THE HIGH COURT HAS RULED THAT UNLICENSED MONEY LENDERS CANT CHARGE INTEREST ON”LOANS”

In another landmark case that will alter the way loan sharks operate in Uganda , the High Court has ruled that it is illegal for unlicensed money lenders to charge interest on a loan.

In a decision delivered by the High Court  Justice Esta Nambayo- money lenders without licences under the Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders Act, 2016, cannot sue borrowers for breach of agreement.

“The defendant’s conduct of lending money to the plaintiff without a money lender’s licence contravened Section 84 (1) a of the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders Act, 2016 and it was, therefore, illegal and wrong for her to levy interest of 20 percent or at all on 20 percent on the principal sum of Shs10m that was lent to the plaintiff,” Justice Nambayo ruled.

The decision follows a suit that was filed by one Shilla Ninsiima who in 2016 lent Shs10m to Mr Kagumaho Kakuyo at an interest rate of 20 percent, payable in one month. According to evidence adduced in court Mr Kakuyo failed to pay the interest as per the loan agreement .

Court documents show that on December 9, 2017, the two parties further entered into another -debt discharge agreement whereby they agreed that the outstanding amount had increased to Shs42m to which Mr Kakuyo made a payment of Shs24m.

“In March, 2018, the plaintiff (Mr Kakuyo) was summoned to police on charges of issuing cheques that were dishonoured. It is the plaintiff claim that while in police custody, the defendant (Ms Ninsiima) with the help of police, forced him to sign acknowledgement that the outstanding amount of the loan was Shs78m hence this suit,” the court documents read in part.

Justice Nambayo after considering all the evidence and facts of the matter ,ruled that Mr Kakuyo was not indebted to Ms Ninsiima of Shs53m since he signed the loan agreement under duress while in police custody Ms. Ninsiima was not a licensed money lender under the law.

“It is hereby, declared that the plaintiff (Mr Kakuyo) is neither liable nor indebted to the defendant (Ms Ninsiima) in respect of a loan of Shs10m nor in any amount arising therefrom as interest from the money borrowed,” Justice Nambayo stated in her ruling.

She added ; “A permanent injunction is hereby, issued restraining the defendant (Ms Ninsiima), her agents or any one acting on her instructions from enforcing and or making any attempts to recover any money arising from the Shs10m that the plaintiff (Mr Kakuyo) borrowed from the defendant.”

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