Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Legal Methods
1. Who is an advocate?
An advocate is any person whose name is duly entered upon the roll of advocates.
S.1(a) Advocates Act;
2. What is the coram for a Constitutional appeal in the Supreme Court?
The full bench of all members of the Supreme Court (Seven Justices)
Article 131 (1)-(2) Constitution, 1995;
3. Explain the phrase stare decisis est non queta movere
In common law jurisdictions, whenever judges are deciding a matter, they are to
ordinarily follow decisions previously laid down by courts of similar or higher
jurisdiction
4. What do you understand by the term, state brief?
State brief is the co-option of the services of an advocate, in private practice, to offer legal
services to accused persons who cannot afford to pay for them.
5. To which court does an appeal from the Magistrate Grade 1 court lie?
Appeals from the Magistrate Grade 1 Court lie to the High Court.
S.220 (1) (a) Magistrates Court Act.
6. Under what law is this pre entry examination set?
The exam is set under the Advocates (Professional Requirement for Admission to Post-
Graduate Bar Course) Notice, Legal Notice No 17 of 2007 as amended by Legal Notice
No 12 of 2010
7. State the rule of construction that judges apply in statutory interpretation in order to discover
Parliaments intention
The mischief rule.
Heydon's Case [1584]76 ER 637
8. What is an endnote?
A note, that instead of appearing at the bottom (like a footnote does), appears at the end
of the book, chapter or paper
Blacks Law Dictionary, 8th Edition, 569
9. List two requirements that a deed must fulfil to be valid at common law
The deed should be signed
The deed should be Sealed
The deed should be Delivered
Constitutional Law
1. What is the political question doctrine?
The political question doctrine is a principle in constitutional law that a question that a
court will not consider because it involves the exercise of discretionary power by the
executive or legislative branch of government. - Also termed nonjusticiable question
Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition 1277
The Political question doctrine is a tenet which holds that certain issues should not be
decided by courts because their resolution is committed to another branch of government
and /or because those issues are not capable, for one reason or another, of judicial
resolution.
Cehurd and 3 others v Attorney General Constitutional Petition 16/2011
2. List two non-derogable rights under the Constitution of Uganda, 1995
(a) freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(b) freedom from slavery or servitude;
(c) the right to fair hearing;
(d) the right to an order of habeas corpus.
Article 44 Constitution 1995
3. List one principle that the courts in Uganda are supposed to apply in adjudicating cases of both
a criminal and civil nature
(a) justice shall be done to all irrespective of their social or economic status;
(b) justice shall not be delayed;
(c) adequate compensation shall be awarded to victims of wrongs;
(d) reconciliation between parties shall be promoted; and
(e) substantive justice shall be administered without undue regard to technicalities.
Article 126 (2)(e)
4. Judicial power in Uganda is derived from and exercised in the name of:
a) The Constitution
b) The people (Article 126 (1) Constitution)
c) The Laws of Uganda
4. List the grounds that an applicant has to prove in an application for security for costs
An applicant has to prove that
(a) He/she is being put to undue expense by defending a frivolous and vexatious suit.
(b) He/she has a good defence to the suit.
(c) That the applicant/defendant is likely to win.
Order 26 rule 1 CPR The court may if it deems fit order a plaintiff in any suit to give
security for the payment of all costs incurred by any defendant.
Namboro & Another v Kala [1975] HCB 315
5. List the grounds that an a judgment debtor has to prove in an application for stay of execution
The judgment debtor has to prove that
That substantial loss may result to the applicant unless the order is made;
That the application has been made without unreasonable delay; and
That security has been given by the applicant for the due performance of the Decree or
Order as may ultimately be binding upon him or her.
Order 43 Rule 4 (3) CPR
Torts
1. What is a tort?
A civil wrong, other than breach of contract, for which a remedy may be obtained, usually
in the form of damages; a breach of a duty that the law imposes on persons who stand in
a particular relation to one another.
Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition 1626
2. Yesterday, Stamina moved to the faculty notice board to see his results and confirm if he is on
the graduation list for 2015. He was however shocked to see that he would not graduate because
of a retake he had in Equity & Trusts. He dashed to his hostel, picked the answer sheet and
stormed into the Deans office. He then shouted at the Dean and told her that she was very
incompetent and was recruited without qualifications. The dean wants to sue for defamation,
advise her.
The deans suit is untenable in law since she was not defamed. For a statement to be
defamatory, it should be published to third parties. In the instant case, Stamina spoke
only to the dean
Godfrey Ssejjoba Vs Rwabigonyi [1977] HCB 37
3. Tomosi was arrested by the police on a wrong suspicion that he was a narcotics dealer and was
released after 13 hours in custody. He would like to sue for false imprisonment but the police
say he was detained within the 48 hours required by law. Advise Tomosi
Tomosi may sue for false imprisonment. Authorities are only exempted if they had
reasonable cause to arrest him. In the absence of reasonable cause, the arrest is unlawful,
no matter the time spent in detention.
Magezi Raphael v Attorney General HCCS 977 of 2000
4. Distinguish between the torts of detinue and conversion
(such questions have no standard answer, but if you are to distinguish, let it be on the same
aspect, eg possession, wilful interference, etc)
Blacks Law Dictionary 9th Edition 515 "A claim in detinue lies at the suit of a person who
has an immediate right to the possession of the goods against a person who is in actual
possession of them, and who, upon proper demand, fails or refuses to deliver them up
without lawful excuse.
Blacks Law Dictionary 9th Edition, Conversion An act or series of acts of willful
interference, without lawful justification, with an item of property in a manner
inconsistent with another's right, whereby that other person is deprived of the use and
possession of the property.
[Total deprivation, vis a vis interference with rights thus depriving of use and possession]
5. In an action founded on negligence, even when there is damage, it should not be too remote.
Do you agree? Give a reason
(such questions are rather open)
I agree. A person should only be held liable for damage which he could reasonably foresee
as the probable consequence of his act.
The Wagon Mound [1961] A.C. 388 A man must be considered to be responsible for the
probable consequences of his act. To demand more of him is too harsh a rule, to demand
less is to ignore that civilised order requires the observance of minimum standard of
behaviour
6. Fang is a well known activist in Uganda who has been campaigning about the dangers of
smoking. He was recently invited for a talk show on NTV. During the show, Stamina, the
moderator lit a cigarette and blew smoke in his face. Does Fang have a cause of action
Fang has a cause of action against Stamina for battery. Battery is the intentional
application of force onto another person. Thus blowing smoke intentionally on a person
is intentional application of force on Fang
Leichtman v WLW Jacor Communications 92 Ohio App. 3d 232 (1994)
7. Why is trespass to land actionable per se?
Trespass to land is intended to primarily protect a persons exclusive possession of land
and not be a remedial action
8. What is the eggshell skull rule?
This is the principle that a defendant is liable for a plaintiff's unforeseeable and
uncommon reactions to the defendant's negligent or intentional act.
Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition 593
9. List two economic torts
Passing off
Injurious falsehood
Conspiracy
Inducement of breach of contract
Tortious interference
Watching and besetting
10. What is the Bolam test?
The Bolam test states that If a doctor reaches the standard of a responsible body of
medical opinion, he is not negligent
Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee
Evidence
1. You are a researcher for a judge of the High Court who is currently presiding over the case of
Uganda v Dodoviko. In their evidence, the prosecution presented two doctors, while the
defence presented another doctor who carried out examinations of the deceased at various
intervals. All the doctors gave different opinions about the cause of death. The judge needs to
be certain about the cause of death before deciding on whether the accused person is guilty.
Please advise the judge on what course to follow
The judge should evaluate all the opinions and come to his own conclusion. The opinions
of an expert are not binding on the court
Kooky Sharma v Uganda SCCA No. 44/2000
2. Still, in Uganda v Dodoviko, PW1 Kaboyi has told the judge that the deceased told him six
months before her death that she feared for life since she had snatched the accuseds husband.
That the accused had told her, You will see my true colours. You think this is over, What
type of evidence did Kaboyi give to court, and what should the judge do?
The evidence was a dying declaration. The judge should ensure that the evidence is
corroborated before relying on it, and if it is not corroborated, he should warn himself
before convicting the accused.
Janet Mureeba v Uganda SCCA No. 13/2003
3. What three tests must a party overcome before any piece of evidence is to be successfully
admitted?
Authentication
Hearsay
The best evidence rule
Uganda v David Kamugisha [1988-90]
4. When may a conviction be entered for a sexual offence if the evidence of the victim is not
corroborated?
The conviction may be entered if the Judge warns assessors and himself of the danger of
acting upon the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant. Having done so, he/she may
convict in the absence of corroboration if he is satisfied that there has been no failure of
justice.
Chila v R [1967] EA 722
Criminal law
1. What do you understand by the M'Naghten rules?
The MNaghten rules are that every man is to be presumed sane and for a person to
establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time
of committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such defect of reason
from disease of the mind, not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing, of
he did know, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong
2. While at a local bar, Muyaga told the revellers that his cousin Misindo is impotent and not
abstaining as he is claiming to do. When Misindo was told of the statements, he at first ignored
it. But later in the night, as he thought about it, he was so enraged that he got a panga and
without thinking run to Muyagas house (about 100m away) and cut him to pieces. Can he rely
on provocation? Briefly justify your answer
He cannot rely on provocation as a defence. Provocation can only be relied upon if the
crime was committed in the heat of passion. In the instant case, Misindo had enough time
to cool down and so had malice aforethought
S.192 PCA
3. When does failure to act constitute a crime?
At common law, failure to act constitutes a crime when the law imposes a duty to act and
the defendant is in breach of that duty
[An example is misprision of treason]
4. What are inchoate offences?
A step toward the commission of another crime, the step in itself being serious enough to
merit punishment.
Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition Page 1186
5. The age of criminal responsibility in Uganda is:
a) 18 years
b) 16 years
c) 14 years
d) 12 years (S.88 Children Act)
6. Apart from a person who directly/actually commits the crime, which other parties may be liable
for the offence?
At common law;
Principal in the first degree; the actual perpetrator of the crime
Principal in the second degree. A party who helps the principal in the first degree in the
commission of a crime and who is present at the time and place that the crime is
committed
Accessory before the fact. A party who assists or encourages a principal to commit a
crime, but who is not present at the time and place that the crime is committed
Accessory after the fact. A party who knows that a crime has been committed and who,
nevertheless, helps the offender to avoid liability
7. What is a misdemeanour?
A misdemeanour is any offence which is not a felony, and whose general punishment
should not exceed two years imprisonment
S. 2(n) and 22 Penal Code Act
8. How is nighttime determined in Ugandas criminal legislation?
night or nighttime means the interval between half-past six oclock in the evening
and half-past six oclock in the morning
S. 2(q) Penal Code Act
9. List four offences under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009
Corruption, Abuse of office, Sectarianism, Nepotism, Embezzlement, Causing financial
loss, inter alia
10. Thieves entered Nunas house at midnight and started loading all her property on the truck they
had parked outside. When she identified Sula amongst the people, he poured acid on her face
and tried to flee the scene, but was arrested by the crowd that had gathered around the scene.
Which offence should he be charged with?
Aggravated robbery c/s 286 PCA
Criminal procedure
1. Who may enter a nolle prosequie?
The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector General of Government
S.134 Trial on Indictments Act, Uganda v Prof Gilbert Bukenya
2. What options are available to an accused person once the court determines that he/she has a
case to answer
Giving Sworn evidence, giving unsworn evidence, remaining silent
Uganda v Thomas Nkulungira HCCS No 426/2010, Uganda v Kiiza Besigye
3. State two differences between trials in Magistrates Court and trials in the High Court
a) Trials in the High Court are conducted with assessors, whereas trials in the Magistrates
Court have no assessors S.3 TIA
b) Trials in the High Court are commenced by committal proceedings, which do not take
place in the Magistrates Courts S.168 TIA
Law of contract
1. What is an integration clause?
An integration clause is a contractual provision stating that the contract represents the
parties' complete and final agreement and supersedes all informal understandings and
oral agreements relating to the subject matter of the contract.
Blacks Law Dictionary 9th Edition 880
2. Since a court of law cannot read minds, how does it determine consensus ad idem?
Court will determine the existence of consensus ad idem by looking at the conduct of the
parties to determine whether it manifests their consent to the terms of the agreement
Lord Steyn, Contract Law: Fulfilling the reasonable expectations of Honest Men, (1997)
113 LQR 433
3. List two elements of economic duress?
Wrongful or improper threat
No reasonable alternative available to the party
The threat actually induces the making of the contract
The other party caused the financial distress
Universe Tankships Inc of Monrovia v International Transport Workers Federation
[1981] UKHL 9
4. What is a condition precedent?
An act or event, other than a lapse of time, that must exist or occur before a duty to
perform something promised arises
Blacks Law Dictionary 9th Edition 334
5. What is an innominate term?
An intermediate term which cannot be defined as either a condition or a warranty
Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (1962) 2 QB 26
6. What is the rule in Hadley v Baxendale [1854] EWHC J70?
A party in breach of the contractual terms is liable for all the losses that the contracting
parties should have been reasonably foreseen
7. How is a tender classified in contract law?
Offer to buy
British Car Auctions Ltd v Wright [1972] 1 WLR 1519
[Admittedly, for clarity, this might have been a tender bid not tender, but the term
tender may be used to refer to the bid itself, or the agreement]
8. What is the effect of misrepresentation on a contract?
The effect of misrepresentation is that it makes the contract voidable, giving the innocent
party an option to rescind the contract, or seek damages
Halsbury's Laws of England /MISREPRESENTATION AND FRAUD VOLUME 31,
Para 783 (2003)
9. What do you understand by the term unconscionability?
[Also termed as Inequality of bargaining power], Unconscionability refers to the
principle that a court may refuse to enforce a contract that is unfair or oppressive because
of terms that are unreasonably favourable to one party while precluding meaningful
choice for the other party.
Lloyds Bank v Bundy [1974] EWCA Civ 8, Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition 1663
10. How enforceable is a contract where there is a meeting of the minds, but the parties are
mistaken
[Mutual mistake] The contract void and cannot be enforced unless the court finds a
reasonable interpretation from its context
Raffles v Wichelhaus [1864] EWHC Exch J19
(The marks in the following sections may not be awarded as I have awarded them)
APTITUDE
1. The truth concerning lawyer wealth tends to fall well short of the myth. The practice of law
does not always result in material wealth. Many lawyers work long hours in high-pressure
situations with little to show for their efforts in terms of material gain. Other advocates,
particularly those who have just completed their educational requirements, find it very difficult
to find remunerative legal work. Some advocates find themselves looking for a job well over a
year after completing their legal studies. Outward appearances drive the myth of lawyer
wealth. Many advocates market themselves with their lifestyle. They believe that if they drive
a nice vehicle, dress in expensive clothes and live in well-heeled neighbourhoods they will be
perceived as successful lawyers. However, many of these advocates stretch their finances to
put on such appearances and fail to build up real wealth. Samuel Kiriaghe Advocates and
money in Uganda in Brian Dennison, Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, Legal Ethics and
Professionalism: A Handbook for Uganda, (Vol 2 Globethics African Law, 2014)
Which of the following statements is true?
a) As an advocate, you must live a flashy lifestyle if you are to be considered successful
b) All advocates struggle to get good jobs after completing their education
c) The practice of law results in material wealth for some advocates (The practice of law does
not always result in material wealth, meaning that for some, it results in material wealth)
d) As an advocate, if you live outside your means, you will not be wealthy
(1 mark)
2. The Sixth Schedule Advocates (Remuneration and Taxation of Costs) Regulations thereto
provides that instructions to sue shall be as follows:
(A) where the amount does not exceed 500,000 shillings12 percent on the amount claimed;
(B) where the amount exceeds 500,000 shillings but does not exceed 5,000,000 shillings12
percent on the first 500,000 shillings and 10 percent on the next 4,500,000 shillings;
(C) where the amount exceeds 5,000,000 shillings but does not exceed 10,000,000 shillings12
percent on the first 500,000 shillings and 10 percent on the next 4,500,000 shillings, and 7
percent on the next 5,000,000 shillings;
(D) where the amount exceeds 10,000,000 shillings but does not exceed 20,000,000 shillings
12 percent on the first 500,000 shillings and 10 percent on the next 4,500,000 shillings, 7
percent on the next 5,000,000 shillings and 5 percent on the next 10,000,000 shillings;
(E) where the amount exceeds 20,000,000 shillings 1 percent on the excess of 20,000,000
shillings;
You are an advocate in practice, who has just been successful in defending a matter where the
money in dispute is UgX 8,000,000. How much would your instruction fees be? (Please show
your working)
C is applicable
(12.5/100) 500,000 = 62500
8,000,000 500,000 = 7,500,000
(10/100) 4,500,000 = 450,000
7,500,000 4,500,000 = 3,000,000
(7.5/100) 3,000,000 = 225,000
VALUES
(In answering this section, never forget that your are a lawyer)
1. You are an advocate who has been given instructions to represent the accused in a criminal
case that is already cause listed for the next High Court Criminal Session. Upon further
interview of your client, he tells you that it is true that he committed the crime he is charged
with. He however tells you that he would like to plead not guilty and he needs your help so
that he is acquitted. Would you still represent him? Briefly justify your chosen reaction
(Whereas an advocate may withdraw from a case in line with Rule 3 of the Advocates
Professional Conduct Regulations, be conscious of the following points)
a) Presumption of innocence; Article 28(3)(a) Constitution
b) Duty of prosecution in this regard. It is still the duty of the prosecution to prove to court,
beyond reasonable doubt, that he committed the offence. Defence is under no obligation
Woolmington Vs DPP [1935] AC 662, Miller Vs Minister of Pensions [1947] 2 ALLER 372,
373.
c) Communications between attorneys and clients are privileged, and so you are not
obligated to tell court anything. S.125 Evidence Act
However, the Advocate, as an officer of court, should not take part in any activity that
would frustrate the proceedings, like hiding evidence. See S. 16 Advocates Act
(5 marks)
2. In Uganda, High Court judges retire upon attainment of sixty years, while Justices of Appeal
and the Supreme Court retire upon attainment of seventy years. In your opinion, should the age
be increased, or reduced. Give reasons why
This question had no specific answers, but all answers should be those of a reasonable
man. It is intended to test whether the student has knowledge of current affairs. Some of
the common arguments have been that the judges are still healthy to serve, thus we lose
their experience. In addition, the nation has case backlog, thus the need for more judges.
On the other hand, the number of lawyers with the necessary qualifications is increasing,
and they need to be given gainful employment
(3 marks)