[2008] UGCommC 53
The court found that the respondent and their solicitors failed to appear and refused to proceed with the matter. The absence of the respondent's witness further justified the entry of judgment in default. The judge held that the order was correctly made under Order 18 Rule 13 of the Civil Procedure Rules....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] UGCommC 53
- Parties
- Applicant: Rio Oil Limited; Respondent: Attorney General
- Court
- Commercial Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 365 of 2008
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- leave_to_appeal_refused
- Legal Topics
- Leave to Appeal, Counter Claims, Default Judgment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Rio Oil Limited
Applicant
Attorney General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to leave to appeal against the judgment entered in default of the respondent's appearance.
- 2 Whether the respondent should be granted leave to file a counter claim after failing to appear.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the respondent and their solicitors failed to appear and refused to proceed with the matter. The absence of the respondent's witness further justified the entry of judgment in default. The judge held that the order was correctly made under Order 18 Rule 13 of the Civil Procedure Rules. Consequently, leave to appeal was refused as the default was caused by the respondent's own conduct. However, the respondent was granted leave to file a counter claim within 14 days, failing which judgment would be entered.
Court Disposition
leave_to_appeal_refused
Orders
- Leave to appeal is refused.
- Defendant is given leave to file a counter claim within 14 days.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
3 paragraphs
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6183236 {\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 COMMERCIAL COURT DIVISION \par \par }{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 HCT-00-CC-MA-0365-2008 \par \par RIO OIL LIMITED ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::APPLICANT \par }{\b\i\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par }{\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 -Vs- \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \tab ATTORNEY GENERAL ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::RESPONDENT \par \par }{\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 BEFORE}{\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 :\~ HON MR. JUSTICE ANUP SINGH CHOUDRY \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\b\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 \par }{\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 JUDGMENT}{\b\insrsid9588220\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\b\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \ql \fi360\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 Upon hearing}{\insrsid14295715\charrsid875533 Counsel }{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 for both Parties:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1033\langfe1033\langnp1033\langfenp1033\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 In}{\insrsid14295715\charrsid875533 view of }{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 the defendant}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 s}{ \insrsid530661\charrsid875533 and their }{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 Solicitors }{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 not turn}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 ing up and in view of }{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 the Counsel with }{ \insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 hold}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 ing}{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 brief }{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 here }{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 ref}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 using to proceed}{ \insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 and defendant}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \rquote s}{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 witness not being present, the judge rightly proceeded to enter}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 ing}{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 } {\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 judgment and further correctly made the Order }{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 under order 1}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 8}{\insrsid5452864\charrsid875533 and Rule 13.}{\insrsid530661\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \qj \li360\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \qj \fi720\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 The leave to appeal is therefore refused. \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\lang1033\langfe1033\langnp1033\langfenp1033\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 The Defendants are given leave to file the counter claim within 14 days. If counter c}{\insrsid422985\charrsid875533 laim not filed proceed}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 to }{\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 write judgment.}{\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \qj \li360\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid875533 {\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6183236 {\b\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 Justice Anup Singh Choudry \par }\pard \qc \li360\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid6183236 {\b\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 15}{\b\super\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 th}{\b\insrsid3831457\charrsid875533 September 2008 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid875533 {\b\insrsid5266824\charrsid875533 \par }}