[2006] UGHC 18
The High Court found that the District Land Tribunal had entered judgment for the applicant but failed to refer the matter to the High Court for consequential orders as mandated by Section 31(3) of the Land (Amendment) Act, 2004. The applicant properly brought the application before the High Court under the relevant...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2006] UGHC 18
- Parties
- Applicant: Nelson Edmond Nkalubo Ssebugwawo; Respondent: Joseph Ssebaggala
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application No 25 of 2004
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
- Outcome
- application_granted
- Legal Topics
- Registration of Title, Rectification of Register, Substituted Service, Default Judgment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nelson Edmond Nkalubo Ssebugwawo
Applicant
Joseph Ssebaggala
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the District Land Tribunal had jurisdiction to order cancellation and vesting of title under Section 31(3) of the Land (Amendment) Act, 2004.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to consequential orders from the High Court following the Tribunal's judgment.
- 3 Whether proper service was effected on the respondent and whether default judgment was valid.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court found that the District Land Tribunal had entered judgment for the applicant but failed to refer the matter to the High Court for consequential orders as mandated by Section 31(3) of the Land (Amendment) Act, 2004. The applicant properly brought the application before the High Court under the relevant statutory provisions. The court was satisfied that substituted service had been effected and the respondent failed to respond, justifying the default judgment. The High Court, therefore, granted the orders sought: cancellation of the respondent's registration, registration of the applicant as proprietor, and rectification of the register in accordance with the Tribunal's...
Court Disposition
application_granted
Orders
- The registration of land comprised in Busiro Block 444 Plot 80 in the names of Joseph Ssebaggala is cancelled.
- The name of Nelson Edmond Nkalubo Ssebugwawo is to be registered as the proprietor of the said land.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
2 paragraphs
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT NAKAWA \par }{\b\insrsid8992898 MISC. APPLICATION NO }{\b\insrsid15170909\charrsid8992898 25 OF 2004 \par }{\insrsid15170909\charrsid8992898 (Arising from the Judgment of Wakiso District Land Tribunal Claim No. 68/2003) \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid3170842\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid13004029\charrsid8992898 NELSON EDMOND NKALUBO}{\insrsid8221112\charrsid8992898 }{\insrsid9839579\charrsid8992898 SEBUGWAWO}{\insrsid8992898 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85..\'85\'85}{\insrsid5724793\charrsid8992898 APPLICANT}{ \insrsid13004029\charrsid8992898 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid5724793\charrsid8992898 VERSUS \par }{\insrsid15092977\charrsid8992898 JOSEPH SSEBAGGA}{\insrsid8995018\charrsid8992898 LA}{\insrsid8992898 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.}{\insrsid15092977\charrsid8992898 RESPONDENT}{ \insrsid5724793\charrsid8992898 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin0\itap0\pararsid2492975 {\b\insrsid2492975\charrsid8992898 22}{\b\super\insrsid2492975\charrsid2492975 nd}{\b\insrsid2492975 May }{ \b\insrsid2492975\charrsid8992898 2006. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\ul\insrsid14841077\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14841077\charrsid8992898 BEFORE HON. JUSTICE GIDEON TINYINONDI:}{\b\ul\insrsid15401035\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid3170842\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid15401035\charrsid8992898 RULING: \par }{\insrsid7675440\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid14841077\charrsid8992898 On 13/09/2003 the Plaintiff filed Civil Suit No. 68/2003 before the District Land Tribunal}{\insrsid14775079\charrsid8992898 of Wakiso. The Defendant was duly served with summons to enter appearance and copy of plaint but failed to file a written statement of defence.}{\insrsid13853100\charrsid8992898 On 04/09/2003}{\insrsid1184618\charrsid8992898 the Chairman of the Tribunal }{\insrsid6569561\charrsid8992898 signed an order for substituted service.}{\insrsid4158908\charrsid8992898 This service issued in the \'93New Vision}{\insrsid289162\charrsid8992898 \'94}{\insrsid2766249\charrsid8992898 of 10/09/2003. Still the Defendant did not take any steps.}{ \insrsid14841077\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid12546230\charrsid8992898 \par On 15/06/2004 the Tribunal entered judgment for the Plaintiff}{\insrsid684170\charrsid8992898 . }{\insrsid1534041\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid684170\charrsid8992898 The Tribunal did not act in accordance with }{\ul\insrsid684170\charrsid8992898 Section 31 (3) of the Land (Amendment) Act, No. 1/04}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 which provides:}{\insrsid12546230\charrsid8992898
\par }\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 \'93}{\insrsid5049977\charrsid8992898 (}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 3}{ \insrsid5049977\charrsid8992898 )\tab Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a District Land Tribunal shall not make an order for cancellation of entries in a certificate of title and vesting title, but shall refer such cases to the High Court for the necessary consequential orders.\'94}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 \tab \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 \par Despite the Tribunal\rquote s failure/default in referring the case to this court, the Applicant pro}{\insrsid12585288\charrsid8992898 ceeded by notice of motion application}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 under the said section and }{ \ul\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 048, rr. 1 and 3 of CPRs}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 . \par \par I am thus seize}{\insrsid12077947\charrsid8992898 d of the matter however brought.}{\insrsid10763429\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid12077947\charrsid8992898 \par After perusing the record and listening to Counsel for the Applicant I find and hold that this is a proper application where the orders sought ought to be granted. \par \par Accordingly I order that: \par }\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid12077947\charrsid8992898 \'931.\tab The registration of }{\insrsid10122076\charrsid8992898 land comprised in Busiro Block 444 Plot 80 in the names of }{\ul\insrsid10122076\charrsid8992898 Joseph Ssebaggala}{\insrsid10122076\charrsid8992898 be cancelled.}{\insrsid12077947\charrsid8992898 \par }\pard \qc \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 and \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 The name of }{\ul\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 Nelson Edmond Nkalubo Ssebugwawo}{\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 be registered as the proprietor of the said land, \par }\pard \qc \li720\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin720\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 and \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid3230072\charrsid8992898 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid3230072\charrsid8992898 The Registrar be rectified (according to the said judgment of the Wakiso District Land Tribunal).}{\insrsid4983645\charrsid8992898 \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin720\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid9596758\charrsid8992898 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid12585288\charrsid8992898 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin864\lin1440\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid12585288\charrsid8992898 I make no order as to the costs of this application.}{\insrsid10103146\charrsid8992898 \'94}{\insrsid12585288\charrsid8992898 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri864\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin864\lin0\itap0\pararsid8992898 {\insrsid3161196\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\insrsid3170842\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 Signed:\tab Gideon Tinyinondi \par }{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \tab \tab }{\b\ul\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 JUDGE \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \tab \tab 22/05/2006. \par }{\b\insrsid3170842\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 22/05/2006: \par }{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 Mr.}{\insrsid15208313\charrsid8992898 Balikuddembe for the Applicant}{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \par }{\insrsid9911612\charrsid8992898 No appearance for Respondent \par }{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 Ms. Kauma Court Clerk. \par \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 COURT: \par }{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 Ruling read in open court. \par \par }{\b\insrsid7939035\charrsid8992898 \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 Signed:\tab Gideon Tinyinondi \par }{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \tab \tab }{\b\ul\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 JUDGE. \par }{\b\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \tab \tab 22/05/2006.}{\insrsid1247612\charrsid8992898 \par }}