[2012] UGHC 41
The court found that although the applicant complained of being condemned unheard, the record showed that the best way forward, as agreed by the respondent's counsel, was to set aside the disputed order and have the application reinstated and heard interparties on its merits. The court agreed with the respondent...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] UGHC 41
- Parties
- Applicant: Sekibaala Martin; Respondent: Sinna Bulya Livingstone
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Miscellanous Application No. 82 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Appeal
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the respondent
- Judges
- Murangira, J
- Legal Topics
- Leave to Appeal, Right to Be Heard, Service of Process, Reinstatement of Appeal
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Sekibaala Martin
Applicant
Sinna Bulya Livingstone
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant was denied the right to be heard in the proceedings leading to the ruling of 1st December 2011.
- 2 Whether leave to appeal should be granted to the applicant against the ruling delivered in Miscellaneous Application No. 190 of 2011.
- 3 Whether the application for leave to appeal has merit.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that although the applicant complained of being condemned unheard, the record showed that the best way forward, as agreed by the respondent's counsel, was to set aside the disputed order and have the application reinstated and heard interparties on its merits. The court agreed with the respondent that pursuing an appeal would be a waste of time, as the substantive issue could be addressed by hearing the application interparties. The court concluded that the application for leave to appeal lacked merit and should be dismissed with costs to the respondent.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the respondent
Orders
- The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
- Costs of this application are awarded to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
**THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA**
**AT KAMPALA**
**(LAND DIVISION)**
**MISCELLANOUS APPLICATION NO. 82 OF 2012)**
**(Arising out of Civil Suit No. 190 of 2011,)**
**( which was arising out of Civil Appeal No. 6 of 2005)**
**SEKIBAALA MARTIN :::::::::::: APPLICANT**
**VERSUS**
**SINNA BULYA LIVINGSTONE :::::::::::: RESPONDENT**
**RULING BY HON. MR. JUSTICE JOSEPH MURANGIRA**
The applicant through his lawyers Byenkya, Kihika & Co. Advocates brought this application by Notice of motion under order 44 rule 1 (2), (3) and (4) of the Civil Procedure Rules, S. I No. 71-1 against the respondent. The application is supported by the affidavit sworn by the applicant. The respondent through his lawyers M/s Lutaakome and Co. Advocates filed an affidavit in reply to the application.
This application is seeking the following orders; that:-
1. Leave to appeal the ruling of this Honourable Court delivered on the 1st December, 2011 in Miscellaneous Application No. 190 of 2011 be granted. 2. The Costs of this application be provided for.
Further, this application is based on the following grounds; that:-
1. The said application and ruling were delivered without service or notice of any kind to the applicant or the law firm of Byenkya, Kihika & Co. Advocates, the applicant’s attorney duly entered on record. 2. The applicant has been gravely prejudiced as he has been condemned unheard. 3. The applicant’s intended appeal has merit and has a high likelihood of success. 4. The applicant’s intended appeal has grounds which merit serious judicial consideration. 5. That it is just and equitable that this application be allowed.
The applicant’s complaint in this application majorly is that he was condemned unheard, when on 1st 12/2011, I summarily heard miscellaneous application No.190 of 2011 and re-instated the respondent’s appeal, appeal No.6 of 2005. To consider whether this application has merit or not, I have looked at the Court proceedings in the appeal No. 6 of 2005 file, the said appeal was dismissed because of the non-appearance of the appellant (now the respondent). That is, the said appeal was not heard on merit. I have also looked at the record of miscellaneous application No. 190 of 2011, and I allowed that application under my own discretion and in the interests of justice so that the said appeal be heard on its merits interparties.
On 20th January, 2012 when the parties appeared for the hearing of the said appeal, Counsel for the application, Mr. Ebert Byenkya raised the same concerns and intimated to Court that he intended to appeal against my ruling. In reply, Counsel or the respondent, Mr. S. Lutaakome, stated that:
**“I would suggest that instead of wasting time I would agreed that the application be reinstated and we argue it interparties”.**
In reply to the submissions by Counsel for respondent, Counsel for the application, Mr. Ebert Byenkya, stated that:-
**“ The only workable solution from what I have heard from him is to have the order of re-instatement be set aside. The application be served on us and we argue it interparties. That is my prayer.”**
On 31/01/12, when the parties appeared in Court for hearing the appeal, appeal No. 6 of 2005, Counsel for the application informed Court that:
“**After consulting my client, I came to the conclusion that we would like to appeal against your ruling. We have duly filed an application seeking leave to appeal”.**
From my considerations hereinabove of the proceedings on record between the parties, the best way forward was as Mr. Lutaakome, Counsel for the respondent had agreed to have the disputed order set aside, and the application be reinstated and heard interparties on merit. I agree with Mr. Lutaakome, Counsel for the respondent that the intended appeal is wastage of time.
Further, considering the application and its affidavit evidence and the affidavit in reply by the respondent and my arguments hereinabove, I find that this application has no merit. It ought to fail. Accordingly, this application is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
Dated at Kampala this 29th day of February, 2012.
**Sgd**
**MURANGIRA JOSEPH**
**JUDGE**