10 law firms petition court over eviction
Jun 01, 2014
A group of 10 law firms renting office space on the government-owned Amber House located in the city centre, have jointly petitioned court over an eviction notice, ordering them to vacate by June 30 this year.
By Andante Okanya
A group of 10 law firms renting office space on the government-owned Amber House located in the city centre, have jointly petitioned court over an eviction notice, ordering them to vacate by June 30 this year.
On Wednesday, the firms filed a civil suit at the High Court in Kampala, seeking a court order stopping the impending eviction to enable them complete their tenancy that ends in December.
The defendant is named as Amber House Limited, a private company that manages the property on government’s behalf. Amber House is a five- storey building located on Plot 29/33 Pilkington Road.
The law firms are Mbogo and Company Advocates, Kituuma- Magala and Company Advocates, Ndozireho and Company Advocates, and Kenneth Akampurira Advocates, Solicitors, and Commissioners for Oaths.
Others are Serwadda and Company Advocates, Osilo and Company Advocates, and Owen Murangira and Company Advocates.
Also included are Madibo Mafabi Advocates, Barnabas Dyadi and Company Advocates, and Juris Law Advocates, and Legal Consultants.
The suit was filed through Kenneth Akampurira Advocates, Solicitors, and Commissioners for Oaths.
They want court to pronounce that the company management’s actions are contrary to the tenancy agreement that is renewable annually.
“A declaration that the defendant’s notice of termination of the tenancy dated February 27, 2014 but served in April 2014, is premature and contrary to the tenancy agreement,” the plaint states.
The firms purport that the company intends to transfer the premises to the Energy and Mineral Development ministry, without the knowledge, authourisation, or opinion of the Attorney General or Solicitor General.
The ministry’s head office is located on the building.
They are demanding general damages for ambush, anguish and mental stress, saying the tenants were never consulted on the intended transfer.
They lament that they are bound to suffer losses, having made modifications and beautified the premises.
Efforts by New Vision to seek a comment from management of Amber House Limited, on whether it had been served with the court papers, were fruitless.
The company did not respond to repeated calls on their official office landline phone number.
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