Wakilii

Nakaweesa v Makubuya (Civil Suit No. 1022 of 2022)

High Court · [2022] UGHCLD 19 · 2022 Judgment for Plaintiff — Specific Performance Ordered AI-generated summary ↓ Download Pin to watchlist Add to matter
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Type
First instance civil suit for specific performance and damages following defendant's failure to appear
Decision
Defendant found in breach of contract and ordered to perform within two weeks or refund current land value; general damages awarded to plaintiff

Observed later treatment

No later-treatment classification is recorded for this judgment.

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Holding

The court held that the defendant breached two sale agreements for land by failing to complete transfers despite receiving payment. The plaintiff was entitled to specific performance with a time limit, failing which she would receive a refund of the current value of the land. General damages of UGX 50,000,000 were awarded with interest at 15% per annum from judgment.

Outcome

Defendant found in breach of contract and ordered to perform within two weeks or refund current land value; general damages awarded to plaintiff

Facts

The defendant, registered owner of land comprised in Mailo Register Bulemezi Block 215 plot 135, agreed on 11 July 2012 to sell the plaintiff 2 acres for UGX 10,000,000. The plaintiff paid the full price but the defendant failed to complete the transfer, having deposited the certificate of title at Luwero Chief Magistrate's Court as security for a UGX 6,000,000 debt owed to Violet Naliyombya. On 24 September 2012, the parties made a second agreement under which the plaintiff would pay off the defendant's debt and retrieve the title, and the defendant would sell her another 2 acres from plot 93 for UGX 10,000,000. The plaintiff paid UGX 6,000,000 to Luwero Court and UGX 1,000,000 to the defendant directly, leaving UGX 3,000,000 outstanding. The defendant then informed the plaintiff that the certificate of title for plot 93 had been given to other claimants, undertook to demarcate the land from plot 135 instead, but refused to sign the transfer forms. The defendant did not appear to defend the suit despite personal service.

Issues

  1. Whether the defendant's conduct amounts to a breach of contract to merit the prayers sought.

Orders

  • A declaration that the defendant is in breach of the sale agreement dated 24 September 2012 in respect of land comprised in Bulemezi Block 215 plot 93 land at Kizzanganda.
  • An order of specific performance doth issue against the defendant directing him to fulfil the terms of the said agreement within two weeks after the date of delivery of this judgment, failing which the plaintiff will be entitled to a refund of the current value of the 2 acres of land comprised in Bulemezi Block 215, plot 93 land at Kizzanganda, payable within a period of only 60 days.
  • The plaintiff is awarded a sum of UGX 50,000,000 as general damages with interest of 15% per annum from the date of judgment till payment in full.

Rules and key headnotes

Contract Law — Essential Elements — Offer and Acceptance, Consideration, Intention to Create Legal Relations
A valid contract requires an offer and acceptance which correspond with each other, consideration passing from each party, intention to create legal relations, capacity to contract, apparent and complete terms, compliance with any required formalities, and absence of any common law or statutory rule rendering the agreement void.
Contract Law — Breach of Contract — Definition and Effect
A breach of contract occurs where one party to a contract fails to carry out a term of the contract, or when a party neglects, refuses or fails to perform any part of its bargain or any term of the contract, written or oral, without a legitimate legal excuse, entitling the innocent party to a remedy.
Contract Law — Remedies for Breach — Specific Performance
Where a party breaches a contract for the sale of land by refusing to complete the transfer, the court may order specific performance with a time limit for compliance, failing which the defaulting party must refund the current value of the property to the innocent party.
Contract Law — Remedies for Breach — Assessment of Damages
Damages for breach of contract are measured by looking into the future to forecast what would have been likely to happen if the party had never entered into the contract, and include the direct probable consequences of the breach such as loss of profit, physical inconvenience, mental distress, pain and suffering.
Land & Property — Sale of Land — Vendor's Duty to Complete Transfer
A vendor who sells land and receives payment is under a duty to complete the transfer by signing the transfer instrument, and failure to do so after payment constitutes a breach of contract entitling the purchaser to specific performance or damages.

Legislation cited (7)

Cases cited (8)

  • George William Kakoma v Attorney General [2010] HCB 1
  • Dr Vincent Karuhanga v NIC and URA [2008] ULR 666
  • William Kasozi v DFCU Bank Ltd (Civil Suit No. 1326 of 2000)
  • Ronald Kasibante v Shell Uganda Ltd (Civil Suit No. 542 of 2006)
  • Uganda Petroleum Co Ltd v Kampala City Council (Civil Suit No. 250 of 2005)
  • Assist (U) Ltd v Italian Asphault & Haulage & Another (Civil Suit No. 1291 of 1999)
  • Bank of Uganda v Fred William Masable & 5 Others (Supreme Court Civil Appeal No. 3 of 1998)
  • Esso Petroleum Co Ltd v Mardon [1976] 2 All ER

Full judgment

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The original judgment as reported. Read the original PDF before relying on any passage.

Nakaweesa_v_Makubuya_(Civil_Suit_No._1022_of_2022)_[2022]_UGHCLD_19_(22_February_2022)
Source: this page presents Wakilii’s issue analysis and metadata for a publicly reported Ugandan judgment. Any AI-generated summary is marked as such. Judgment text is sourced from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ulii.org). Wakilii is not affiliated with ULII.