https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240205/ugandan-high-court-affirms-whatsapp-messages-as-legally-binding-contracts-1064942302.html
Ugandan High Court Affirms WhatsApp Messages as Legally Binding Contracts
Ugandan High Court Affirms WhatsApp Messages as Legally Binding Contracts
Sputnik Africa
According to statistics portal World Population Review, 4.5 million Ugandans use WhatsApp, making it the most downloaded app by the population of the East... 05.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-05T17:42+0100
2024-02-05T17:42+0100
2024-02-05T17:50+0100
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The High Court of Uganda has declared that contracts executed through WhatsApp messages are valid and enforceable, local media said, quoting the ruling.Ugandan Justice Patricia Kahigi Asiimwe emphasized that the messages in the app qualify as data messages, drawing parallels with a 2006 Indian case, when the court acknowledged a cell phone as a computer, according to the outlet.In the case, Dr. Rodney Mugarura sued Paramount Hospital Kampala and Dr. Simon Begumisa for breach of a contract signed over WhatsApp, seeking payment of Shs41.5 million (about $252,000), damages, interest and legal costs. Begumisa reportedly offered Mugarura in the messenger to periodically treat clients at the clinic for a fee. The latter who agreed to the job never got paid after several treatment sessions and filed a lawsuit.As a result, the court found the defendants in breach of the law and ordered them to pay Shs41.5 million with 20% interest, while recognizing WhatsApp messages as valid legal contracts.Experts told the media that the court's decision was a "welcome step" as a huge number of people in Uganda enter into contracts electronically every day.
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Ugandan High Court Affirms WhatsApp Messages as Legally Binding Contracts
17:42 05.02.2024 (Updated: 17:50 05.02.2024) According to statistics portal World Population Review, 4.5 million Ugandans use WhatsApp, making it the most downloaded app by the population of the East African country.
The High Court of Uganda has declared that contracts executed through WhatsApp messages are valid and enforceable, local media said, quoting the ruling.
Ugandan Justice Patricia Kahigi Asiimwe emphasized that the messages
in the app qualify as data messages, drawing parallels with a 2006 Indian case, when the court acknowledged a cell phone as a computer, according to the outlet.
"In conclusion, therefore, WhatsApp messages are data messages and thus form a contract under Section 3 of the Contracts Act. Court finds that there was a valid contract between the Plaintiff and the Defendants," the ruling said.
In the case, Dr. Rodney Mugarura sued Paramount Hospital Kampala and Dr. Simon Begumisa for breach of a contract signed over WhatsApp, seeking payment of Shs41.5 million (about $252,000), damages, interest and legal costs.
Begumisa reportedly offered Mugarura in the messenger to periodically treat clients at the clinic for a fee. The latter who agreed to the job never got paid after several treatment sessions and filed a lawsuit.
As a result, the court found the defendants in breach of the law and ordered them to pay Shs41.5 million with 20% interest, while recognizing WhatsApp
messages as valid legal contracts.
Experts told the media that the court's decision was a "welcome step" as a huge number of people in Uganda enter into contracts electronically every day.
