[2019] UGHCLD 68

[2019] UGHCLD 68

The court found that the special certificate of title to the suit land was procured through fraud, as the duplicate certificate was in the bank's custody when the special certificate was issued, and the application documents were missing and likely forged. Forensic and police evidence confirmed the signatures on the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] UGHCLD 68
Parties
Plaintiff: Dan Semmwanga; Plaintiff: John Kajoba; Plaintiff: Edward Balunga; Plaintiff: Steven Nakibinge; Defendant: Lucy Nsubuga; Defendant: Constance Nalongo Kizito; Defendant: Armstrong Kiteesa; Defendant: Commissioner Land Registration; Defendant: Registered Trustees of Church of Uganda
Court
HC: Land Division (Uganda)
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Suit No. 432 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for the plaintiffs.
Judges
Keitirima, J
Legal Topics
Fraudulent Registration, Special Certificate of Title, Trusteeship Disputes, Estate Administration, Remedies in Land Disputes
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Fraudulent Registration Special Certificate of Title Trusteeship Disputes Estate Administration Remedies in Land Disputes

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Parties

Dan Semmwanga

Plaintiff

John Kajoba

Plaintiff

Edward Balunga

Plaintiff

Steven Nakibinge

Plaintiff

Lucy Nsubuga

Defendant

Constance Nalongo Kizito

Defendant

Armstrong Kiteesa

Defendant

Commissioner Land Registration

Defendant

Registered Trustees of Church of Uganda

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Suit / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the special certificate of title to the suit land was procured through fraud.
  2. 2 Whether Bishop D. Nsubuga, Reverend Y. S Kitaka and E. K Kizito were registered on the suit land through fraud.
  3. 3 Whether Bishop D. Nsubuga, Reverend Y. S Kitaka and E. K Kizito were registered on the suit land as trustees.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the special certificate of title to the suit land was procured through fraud, as the duplicate certificate was in the bank's custody when the special certificate was issued, and the application documents were missing and likely forged. Forensic and police evidence confirmed the signatures on the transfer documents were forged. The first three defendants were registered as joint tenants, not trustees, and there was no compliance with the Trustees Incorporation Act. The fifth defendant's claim of trusteeship was unsupported by the title or statutory compliance. The Commissioner Land Registration's failure to defend the suit imputed responsibility for the fraudulent...

Court Disposition

Judgment for the plaintiffs.

Orders

  • The registration of Bishop D. Nsubuga, Rev. Y. S Kitaka and E. Kizito on the suit land is cancelled.
  • The Commissioner Land Registration is directed to register the name of Evairini Nachwa as proprietor of the suit land.