On ground 2, 6 and 7 & Counsel for the Respondents submitted that fraud was pleaded and proved to the satisfaction of the lower
Court. He further submitted that the Appellants had not rebutted the evidence relating to fraud in the lower Court.
Mr. Tebyasa further stated that the 1st Appellant admitted in his evidence that although the family had commissioned him to apply for Plot 26 Adumi Rd; in the names of the
four Administrators, i.e. Siama, Kicks & Hamed Amba and himself, he had applied for the plot in his individual names, thus therefore,
admitting his own fraud. Counsel Tebyasa, quoted the WSD where in para 2 of the same the 1st Defendant and present 1st Appellant had stated "The 1st Defendant admits the contents of paragraph 2 of Plaint? see WSD.
Learned Counsel for the Respondent also pointed out that both Appellants/Defendants had their WSD claimed that each was the allocatee
of the suit plot. He further stated that the 1st Appellant had used funds from Ibrahim Jabir's estate to pay fees and premium for the suit plot.
Learned Counsel further submitted that Florence Poni knew very well that the 1st Appellant had not secured the permission of the Jabir family to sell the plot to her as evidenced by their resistance to her developing
the plot and for this reason she knew of the fraudulent acquisition of the plot by the 1st Appellant, Counsel stated.
Counsel further submitted that the 2nd Appellant, as a tenant of the Respondent knew about the controversy on the suit plot and was therefore a party to the fraud when
he bought the plot from F. Poni. Counsel submitted that according to the evidence on record the 2nd Appellant tried to forcibly enter the suit plot and even took policemen to gain access and that he had all along known of the dispute
on that plot.
Counsel contended that the Municipal Council should have transferred the land to F. Poni after all the building comments had been
complied with by the 1st Appellant and not before. He further noted that the Appellant had sold the suit plot after only 2 years instead of the 5 years of
the lease.
Council further submitted that the 2nd Appellant had admitted to the lower Court that he had known of the dispute over the Suit plot but that he thought the parties had
settled it. Citing
Kampala District Land Board and anor.
Versus
Vanansio Babiweyake &. 30rs C.A No. 57 LOS
Counsel submitted that it was held in the above case that where a person knew that the land was occupied by another he should not
apply for a lease of that land without recognizing the right of the occupant to exercise his right to be offered a lease; He contended
that the 2nd Appellant knew that the Respondent had disputed F. Poni's ownership of the suit land and should not have bought it from her.
On ground No. 3 of the Appeal Counsel submitted that the Respondents had prayed Court for the restoration of their property and the
relevant documents. He stated that since the Respondents had no legal representation their pleadings in Court was sufficient for
them to obtain substantive justice.
He conceded that the learned trial Magistrate had no power to cancel the title as pleaded on ground 4 of the Memorandum of appeal
but he stated that the learned trial Magistrate had the power to order a cancellation of the lease to the 2nd Respondent which would have automatically cancelled the certificate of Title. Counsel argued that this hon. Court should address
itself on whether there was sufficient ground to warrant the cancellation of Title. Counsel further argued that the cancellation
of Title by the learned trial Magistrate was a mere declaratory order which he had power to make and cited:
Ruzhmengyuwa -y- Ruzigana HCCS No. 48/76 Reported (1977) HCB 94 where it was held that a Magistrate Grade 11 had power to declare for the cancellation of Title. He argued that the order for cancellation
of Title by the trial Magistrate was a mere irregularity which could be cured by an Appellant Court. He argued that this court could confirm the learned trial Magistrate's finding under S. 98 CPA and S. 33 & S. 142 of the Judicature Act.
On ground of Appeal No. 5, Counsel for the Respondents contended that the Respondents were customary tenants or bona fide occupants
under S. 29 (3) (a) of the Land Act because they were settled on that land through Haji Ibrahim Jabir by the land Commission.
As to the argument by Counsel for the Appellant that the 3rd Respondent was not the son of the late Ibrahim Jabir. Counsel prayed court to take judicial notice of the African custom of referring
to nieces and nephews as daughters and sons respectively. To the objection that the person to whom letters of Administration was
granted was not to PW3, who gave her name as SIAMA EZAKURU, and not SIAMA JABIR, Counsel for the Respondent countered that in the
case of B.O.B. Okello Oryem (No. citation given). It was held that one person could have several names.
On the Counsel for the Appellant's assertion that the learned trial Magistrate relied on hearsay, Mr. Tebyasa submitted that the hearsay
complained of had not been specified by Counsel.
Counsel Tebyasa urged this hon. Court to rely on the fact that the pleaded fraud was proved and particularized in the evidence in
the Lower Court and that this court should ignore the procedural irregularities in the lower court's proceeding and base itself on whether substantive justice was done. Counsel cited, Makula International-versus- Cardinal Nsubuqa [1982] HCB n.
Counsel further stated that some grounds of appeal were academic and this hon. Court should not entertain them as was decided in:
Jasper Sinqh Sanqhahu -versus- Noble Builders Ltd SCCA No 13/02 P.4 & 5.
Citing: Kakooza John Baptist -v-Electoral Commission & Anthony Yiqa C.A Case No. 106. Counsel Tebyasa prayed Court to reject all grounds not canvassed in the lower Court and that this hon. Court shall look at the Appeal
in its totality and in respect of Art 126 (2) (c) of the Constitution Learned Counsel prayed Court to dismiss the Appeal.
The background to the suit land is rather checkered, and this has some bearing on the status of Plot 26 Adumi Road and its relationship
to the JABIR family as represented by the Respondents. PW6, Abdu Twalib Kassajja testified in the trial that Nasur AIi Habuba Munyoro
had "given the /andNto Alahai 1. Jabir who in 1969 had married Habuba Alahai Jabir who was Munyoro's daughter named Apio. The witness testified in the lower
Court that Alahai Ibrahim Jabir had given Habuba A.N Munyoro shs 800/= "as a token of thanks” Now it was not elaborated whether the 800/= was for a Sale/gift for the land or whether it was in a form of dowry for Apio, the daughter
of Nasur A. Habuba Munyoro.
PW6 stated that later on Alahaji I. Jabir leased this land and the witnessed averred that he could show the mark stone and that there
were eucalyptus trees planted there. According to this witness the land belonged to the late A.1. Jabir. In cross examination the
witness stated that the suit land was given to the late Jabir A.1. in 1972. The witness stated that there was a written document
when the suit land was given to A.I. Jabir. The witness claimed to have been present when the transaction took place and saw witnesses
to the transaction appending their names to the document. His father Twalib Kassajja and a sister to Nasur Habuba Munyoro were witnesses.
He stated that the documents in respect of the suit plot were signed in April 1975.
PW4 testified that in 1975 she had come to work for the late A.I Jabir and later become his wife and bore him a child in 1976. She
stated that the late Jabir had documents to the suit land and those which were not in dispute. She further testified that after the
late Jabir was killed; all his documents were passed to Mama Siama. PW4 further stated that the suit land used to have a house with a store and was used
as a parking yard and a garage. She stated that Habuba Munyoro had given the land to Alahaji Jabir in the presence of her children
one of whom was Nasur Ali. She testified that she had been shown a document concerning the suit land but she did not read it. She
further testified that when she got married to the late A.I. Jabir he was already in possession of the suit land and he had put up
a house and a parking yard on it.
PW3 Mama Siama testified that she was the head of the Jabir family and that he 1st Appellant/Defendant was her brother and the 2nd Defendant/Appellant was tenant of the Jabir family. She testified that the suit plot had been used by the late Jabir as a parking
yard. She testified that the suit plot also had a temporary structure on it which was used as a store, for charcoal and for slaughtering
animals.
She further testified that she was illiterate and had invited the 1st Appellant, Andiga, to help her with running the late Jabir's estate. She averred that because of her illiteracy she had surrendered
all the files to Andiga, the 1st Appellant/Defendant. She stated that to her knowledge the Suit plot formed part of the late A. I. Jabir[s estate. She further averred
that the 1st Appellant had informed her that he had sold the suit plot to Florence Poni and that the 2nd Appellant had confronted her accusing her of blocking his attempts to develop the suit plot.
PW3 further averred in cross-examination by the 1st Appellant that he had approached her and requested her to find money to refund to Florence Poni and she accepted but that the 2nd Appellant then sued her over the suit land. She further stated that Andiga, the 1st Appellant personally used the money from the sale of the suit land and then wanted the family to refund Florence Poni.
The reason I have gone to the genesis of plot 26 Adumi Rd was to find out whether the suit plot was held under a lease or was a customary
tenure. It is unfortunate that no documents were availed to court regarding this plot. PWI and PWII the present Respondents testified
that the 1st Appellant had carried out all the documents out of the office on the pretext that he was doing some work at home so no document pertaining
to this land has been made available.
It is not clear whether Habuba Munyoro was a tenant on this land and sublet it to the late A.I.Jabir or whether she had held this
land under a customary practice and therefore had the power to give it away absolutely. In 1974 when the land was allegedly given
to Jabir, that land might have been public land. By the Public Land Act, a person could, however, apply for a lease on public land.
Did Habuba Munyoro apply for a lease? This is a moot question.
By the Land Reform Decree 1975 all land in Uganda became public land and one had to apply to a sub-county land board to get permission
to settle on the land or to get a lease for it.
However, from the evidence adduced at the lower court, it appears that A.I. Jabir was in possession of Plot 26 Adumi Rd from 1974
1980 when he had to ran to the Congo because of the war. After his death in Arua in 1984. His sister and the Administrator of his
estate took over the suit plot as part of his estate in 1984.
On 15/4/1975 A.I. Jabir applied to the Provincial Commissioner for Lands and Surveys in Gulu for allocation of Plot 26 Adumi Road
in Arua. A copy of the letter was given to the Ag. Town Clerk, Arua Municipal Council and to the DCCND Arua. There does not seem
to have been any response of any kind to this letter. The 1st Appellant, DWl had admitted in his evidence that it was he who drafted that letter of application of behalf of A.I. Jabir and that
it was addressed to the wrong authority. "Infact I am the one who wrote that /etter// 1st Applicant on P.27 of proceedings.
The 1st Defendant as OWl testified that he had applied for the suit plot in 1988, 5th April - Exh. D.l but was not successful as the Plot was allocated to Asa Nasulu Ali who transferred it to James Yeka Azio - Exh.
0.2.
D. W l, the 1st Appellant stated that he again applied for the suit Plot on 26/5/93 and it was allocated to him. The Respondents seemed to have been
in blissful ignorance of the fact that plot 26 Adumi Rd, the suit plot, had been located to Asa Nuru and later to James Yeka Azio.
It seemed the two never took steps to attempt to develop the plot because the Respondents did not even mention them in their testimonies.
PW1 and PW2 testified that in 1988 Andiga, the 1st Appellant informed the family that he wanted me to apply, on behalf of the family for the extension of leases for plots 1-3, and
was given authority to apply for lease extension of all the late A.I. Jabir's bUildings on lease. This appeared to have been the
time when he applied unsuccessfully for the suit plot 26 Adumi Rd.
In 1993 T. Andiga, the 1st Appellant informed the family that the Municipal Council wanted Plot No 26 Adumi Rd to be leased and developed but not as a parking
yard. Andiga informed the family, according to PW1/s testimony Pages 3-4 proceedings that he would apply for a lease of Plot 26 Adumi
Rd on behalf of the family and use land titles of the family plots to borrow funds for developing the suit plot.
However, when Andiga, 1st Appellant, showed the family the application form for the lease, it contained only his names. When questioned, he stated that the
two other co-Administrators, Kicks and Amber were dead and Siama was illiterate so the family was satisfied and continued to believe
that plot 26 Adumi Rd was to be applied for on behalf of the estate of A.I. Jabir.
It was in 1996 when Florence Poni appeared on Plot 26 Adumi Rd that the family found out that the suit Plot Had been sold to her by
the 1st Appellant. The family resisted. The 1st Appellant then asked the family to refund Poni the purchase price, it refused because it was the 1st Appellant who had received the money.
It has been established, by evidence, that the late Ibrahim Jabir intended to acquire a lease to plot 26 Adumi Rd. The letter requesting
for a lease of the above plot was written to the wrong authority i.e. The Provincial Commissioner for Land and Surveys in Gulu but
the letter was also copied to the Town Clerk, Arua Municipality who could have, tried he so wished, corrected the Applicant as to
which was the lawful authority to apply to.
However, the Respondents as members of the family of the late Ibrahim Jabir were under the misconception that plot 26 Adumi Rd was
part of the estate of I. Jabir. The Plot had been in their possession since 1974 with a break of four years then from 1984 1996 i.e.
for at least 17 years in total.
It seems their possession/occupancy was not interrupted even when the plot had been leased to Asa Nuru, Yeka Azio and Andiga in 1994.
Even the Municipal Council did not alert them by any notice that it was leasing the land to another person so they occupied plot
26
Adumi Rd in blissful ignorance of the true position until 1996 when Poni staked a claim on the plot.
Even when the Jabir family went into exile in 1980 - 1984, there is no evidence that anyone else ever occupied the suit plot in their
absence.
The 1st ground of appeal that the learned trial Magistrate erred in law to grant the orders to the Respondents as a matter pertaining to
an estate of the deceased person when they were not the Administrators of the estate.
From the record of proceedings, this issue was not raised in the lower court and the learned trial magistrate did not pronounce himself
on it.
However, the 1st Appellant had testified in the lower that he had no problems with the Respondents suing him as they had the authority from their
aunt Siama, an illiterate, who had the letters of Administration of the estate of the late Ibrahim Jabir. The 3rd Respondents is the son of the late Jabir. The other Respondents are the nephews of the late Jabir and were brought up by him. According
to the testimony of PW3 Siama. The Respondents are also beneficiaries of the estate of the late Ibrahim Jabir (P.14 of the Proceedings
PW3). The Respondents had interest on Plot 26 Adumi
Rd as beneficiaries and occupants of the Suit Plots since their uncle "acquired' the use of it in 1974.
In Andrea Lukwago - v - The Registrar of Titles Misc. Cause No. 7/77 it was held that the word proprietor not having been defined by RTA - anyone with a registrable interest in the Land whether legal
or equitable interest could sue - See also Gibbs -v-Messr (1891) A.C. 248.
In this case the Respondents were defending their rights by virtue of their having occupied the same since 1984, as beneficiaries
of the estate of the late Ibrahim who was given the Plot by Habuba Munyoro in 1974.
It has also been contended by Counsel for the Appellant that the suit Plot did not form a part of the estate of the late Ibrahim Jabir,
if this is so then the Respondents could sue as the lawful or bona fide occupants or bear occupants of the suit plot by virtue of
their having occupied the Plot since 1984 in the case of being neither a lawful or bona fide occupants, the Respondents would recourse
to S. 30 (1) of the Land Act 1998 which provides thus.
"Where a person has occupied and utilized or developed any land unchallenged by the registered owner of the land or agent of the registered owner for less than 12 years and therefore does not qualify to be a bona fide occupant under 5.29, that person shall take all reasonable steps to seek and identify the registered owner of the land for the purpose of undertaking negotiations
with that person concerning his/her occupation of the land.”
This is what the Respondents were doing when they authorized the 1st Appellant to obtain a lease for the Suit Plot.
In Israel Kabwa -y- Martin Banoba Musega SCCA No. 52/95 P.8Justice Tsekooko J.S.C appeal on the ground that the Respondent was not a holder of Letters would fail:
"Even if no letters of administration had been obtained, because of the Respondents right to the land and his developments thereon
do not depend on letters of administration.”
Justice Tsekooko also stated: (Supra)
''Even if it were assumed for the sake of argument that the Respondent could’nt sue, his conduct in preserving or protecting the estate are valid. "
I believe the Respondents were protecting the estate of the late Ibrahim against an "unscrupulous//administrator of the estate. Ground one of the appeal therefore fails.
On the ground two of the Appeal the Respondent pleaded fraud in their Plaint in paragraph 6 and gave particulars in the same paragraph.
Thus:-
“The 2nd Defendant (2nd Appellant) knowingly and without colour of right accepted to buy the said plot from the 1st Defendant”
In paragraph 7 of the Plaint the Respondents stated that:
“The matter was reported to the authorities but the two defendants (Appellants) ignored."
The 6th paragraph of the Plaint followed from paragraph 5 where it was stated:
"Towards the end of 1996 the 1st Defendant (1st Appellant) fraudulently and without consent and knowledge of the Plaintiffs (Respondents) obtained the land Title of the above mentioned
land plot No. 26 Adumi Rd and sold it to the ;rd Defendant'~ (i.e. 2nd Appellant)
The facts which emerged were that the 1st Appellant sold the Plot to F. Poni who later sold it to the 2nd Appellant. The facts which revealed fraud were that the 1st Appellant applied in his own names and told lies to the family about his reasons for acquiring the Plot in his names. He then wrote
to the Municipality to process the title in the names of Ms. Poni. This, he did without informing the family. The Respondents only saw F. Poni coming with building materials to construct on the plot. The 1st Appellant wanted to defraud the family of the plot.
As regards fraud by the 2nd Appellant, the 1st PW1, Mohamed Jabir, 3d respondent, testified at p. 12 of the Proceedings:-
“james (Nyakuni) knew before he purchased the land (plot 26 Adumi Rd) that it was under controversy. He is a tenant on our land/house
and his shop is next to our office.
''He used to ask us about all the happenings and we could relate everything to him".
This testimony was never challenged by the 2nd Appellant.
At page 6 of the Proceedings PW1 stated thus:-
"Florence Poni knew that the plot belonged to the family as the family approached her and other people also told her/~
On P.13 of the Proceedings when PW1 was cross-examined by the 2nd Appellant he stated:
“The document we got with you (2nd Appellant) were the ones for renewing the lease ... the most important were the lease offer for the same plot, the land titles to
the plot. The documents were in Andiga Jabirs name (i.e. 1st Appellant). We accused you together with Andiga (ft Appellant) because you also grabbed our land.”
This shows that there was some sort of collusion between the Appellants. In his evidence in cross examination the 2nd Appellant testified thus.
"When doing a transaction you call someone you trust as a witness but I did not trust Andiga (ft Appellant) that is why I did not call him to witness my purchase from Poni.”
When the 2nd Appellant was asked whether Poni ever informed him as to why she was selling the plot to him. He answered:-
"It was my understanding with the seller and that is why I bought"
This could be interpreted in two ways. It could be that he colluded with Poni to buy the land or that she told him the reason why
she was selling which was kept as a secret between the two of them.
On the same P.31 the 2nd Appellant testified thus:
“In the file in the Municipal Council, I saw the letter written by Poni to Andiga. I read the letter the letter indicated that you
threatened Poni... It is true that in the letter Poni had stated that Andiga had deceived her that he was not a member of your family
and that she had by her investigation discovered that he was the head of the family.”
On the same page 2nd Appellant continued:-
"All the three reports of the IGG gave me the power to proceed and purchase the plot the reports were dated 24/8/99/ 10/4/2000
and 12/7/2000.
"All people occupying vacant plots in the town are not owners ... they are squatters and occupying the and temporarily.
"That is why I did not contact your family despite the fact that you were using the plot as a workshop.”
These are various reasons advanced by the 2nd Appellant for buying the Suit Plot.
These show that the 2nd Appellant was fully aware of the position of the plot and the dispute over it when he purportedly bought the plot from Poni.
The 2nd Appellant's testimony clearly shows that he was aware of the first Appellant's fraudulent sale of the plot to F. Poni. He testified
that he did not trust the 1st Appellant and he acknowledges the fact that F. Poni had, in her letter, which he read, bitterly complained of the 1st Appellant's dishonesty towards her.
The learned trial Magistrate in his judgment found that the 1st Appellant had applied for the Plot with a corrupt intention to defraud the family. The Magistrate stated:
“As an administrator of the late (Jabir 1.) persons estate and a managing director of the same family company, applying for land in which the family itself has interest, is to
say the least,
highly dishonest and fraudulent Surely such conduct cannot be upheld by a Court of Justice.”
On fraud allegation concerning the 2nd Appellant the learned trial Magistrate pronounced himself as follows.
"1 have not believed Nyakunis (2nd Appellant) evidence that he purchased the land on the strength of the reports of the IGG and the documents he saw on the file in the
Municipal Council. It should be noted that even after the IGGs report the Plaintiffs' (Respondents) family continued showing signs
of dissatisfaction an in fact resisted attempts to develop the land. It is therefore untrue for Nyakuni who was even on the ground
to say he was satisfied the matter had been finally settled. //
In Lukwago -v- The Registrar of Titles M.C. No 7A//77 (Supra) it was held:-
"Bonafide purchaser for value who obtains title from a fraudulent person
has good title so long as he had not been a party to the fraud or had notice of it.”
In Marko Matovu -v- Mohammed 5severino and anor [1979] EACA & HCB 174. It was held:
"Knowledge of the other person's rights or claims over land and deliberate acquisition of a registered title in the face of protests is fraud.”
In John Katwiremu -Y- William Katwiremu &. ors [1977] HCB 187 it was held:-
"lf a person procures registration to defeat an existing unregistered interest on the part of another person of which he is proved
to have had knowledge then such a person is guilty of fraud. "
The 2nd Appellant knew that there was dispute on Plot 26 Adumi Rd. He was interested in what was happening about the plot as PW1 stated in
the lower Court. PW1 testified that he wanted to know what was happening and the Respondents told him everything.
Under the circumstances even if fraud was not specifically pleaded, it would be incumbent on a court of justice to find that there
was fraud under 5.98 CPA and Art 126 (2) (c) of the Constitution.
The ground of appeal stating that fraud was neither pleaded not proved fails and the 2nd Appellant found not to have been a bona fide purchaser for value without notice of the fraud.
Ground 3 of the appeal is dismissed.
On ground 7 of the Appeal is that the trial Magistrate admitted in evidence copies of documents instead of the originals.
Copies of documents, some of which were ineligible were submitted by both parties according to the records. The parties were not represented
and none of them challenged the documents being copies. The Magistrate did not make it an issue which may indicate that he was satisfied
with them.
Since there is no record to the effect that the documents were challenged, I find this ground superfluous and therefore dismiss it.
Ground eight that the Magistrate failed to properly evaluate the evidence and came to a wrong conclusion.
This has not been apparent on the face of the record. From what I have read the learned Magistrate took a lot of pain in evaluating
the evidence and even visited to locus in quo where he was told by LCI Chairperson of the area that the Respondents had occupied
the suit plot for over 10 years.
He analysed the issue of fraud according to the evidence and came to the conclusion that the Appellants were fraudulent in their dealing
with the suit plot. He found that the 2nd Appellant fore knowledge of the interests of the Respondents in the suit land before he purchased it from F. Poni.
Consequently the court finds as follows:
1.
The Cancellation of Title by the Magistrate with regard to the 2nd Appellant was ultra vires the Magistrate's jurisdiction and is thus set aside.
2.
The Registrar of Title is hereby ordered to cancel the 2nd
Appellant's name from Title. Since it was fraudulently
acquired.
3.
No. 26 Adumi Rd shall revert to the Respondents who should acquire a legal lease for it since they have been in occupation.
4.
The Appellants shall meet the costs of this appeals.
The Appellants have a right to appeal within 14 days.
Mary LD.E. Maitum JUDGE 11/9/2007
Judgement delivered in the presence of:
Mr. K. Alaka for the Appellants
Mr. A. Tebyasa for the Respondents Ms. Eva Namutebi -Court Clerk
Mary LD.E. Maitum JUDGE 11/9/2007