Wakilii

Tugumikirize v Uganda Electricity Board (Civil Suit 51 of 93)

High Court · [1993] UGHC 89 · 1993 Judgment for Plaintiff AI-generated summary ↓ Download Pin to watchlist Add to matter
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Type
First instance civil suit for damages arising from personal injury caused by electrocution
Decision
Judgment entered for the plaintiff with damages of UGX 16 million plus interest and costs

Observed later treatment

No later-treatment classification is recorded for this judgment.

Citator coverage is limited to judgments in the Wakilii corpus and source-matched treatment records. Absence of a signal is not an assertion that the case remains good law.

AI-generated summary. This summary was generated by AI from the full text of the judgment. It may contain errors or omissions—always read the source judgment before relying on it.

Holding

The court awarded UGX 16 million in general damages to a 10-year-old boy who sustained severe burns and permanent 60% disability from electrocution by the defendant's fallen transmission lines. Liability was admitted. The plaintiff suffered extensive burns to his chest, abdomen, scrotum, and limbs, was hospitalised for seven months, and was left with knee stiffness, probable impotence, and inability to walk properly.

Outcome

Judgment entered for the plaintiff with damages of UGX 16 million plus interest and costs

Facts

On 15 May 1992, the plaintiff, a 10-year-old boy, stepped on a loose electric wire lying on the ground after a transmission pole owned by the defendant had fallen. He was electrocuted and admitted unconscious to Virika Hospital with extensive burn wounds to his chest, abdomen, pelvis, scrotum, and upper and lower limbs. He regained consciousness after one day. His progress was slow; he remained hospitalised until 15 January 1993. At the time of trial, he could not return to school, wounds behind both knees had not healed, he had limited knee movement, walked with stiffness, and complained of impotence. His penis was almost burnt off. Medical assessment found permanent disability at 60%. The defendant admitted liability at the outset of the hearing.

Issues

  1. What is the appropriate quantum of general damages for the personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff as a result of electrocution?

Orders

  • Judgment for the plaintiff.
  • The defendant shall pay the plaintiff UGX 16,000,000 as general damages for pain and suffering and loss of amenities.
  • Interest at court rate awarded from the date of judgment until payment in full.
  • Costs of the suit awarded to the plaintiff.

Rules and key headnotes

Tort Law — Personal Injury — Assessment of General Damages — Child Plaintiff with Permanent Disability
Where a minor sustains severe electrocution injuries resulting in extensive burns, permanent 60% disability, probable impotence, knee stiffness affecting mobility, and prolonged hospitalisation, an award of UGX 16 million in general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenities is appropriate having regard to the severity of injuries, the plaintiff's young age, and the permanence of the impairment.
Tort Law — Assessment of Damages — Use of Historical Awards — Dollar Conversion Method
Recent court decisions on quantum of damages should be preferred over attempting to convert historical awards using a dollar formula. While the dollar exchange rate may serve as a guide to show the rate of inflation, it should not be mechanically applied to convert old awards to current currency values without consideration of other relevant factors.

Cases cited (5)

  • Godfrey M v Uganda Electricity Board (HCCS No. 95(B) of 1989)
  • Bamweyana v Attorney General of Uganda (HCCS No. 168)
  • Adriani M Nsubuga v Attorney General of Uganda (HCCS No. 178)
  • Ntimba vs. UEB Appeal 1592
  • Erisa Musangi v Uganda Electricity Board (HCCS No. 84 of 1990)

Full judgment

↓ Download PDF

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

Tugumikirize v Uganda Electricity Board (Civil Suit 51 of 93) [1993] UGHC 89 (4 June 1993)
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.