The High Court has dismissed a suit filed by Entebbe Municipality mayor, Fabrice Brad Rulinda, in which he sought to recover Shs273 million from Stanbic Bank Uganda.
In her ruling, the presiding judge found that Rulinda failed to prove that the bank was liable for the loss of his funds, noting that his own actions significantly contributed to the disputed transaction.
Court records indicate that the case stemmed from a contested financial transaction linked to a gold deal, in which Rulinda claimed the bank had wrongfully facilitated the transfer of his money. However, the court held that the evidence presented did not establish negligence or wrongdoing on the part of Stanbic Bank.
“The plaintiff has not demonstrated that the defendant breached any duty of care,” the judge ruled, adding that the circumstances surrounding the transaction pointed to lapses on the part of the account holder.
The court further observed that Rulinda engaged in a high-risk transaction without undertaking sufficient due diligence, a factor that weighed heavily in the final decision.
“As such, the claim against the defendant cannot succeed,” the judge stated, effectively absolving Stanbic Bank of any responsibility to refund the Shs273 million.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s position on customer responsibility in financial transactions, particularly in cases involving informal or high-risk dealings such as gold trade, where verification and caution are critical.
With the dismissal of the suit, Rulinda not only loses the claim but is also likely to bear the costs of the case, marking a significant legal setback for the municipal leader.
