[2008] EACJ 4
The taxing officer found that the initial claim of USD176,000, particularly the instruction fee of USD140,000, was excessive and not justified under the established principles of taxation. The officer relied on the reasoning that costs must be reasonable, affordable, and not deter litigants from accessing justice,...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] EACJ 4
- Parties
- Applicant: James Katabazi and 21 others; Respondent: The Secretary-General of the East African Community; Respondent: The Attorney-General of the Republic of Uganda
- Court
- East African Court of Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Taxation Reference No.5 of 2008
- Procedural Posture
- Taxation Application / Taxation of Costs Following Reference No. 1 of 2007
- Outcome
- Bill of costs taxed and allowed at USD70,185 inclusive of VAT.
- Legal Topics
- Taxation of Costs, Instruction Fees, Professional Charges, Disbursements
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
James Katabazi and 21 others
Applicant
The Secretary-General of the East African Community
Respondent
The Attorney-General of the Republic of Uganda
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Taxation Application / Taxation of Costs Following Reference No. 1 of 2007
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the claimed costs by the applicants are reasonable and in accordance with established principles of taxation.
- 2 Whether the instruction fee of USD140,000 is justified or excessive.
- 3 What is the fair and proportionate amount to be awarded as costs in this matter.
Ratio Decidendi
The taxing officer found that the initial claim of USD176,000, particularly the instruction fee of USD140,000, was excessive and not justified under the established principles of taxation. The officer relied on the reasoning that costs must be reasonable, affordable, and not deter litigants from accessing justice, as articulated in the cited authorities. Both parties agreed to a total of USD59,411 as a fair and reasonable amount for instruction fees, professional charges, and disbursements. The officer accepted this figure, noting it represented the costs reasonably incurred by the applicants. VAT at 18% was added, resulting in a total taxed bill of USD70,185. The decision was grounded in...
Court Disposition
Bill of costs taxed and allowed at USD70,185 inclusive of VAT.
Orders
- The applicants are awarded costs totaling USD59,411 plus 18% VAT, amounting to USD70,185.
- The bill is taxed accordingly.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
17 paragraphs
# **IN THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE AT ARUSHA**
### **TAXATION. NO.5 OF 2008**
#### **(Originating from Reference Number 1 of 2007)**
James Katabazi and 21 others …………………………………………………………. Applicants
#### **VERSUS**
| The Secretary-General of the East African Community………………….………1st Respondent | | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--| | The Attorney-General of the Republic of Uganda ………………………………2nd Respondent | |
### **RULING**
6TH MAY 2008
## **DR. J. E. RUHANGISA, TAXING OFFICER**
In this Bill of Cost filed by Mr. Geoffrey Komakech learned Counsel for the Applicant, a total of USD176,000 including tax is claimed as cost incurred by the Applicants in the course of conducting the suit Reference No.1 of 2007. Out of that total amount, Item 1 in the Bill of Cost presents a claim of USD140,000 being destruction fees; USD547 in Items 2 to 23 relate to professional charges whereas a claim of USD8,864 as reflected in Items 24 to 61 relate to disbursements. On the all, the claims brought against the Attorney-General of the Republic of Uganda relate to the time invested in the preparation work done by the advocates and the nature of the case in terms of clarity, magnitude and peculiarity.
In this matter, Mr. Henry Oluka, the Counsel for the Respondents, represented the respondents in opposing the figure of USD140,000 in Item 1 of the bill as an arbitral one. The basis of his argument was that the Bill of Cost did not abide by the rules governing the awards of cost in taxation that are well established in *Premchand Raichand Ltd and Another Vs Quarry Services of East Africa Ltd and Others [1972] EA 162*, which was also followed in a reference of the Supreme Court of Uganda in Civil Application No.23 of 1999. He thus requested that the cost be kept 'to a level that is reasonable, affordable and do not deter anybody from the East African States' from seeking justice from the Court and at the same time be proportionate for purposes of remunerating any advocate.
Against this background, Mr. Oluka found the figure of USD9,411, which is the sum total of all professional charges, disbursement and miscellaneous costs in items 2 to 61 of the Applicants Bill of Cost to be a very fair figure to the Applicants. It must be appreciate that Mr. Oluka was not ignorant of the fact that there were 22 Applicants, all of whom are party to Reference No.1 of 2007; he therefore, requested that the Applicant accept a figure of USD50,000 as reasonable instruction fee plus the miscellaneous cost of USD9,411 fee.
Mr. Komakech, Counsel for the Applicants accepted the proposal by Mr. Oluka for the award of USD59,411 as a fair amount in a spirit to resolve the matter amicably thus saving the Court's time. I also find USD59,411 a reasonable amount representing the cost reasonably incurred by the Applicant in prosecuting their case. Given that the above figure is ordinarily considered a source of income, VAT has to be leveled on it at a rate of 18 per cent. That said, 18 per cent of USD59,411 works out to be USD10,694. Therefore, in total this Bill is taxed at USD70,185 only. It is so taxed.
Dated at Arusha this day of 2008
#### **DR. JOHN EUDES RUHANGISA TAXING OFFICER 8th May 2008**