[2008] UGHC 93

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\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11346158 {\b\insrsid16388222\charrsid12743307 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT GULU \par HCT \endash 02 \endash CV \endash CA \endash 0044 \endash 2003 \par }{\b\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 (Arising from Grade I }{\b\insrsid8914981\charrsid12743307 C}{\b\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 ourt Apac Civil Suit No. 047/2002) \par }{\b\insrsid16388222\charrsid12743307 \par ODUR TONNY :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::APPELLANT \par VERSUS \par ODUR GEORGE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::RESPONDNET \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid16388222\charrsid12743307 BEFORE: HON. JUSTICE REMMY KASULE \par \par JUDGMENT \par }{\b\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11346158 {\insrsid16388222\charrsid12743307 \tab This appeal arises from the judgment of the Grade 1 Court, Apac District dated 18.12.2003 in original Civil Suit Number 47 of 2007}{\insrsid11012757\charrsid12743307 .}{\insrsid16388222\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid11012757\charrsid12743307 \tab The original suit involved a dispute over land situate at Abei village, Atuk parish, Chawente Sub-county, Kwania County, Apac District. \par \tab In the original plaint dated 03.09.2002, the suit was as between Odur George (plaintiff ) and Odur Tonny (Defendant) and the area of land the subject of the dispute was stated to be three (3) acres only. \par }{\insrsid8485857\charrsid12743307 \tab In the amended plaint, dated 03.09.2003 the suit is by six (6) plaintiffs, the original plaintiff in}{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 clu}{\insrsid8485857\charrsid12743307 sive, against the same original defendant; and the area of}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 }{\insrsid8485857\charrsid12743307 land in dispute is one hundred and sixty (160) acres. \par \tab }{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 Since the trial of the original suit started on 13.12.2002, it follows that the number of plaintiffs increased from one (1) to six(6) while the trial had already started.}{\insrsid8485857\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 \tab The defendant had filed his written statement of defence to the original plaint on 23.09.2002. \par \tab There is no evidence that the defendant}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 ,}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 now appellant, was served, let alone afforded an opportunity by}{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 }{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 court to file and make reply to the claims of the additional five(5) plaintiffs to the original suit. \par \tab This was a serious }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 anomaly}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 in the trial of the suit in the court below. The defendant/appellant was cond}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 em}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 ned for the case of the rest of the added plaintiffs whose case he never prepared for and never filed a re}{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 p}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 ly. }{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11283814 {\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 This court has studiously scrutinized both the hand written and typed record o f the proceedings of the court below. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11346158 {\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 C}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 ourt}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 has observed that through out the trial in the court below only the defendant, now appellant, is recorded as having given his }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 evidence}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 on oath. There is }{ \insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 n}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 o such recording in respect of all the other witnesses.}{\insrsid1207388\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 \tab This court has }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 recently}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 observed in HCT \endash 02 \endash CV \endash CA \endash 0015 \endash 2007 (arising from Ap}{ \insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 ac claim No. 063 of 2004: }{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 ATURI CONSTANTINO & OTIM FRANCO VS ODUR NIKANORI}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 where }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 witnesses}{ \insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 were not sworn, that:-}{\insrsid921930\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 \par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid11346158 {\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 \'93 the learned trial magistrate did not ensure that the trial of the suit complies with}{ \b\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 }{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 the}{\b\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 }{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 provision of section 137 of the Evidence Act,}{\b\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 ................. .....}{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 .......................}{\b\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 .....................}{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 \par There is also no indication on the record of proceedings whether the }{\b\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 witnesses}{\b\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 were sworn or affirmed before testifying\'94 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11346158 {\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 \par This court held }{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 t}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 he trial of the suit in the above suit a nullity. \par Likewise in this appeal, court finds that the trial of the lower court was }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 a nullity}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 for the }{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 s}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 a}{ \insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 m}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 e reasons. \par \tab Counsel for the appellant has invited this }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 court}{\insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 to re-evaluate the evidence on record exhaustively and come to its own con}{\insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 clu}{ \insrsid4531139\charrsid12743307 sions. \par }{\insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 \tab Respondents\rquote counsel, on the other hand, according to the instructions he ha}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 s}{\insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 from the respondents, the record of the lower court proceedings i}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 s}{\insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 incorrect as to who gave evidence. He thus, on that ground}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 ,}{ \insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 concedes to have a retrial of the case. \par }{\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 \tab This court is unable to accede to the submission of }{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 the }{\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 appellant\rquote s}{ \insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 counsel of re-evaluating the evidence, because there is no evidence to re-evaluate, since the record does not show that all the witnesses, except one, took an oath or affirmation before testifying. }{ \insrsid14826219\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 \tab As to the respondent\rquote s counsel assertion that the record of proceedings do not tally with the instructions he ha}{\insrsid11283814\charrsid12743307 s}{\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 as to who gave evidence at trial, this court has to consider the reco rd as recorded by the trial court, unless court is moved otherwise as to the accuracy of the record, by some legitimate evidence, by way of affidavit or otherwise. There is no such evidence before court. \par \tab Given the state of affairs as to how the trial was conducted in the lower court, this court allows this appeal, on the ground that the }{\insrsid14888967\charrsid12743307 trial below was }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 nullity}{ \insrsid14888967\charrsid12743307 . It is ordered that a retrial of the case before a court of competent jurisdiction, other than Herbert Birungi, the trial magistrate Grade 1, takes place.}{\insrsid10493434\charrsid12743307 \par }{\insrsid14888967\charrsid12743307 \tab }{\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 Since the appeal has succeeded on grounds for with the trial court was in the main, responsible, it is ordered that each party bears the costs of the appeal and those in the court below. If any party has recovered any costs from the other, then those costs are to be refunded to the party that paid them.}{\insrsid14888967\charrsid12743307 \par }{\b\insrsid11346158\charrsid12743307 \par ................................. \par Remmy Kasule \par Judge \par 18.08.2008 \par }{\b\insrsid12657741\charrsid12743307 \par \par \par \par }}