[2005] UGHC 72

[2005] UGHC 72

The court held that the requirement to state the place where an affidavit is sworn, as mandated by section 6 of the Oaths Act, is a matter of substance and not mere form. The omission of the place in the jurat of the affidavit is a fatal defect that cannot be cured by reference to the Commissioner's stamp or by...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2005] UGHC 72
Parties
Applicant: J. B. Magara; Respondent: Katehangwa
Court
High Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
High Court Misc. Appl. No. 143 of 2000
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
Outcome
application struck out with costs
Legal Topics
Affidavit Defects, Preliminary Objection, Oaths and Affirmations
Source Language
en
Civil Procedure Affidavit Defects Preliminary Objection Oaths and Affirmations

Source-derived case record

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Parties

J. B. Magara

Applicant

Katehangwa

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Preliminary Objection

  1. 1 Whether failure to state the place where the affidavit was sworn renders the affidavit and the application fatally defective.
  2. 2 Whether the omission is a matter of form or substance under Ugandan law.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the requirement to state the place where an affidavit is sworn, as mandated by section 6 of the Oaths Act, is a matter of substance and not mere form. The omission of the place in the jurat of the affidavit is a fatal defect that cannot be cured by reference to the Commissioner's stamp or by invoking the principle of substantive justice under Article 126(2)(e) of the Constitution. The affidavit, being pivotal to the application, renders the entire application incompetent. The court distinguished between defects of form, which may be overlooked or amended if no prejudice is caused, and defects of substance, which go to the root of the validity of the affidavit. The...

Court Disposition

application struck out with costs

Orders

  • The application is struck out as incompetent.
  • Costs awarded to the respondent.