IN THEIR OWN WORDS

International Development Consultants v Jimmy Muyanja

High Court, Uganda

Judge Ssekaana Musa

The applicants in this judicial review had asked for special and general damages. Judge Musa commented:

The applicant prayed for special and general damages. In judicial review, court does not award those categories of damages but rather in deserving circumstances where there is justification ….

The habit of seeking damages as if it is an automatic right in every application for judicial review should be discouraged. Judicial review is more concerned with correcting public wrongs and not demand or seek to recover damages.