Pioneer, Furniture Mart sh50m case for November 20

By Andante Okanya

The Commercial Court in Kampala has scheduled November 20 as hearing date for an application by Pioneer Easy Bus Company, seeking to block payment of sh50m to a furniture supplier.

The date was set by Justice Christopher Madrama in consultation with the lawyers of the parties. The lawyers are Abbas Nsamba (Pioneer), and Frederick Mbaziira(Dezy Business Systems Limited).

The case arose this year on April 10 when the supplier filed a suit at the Commercial Court in Kampala, demanding payment. Pioneer is accused of failure to settle a sh50m debt for office furniture purportedly supplied to it last year.

Subsequently on May 23, court ordered Pioneer to pay the sh50m.This prompted Pioneer to file an application for stay of execution of the order and set it aside, on grounds that it was not notified.

Hearing of the application had been scheduled for Wednesday. But Nsamba said he was not ready to proceed, noting that he had to respond to a document filed by Dezy Wednesday morning.

"The applicant is not ready to proceed. We have just been served affidavits in reply this morning. We seek indulgence of this court to enable us file rejoinder this afternoon," Nsamba stated.

 Accordingly, the judge adjourned to enable Pioneer make an appropriate response to Dezy's affidavits.

Court documents show that the items supplied included reception table, reception chair, 12 drawers, an executive table, executive visitor chairs, and a bookshelf.

The company's services are currently halted, after tax body Uganda Revenue Authority, impounded its fleet of over 100 buses in February this year for failure to clear a sh8b tax debt.