Our Lawyer Filed Late Response to Sudhir Case – BoU

Bank of Uganda has admitted that a response to the counter claim filed by the embattled tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia demanding for US$8 million from the Central Bank was filed in late.

In a counterclaim by Sudhir’s defence team, they faulted the Bank of Uganda for failing to act in accordance with the ‘legal requirement’ of Order 5 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Rules, after they failed to enter defence in the stipulated time of 15 days, which should have been before August 29.

Sudhir accused BoU and CBL of breaching mid-implementation, an agreement under which he had so far paid them the $8million.

Sudhir lawyers therefore demand that a “default judgement be entered against the counter defendants under 0.9 R.6 for the payment of $8M together with interest at the rate of 18 percent as sought in the counter claim.

While swearing the affidavit before the Commercial Division of the High Court today, the BoU legal counsel, Margaret Kasule, admitted the mishap and attributed it to the external lawyer.

“Whilst the defence to the counter claim was filed in time in relation to the 1st application on whom service had been effected, through MMAKS Advocates on August 14, 2017, the defence to the counter claim was filed 1 day late in relation to the 2nd applicant on whom service had been effected directly on August 11, 2017.”

This late filing was through inadvertent error of counsel which should not be visited on the applicant,’ Kasule said in the affidavit.

Sudhir was previous months dragged to High Court on accusations of fraudulently taking billions of shillings from the bank for personal use among other claims.

Meanwhile, court will pronounce itself on the matter on September 13.