[2023] UGHCCD 27

[2023] UGHCCD 27

The court found that the suit was not time barred as the cause of action accrued when the Respondents returned from the IDP camps and found the Appellant in occupation, which was within the limitation period. The Appellant failed to plead limitation in his defence, and thus could not raise it on appeal. The evidence...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] UGHCCD 27
Parties
Appellant: Ocaya Michael; Respondent: Abwol Rebecca Atoo Tereza
Court
HC: Civil Division (Uganda)
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Appeal No. 76 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
appeal_partially_allowed
Judges
Okello, J
Legal Topics
Customary Land Ownership, Limitation Periods, Locus in Quo Procedure, Inheritance Rights, Licensee Vs Owner, Burden of Proof
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Customary Land Ownership Limitation Periods Locus in Quo Procedure Inheritance Rights Licensee Vs Owner Burden of Proof

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Ocaya Michael

Appellant

Abwol Rebecca Atoo Tereza

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the suit was time barred under the Limitation Act.
  2. 2 Whether the Appellant's grandfather was a licensee or owner of the suit land.
  3. 3 Whether the trial court properly conducted the locus in quo proceedings.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the suit was not time barred as the cause of action accrued when the Respondents returned from the IDP camps and found the Appellant in occupation, which was within the limitation period. The Appellant failed to plead limitation in his defence, and thus could not raise it on appeal. The evidence established that the Respondents inherited the suit land from their late husbands, who in turn inherited from Erica Cwa. The Appellant's grandfather, Hannington Anying, was permitted to use only three gardens on the land, and long possession of these gardens by the Appellant's family raised a presumption of ownership limited to those portions. The trial court's finding that...

Court Disposition

appeal_partially_allowed

Orders

  • Respondents declared owners of the suit land except for three gardens occupied by Hannington Anying, which are declared to belong to the Appellant and his siblings.
  • Permanent injunction restraining the Appellant, his siblings, and those claiming under them from interfering with the Respondents' ownership, occupation, and use of the rest of the suit land except the three gardens.