Transactions, Evidence Procedure, Signature Verification
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
George V. Katongole
Appellant
Mariam Nabyonga
Respondent
2 Others
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sale of land between the appellant and the first respondent was valid and enforceable.
- 2 Whether the signature on the sale agreement and transfer deed was genuinely that of the first respondent or a result of fraud.
- 3 Whether the absence of the specimen signature (D2) and related evidence warranted a retrial.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal found that the specimen signature (D2) and other related evidence, which were crucial for determining the authenticity of the signature on the sale agreement and transfer deed, were missing. Both parties agreed that D2 was vital. The court rejected the proposal to allow the first respondent to provide a new specimen signature, as this would amount to manufacturing evidence and compromise the integrity of the proceedings. In the absence of this critical evidence, the court determined that a retrial was the only appropriate remedy to ensure justice. Each party was ordered to bear their own costs of the appeal.
Court Disposition
retrial_ordered
Orders
- A retrial is ordered in the High Court.
- Each party shall bear their own costs of this appeal.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
2 paragraphs
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Mr. Justice G. M. Okello, }{\b\insrsid3308625\charrsid9524620 JA.}{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid9524620 }{ \b\insrsid16253417\charrsid9524620 Hon. Lady Justice A. E. Mpagi Bahigeine,JA.& }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid9524620 Hon. Mr. Justice S. G. Engwau, JA.}{\b\insrsid16253417\charrsid9524620 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line GEORGE V. KATONGOLE}{\insrsid16253417 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\insrsid13567005 :::::::::}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 APPELLANT }{\insrsid16253417 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\insrsid16253417 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 VERSUS}{\insrsid16253417 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 MARIAM NABYONGA & 2 OTHERS}{\insrsid16253417 :::::::::::::}{\insrsid13567005 :::::}{\insrsid16253417 :}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 RESPONDENTS}{\insrsid16253417 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14028029 {\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid13567005 \line }{ \b\ul\insrsid13585126\charrsid13567005 RULING OF THE COURT:}{\ul\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 This appeal arose from the sale of land whereby the appellant claimed that the}{\insrsid13567005 1}{\super\insrsid13567005 st }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 Respondent had sold him a piece of land situated at Rubaga Hill in Kampala. The said sale was allegedly concluded and the transfer was effected. }{\insrsid13567005 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line The vendor, 151 respondent}{\insrsid13567005 d}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 enied the sale when the purchaser, 1 appellant}{\insrsid13567005 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 tried to enter \line }{ \b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 the said piece of land. She also denied the execution of the transfer and the matter was taken to the High Court to resist eviction by the appellant. \line During the trial an allegation of fraud was raised by the }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid13336038 1}{\super\insrsid13585126\charrsid13336038 st}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid13336038 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 respondent that the said signature on the Sale Agreement and the Transfer Deed were not hers and that her Title deed had been stolen from her. \line }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 At the trial, the learned trial Judge directed that the}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid13336038 1}{\super\insrsid13585126\charrsid13336038 st}{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 respondent should write a specimen signature for scrutiny and comparison }{\insrsid14244383 with the signature on sale agreement which the trial judge relied upon in her judgment.}{\insrsid13585126 \par }{\insrsid14244383 On appeal this specimen signature, D2 and ten others were missing. Both counsel agreed before us that D2 is very vital to the case. In view of that development, both counsel requested court to allow the 1}{ \super\insrsid14244383\charrsid14244383 st}{\super\insrsid14244383 }{\insrsid14244383 respondent to make a fresh specimen signature to substitute}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 D2 under Rule 29(1) (b) of the rules of this court to enable to }{ \insrsid14244383\charrsid3308625 scrutinize}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 and }{\insrsid14244383 compare the signature. In }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 the alternative both Counsel agreed that in the absence of D2, a retrial order be made. }{ \insrsid14244383 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line In our view, we cannot allow the l}{\super\insrsid14244383\charrsid14244383 st}{\super\insrsid13585126\charrsid14244383 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 respondent to make a fresh specimen signature to substitute D2 }{\insrsid14244383 as that would be tantamount to }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 manufacturing }{\insrsid14244383 evidence. We would, therefore, }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 order a retri}{\insrsid14244383 al since the vital evidence }{\insrsid11943880 is }{\insrsid11943880\charrsid9524620 missing}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid9524620 ,}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 and ea}{\insrsid14244383 ch party to bear costs of this }{ \insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 appeal}{\insrsid14244383 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 . \line Dated at Kampala this }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid14244383 20}{\super\insrsid13585126\charrsid14244383 th}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid14244383 }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 day of October, 1998.}{ \insrsid14244383 \par }{\b\insrsid14244383\charrsid11943880 G. M OKELLO}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\b\insrsid14244383 Justice of}{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\b\insrsid14244383\charrsid14244383 Appeal}{ \b\insrsid14244383 \par }{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\b\insrsid14244383\charrsid11943880 MPAGI BAHIGEINE \par }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 Justice of Appeal}{\b\insrsid14244383 \par }{\b\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\b\insrsid14244383\charrsid11943880 S. G. ENGWAU}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 }{\insrsid11943880 \par }{\b\insrsid11943880 Justice of Appeal}{\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1033\langfe1033\langnp1033\insrsid13585126\charrsid3308625 \line }{\insrsid10825639\charrsid3308625
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