Wakilii

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

High Court · [1993] UGHC 88 · 1993 Judgment for Plaintiff AI-generated summary ↓ Download Pin to watchlist Add to matter
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Type
First instance civil suit for damages for personal injuries sustained by electrocution
Decision
Judgment entered for the plaintiff with damages and costs

Observed later treatment

No later-treatment classification is recorded for this judgment.

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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 16,000,000 in general damages to a 10-year-old boy who suffered severe burns and permanent disability assessed at 60% after stepping on a loose electric wire on the ground belonging to the defendant. Liability was admitted. The award took into account extensive burns, seven months hospitalisation, permanent scarring, stiffness of knees, probable impotence, and the plaintiff's young age.

Outcome

Judgment entered for the plaintiff with damages 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 belonging to the defendant had fallen down. He was electrocuted and sustained extensive burn wounds to the front and back of the chest and abdomen, penis, scrotum, and upper and lower limbs. He was admitted to hospital unconscious and treated with analgesics and antibiotics. He regained consciousness after one day but remained hospitalised for seven months until 15 January 1993. On examination in May 1993, wounds on the chest and abdomen had healed but wounds behind both knees had not healed. He had limited movement of both knees and complained of impotence. His penis was almost burnt off. His permanent disability was assessed at 60%. At the time of judgment he was unable to return to school. Liability was admitted by the defendant.

Issues

  1. What amount of general damages should be awarded to the plaintiff for the personal injuries sustained as a result of electrocution?

Orders

  • Judgment for the plaintiff.
  • General damages awarded in the sum of UGX 16,000,000 (sixteen million shillings) for pain and suffering and loss of amenities.
  • Interest at court rate from the date of judgment until payment in full.
  • Costs of the suit awarded to the plaintiff.

Rules and key headnotes

Tort Law — Occupier's Liability — Transmission Lines on Ground — Liability Admitted
Where a defendant admits liability for injuries sustained by a minor who was electrocuted after stepping on loose electricity transmission lines lying on the ground following the collapse of a transmission pole, the only issue for the court is the quantum of damages.
Damages & Quantum — General Damages — Assessment — Severe Burns — Permanent Disability
In assessing general damages for personal injuries, the court takes into account the severity of injuries, duration of hospitalisation, pain and suffering, loss of amenities, permanent scarring, permanent disability percentage, and the plaintiff's age and prospects.
Damages & Quantum — Comparable Awards — Use of Dollar Formula
The court prefers to follow recent court decisions on quantum rather than converting old awards using a dollar formula, though the dollar rate may be used as a guide to show inflation without automatic conversion without other considerations.

Cases cited (5)

  • Godfrey M v Uganda Electricity Board (HCCS No. 95(B) of 1989)
  • Severino Bamwereka v Attorney General of Uganda (HCCS No. 168)
  • Adriani Msba v Attorney General of Uganda (HCCS No. 118)
  • Ntimba v Uganda Electricity Board (Civil Appeal No. 15 of 1992)
  • Elisa Musangi v Uganda Electricity Board (HCCS No. 84 of 1990)

Full judgment

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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 88 (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.