[2023] UGHC 501
The application for letters of administration was dismissed because it arose from Administration Cause No.35/2018, which had already been dismissed. The Succession Act provides a clear procedure for contentious applications, requiring them to proceed as regular suits under the Civil Procedure Rules. The applicant...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] UGHC 501
- Parties
- Applicant: Anthony A. Kiwanuka Masiisa; Respondent: Emmanuel B. K. Mumira; Respondent: Great grandchildren of late Bintanula Augustine Mitala
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- FAMILY MTSC APPLICATION NO.13 OF 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- Nabakooza, J
- Legal Topics
- Letters of Administration, Succession Act Procedure, Caveat Lodgement, Dismissal of Application
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Anthony A. Kiwanuka Masiisa
Applicant
Emmanuel B. K. Mumira
Respondent
Great grandchildren of late Bintanula Augustine Mitala
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to letters of administration for the estate of the late Bintanula Augustine Mitala.
- 2 Whether Miscellaneous Application No.13/2021 can arise from Administration Cause No.35/2018 after its dismissal.
- 3 Whether the application complied with the procedural requirements under the Succession Act.
Ratio Decidendi
The application for letters of administration was dismissed because it arose from Administration Cause No.35/2018, which had already been dismissed. The Succession Act provides a clear procedure for contentious applications, requiring them to proceed as regular suits under the Civil Procedure Rules. The applicant failed to comply with these statutory requirements, and the absence of an affidavit of service further undermined the application. The court found that no valid application could be entertained once the originating cause had been dismissed, and there was no basis for granting the orders sought.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- Miscellaneous Application No.13/2021 is dismissed.
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
#### THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
### IN THE HIGH COURT OlF. UGANDA AT MPIGI FAMILY MTSC APPLICATION NO.13 OF 2O2L
### ARISING FROM ADMINISTRATION CAUSE NO 35 OF 2018
# IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LATE BINTANULA AUGUSTINE MTTALA FORMERLY OF BULUNDA VILLAGE, BULUNDA PARISH, BIIWAMA SUB-COUNTY, MAWOKOTA COUNTY, MPIGI DISTRICT.
# IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION BY ANTHONEY A. KIWANUKA MASIISA (NEPHEW AND HEIR OF. AUGUSTINE BINTANULA MITALA)
#### RULLING BEFORE
#### JUSTICE NABAKOOZA FLAVIA K.
This is an application for letters of administration by Anthony Kiwanuka Masiisa Nephew and heir of the late Augustin Bintanula Mitala.
This Miscellaneous Appiication No.l3l2021 was filed on 30 l9 /2021
arising out of Administration Cause No.35/2018. o The application was brought under Article 126(2) of the Constitution of Uganda 1995, s. 14 Judicature Act cap 13 and S.98 C. P. A cap 71.
The applicant and Emmanuel B. K. Mumira a grand nephew of late Bintanula Augustine Mitala lodged caveats in Administration Cause No.35/2018 on 14th May and 21-05-2018 respectively.
The Court ordered the petitioners in Administration No 35 who are the great grandchildren of late Bintanula to file a suit on 23 /9 l2O2O within 14 days after the above mentioned caveats were lodged. They were given several adjournments but failed to file a suit untii their
0 B NoV 2023
o
application was dismissed, under 0.17 R.4 Civil Procedure Rules on $13/11/2020$ by the trial Judge.
The current application before me was then filed on $30/9/2021$ . This application was adjourned on several occasions, sometimes in absence of all parties or in the presence of Counsel Katabalwa Francis for the Applicant but in absence of the Respondents.
On 9/5/2022 Court directed Counsel Katabalwa Francis to serve the Respondents. It's worth noting that the record has no affidavit of service of this application to the Respondents even after the above court directive to serve.
Be that as it may, this Application was brought under Article 126(2) of 1995 Constitution S.14 Judicature Act and S.98 of the Civil Procedure Act, it should be noted that this is an application for grant letter of Administration to parties who had lodge a caveat in Admin. Cause No.35/2018.
There is a clear procedure in the Succession Act Cap 162 for applying for Letter of administration or Probate. In S.265 of Cap 162 this Act when the application in question becomes in contentious, then it takes the form of a regular suit according to the provisions of the law relating to Civil procedure.
$S.14(c)$ of Judicature Act provides for the unlimited jurisdiction of the High Court were no express laws or rules applicable.
In this Application the express law in the succession Act exists and these statutory provisions in sections S.255 and S.265 of cap 162 the procedure was articulated by Justice Michael Elubu in the case of Terry Kaggwa and others V Namugenga Millian Kayaga and Andrew Ssonko Civil Suit N.104 of 2016.
In addition, the Application before me was filed a year later arising out of Administration Cause No.35 of 2018 which was already dismissed on $13/11/2020$ .
The accompanying affidavit to this application mentions a Will which was not attached and the letters mentioning the contents of the Will are attached with no English translated versions of the same.
Finally, since Admin. Cause No.35/2018 was dismissed in 2020 the Miscellaneous Application No.13/2021 could not arise out of an already dismissed Administration Cause.
Therefore, Misc. Application No.13/2021 is accordingly dismissed. I Make no orders to costs.
Dated at Mpigi this ....................................
Nabakooza Flavia K. **JUDGE**
