Uganda Judgment

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Kavuma Freddies Schoof V Uganda (Criminal Application No. 101 of 2009) [2009] UGCA 39 (11 September 2009)

Criminal Law Bail Pending Appeal Conviction for False Pretence Forgery and Uttering Appeal Rights Sentencing Guidelines

Citation: [2009] UGCA 39
Status: Judgment
Jurisdiction: Uganda
Court: Court of Appeal of Uganda
Posture: Criminal Application / Application for Bail Pending Appeal
Case number: Criminal Application No. 101 of 2009
Language: English

More details

Court: Court of Appeal of Uganda
Posture: Criminal Application / Application for Bail Pending Appeal
Case number: Criminal Application No. 101 of 2009
Language: English

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Professional case brief

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Source document

Holding and result

The court found that all the considerations for granting bail pending appeal, as set out in Arvind Patel v Uganda, were satisfied in favour of the applicant. The applicant is a first offender, the offences do not involve personal violence, the appeal is not frivolous and has a reasonable possibility of success, there is a likelihood of substantial delay in the determination of the appeal, and the applicant complied with previous bail conditions. The respondent's objections were considered but did not outweigh the applicant's entitlement under the law. The court held that the law allows convicts to be released on bail pending appeal if at least two considerations are met, and in this case, all were present. Therefore, bail was granted subject to stringent conditions to ensure the applicant does not abscond and the appeal is disposed of expeditiously.

Court disposition

application_granted

Orders

The applicant shall deposit Ug.shs. 20,000,000 in court.
Two sureties shall each sign a non-cash bond of Ug.shs. 20,000,000.
The applicant's passport shall remain in custody of the High Court until determination of the appeal.
The applicant shall report to the Chief Registrar of the Court every second Friday of each month.
The Registrar shall fix the appeal for disposal as soon as possible.

Material facts

Parties

Kavuma Freddies Schoof

Applicant Counsel: Mac Kabega

Uganda

Respondent Counsel: Josephine Namatovu

Amounts and remedies

Cash Deposit for Bail: UGX 20,000,000
Surety Bond (each): UGX 20,000,000

Procedural history

Posture

Criminal Application / Application for Bail Pending Appeal

Questions and positions

Legal issues

01
Whether the applicant should be granted bail pending determination of his criminal appeal.
02
Whether the applicant satisfies the legal criteria for bail pending appeal as set out in Ugandan case law.
03
Whether the seriousness of the offences and risk of absconding outweigh the applicant's entitlement to bail.

Party arguments

Applicant: Counsel for the applicant argued that the applicant is a first offender, of good character, and that the offences do not involve personal violence. He cited Supreme Court and Court of Appeal authorities, notably Arvind Patel v Uganda and Frank Iga v Uganda, to support the application. He submitted that all conditions for bail pending appeal are met, including compliance with previous bail terms, and offered three sureties. He also noted that the applicant's passport is held by the High Court, reducing flight risk.
Respondent: The respondent, represented by Ms Josephine Namatovu, opposed the application, arguing that the applicant is now a convict and no longer presumed innocent. She emphasized the seriousness of the offences and the high temptation to abscond if released. She asserted that the appeal has no reasonable chance of success. In the alternative, she requested that if bail is granted, stringent conditions should be imposed, including deposit of the passport, regular reporting, and payment of part of the ordered sums.

Court’s reasoning

Legal principles

01
Arvind Patel v Uganda S.C. Cr. App. No.1 of 2003

The considerations for granting bail pending appeal include the character of the applicant, whether he is a first offender, whether the offence involves personal violence, the likelihood of success of the appeal, possibility of substantial delay in appeal determination, and compliance with previous bail conditions.
02
Arvind Patel v Uganda S.C. Cr. App. No.1 of 2003

A combination of two or more considerations may suffice for granting bail pending appeal; each case must be decided on its own merits.
03
Frank Iga v Uganda C.A. Misc. Appl. No.99 of 2009

The court may impose stringent conditions to minimize the risk of absconding when granting bail pending appeal.

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that all the considerations for granting bail pending appeal, as set out in Arvind Patel v Uganda, were satisfied in favour of the applicant. The applicant is a first offender, the offences do not involve personal violence, the appeal is not frivolous and has a reasonable possibility of success, there is a likelihood of substantial delay in the determination of the appeal, and the applicant complied with previous bail conditions. The respondent's objections were considered but did not outweigh the applicant's entitlement under the law. The court held that the law allows convicts to be released on bail pending appeal if at least two considerations are met, and in this case, all were present. Therefore, bail was granted subject to stringent conditions to ensure the applicant does not abscond and the appeal is disposed of expeditiously.

Obiter and limits

Each case for bail pending appeal must be decided on its own merits, and even where considerations are satisfied, bail may still be refused in appropriate circumstances.
The court is understaffed and there are thousands of pending cases, making substantial delay in appeal determination likely.

Court disposition

application_granted

The applicant shall deposit Ug.shs. 20,000,000 in court.
Two sureties shall each sign a non-cash bond of Ug.shs. 20,000,000.
The applicant's passport shall remain in custody of the High Court until determination of the appeal.
The applicant shall report to the Chief Registrar of the Court every second Friday of each month.
The Registrar shall fix the appeal for disposal as soon as possible.

Source and reliance status

Court of Appeal of Uganda

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Source document

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Judgment text

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Source document

Court of Appeal of Uganda

Judgment

[2009] UGCA 39

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\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 UGANDA \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85... RESPONDENT \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 [Application arising from Criminal Appeal No.13 of 2009] \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par \par \par }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 R U L I N G: \par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 This is an application by Notice on Motion brought under section 132(4) T. I. A. and section 40 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). It seeks for the release of the applicant on bail pending determination of Criminal Appeal No.13/2009 which is now pending in this court. \par \par This applicant was, on 13}{\super\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 th}{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 March 2009, convicted on one count of obtaining money by False Pretence, three counts of forgery and three counts of uttering false do cuments and was sentenced to 5 years, 3 years and 3 years

respectively. The sentences were to run concurrently. Shortly after, he filed Criminal Appeal No.13 of 2009 which is now pending in this court. He is now applying for bail pending the determinat ion of the appeal. The application is supported by an affidavit of the applicant dated 11}{\super\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 th}{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 August 2009 in which he gives reasons why he thinks he is a suitable person to be released on bail pending appeal. \par \par At the hearing of the application, he was represented by Mr. Mac Kabega while the State was represented by Ms Namatovu Josephine who is a Senior State Attorney in the office of the respondent. \par \par Mr. Mac Kabega repeated the contents of the affidavit and cited a number of authorities on which he relied to make this application. Prominent among them were:- \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (1)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Arvind Patel vs Uganda S. C. Cr. App. No.1 of 2003. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (2)\tab}Frank Iga vs Uganda C. A. Misc. Appl. No.99 of 2009. \par }\pard \qj

\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\b\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 He pointed out that the conditions for release on bail outlined in the above authorities were available in this case as shown in the applicant\rquote s affidavit which was not rebutted since no reply was filed. He offered three sureties whose particulars I recorded in the proceedings and informed court that the applicant\rquote s passport was still being held in t he High Court of Uganda in relation to his trial in the Anti-Corruption Court. His prayer was that the applicant was a suitable case to be released on bail pending appeal and should be released accordingly. \par \par Ms Josephine Namatovu strongly opposed the application mainly on the grounds that:- \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (1)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The applicant was no longer an innocent man as he was now a convict. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (2)\tab}The applicant has been convicted of very serious crime and the temptation to escape if released is very high. \par

{\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (3)\tab}The chances of the appeal succeeding are non-existent. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par She prayed in the alternative that if the court be inclined to grant bail, then stiff terms should be imposed to make it difficult for the applicant to abscond. She suggested depositing of his passport, frequent reporting to the Registra r of this Court and demanding that the appellant deposits some of the moneys he was ordered to pay as part of his sentence. \par \par I have studied the two authorities that Mr. Kabega relied upon. The considerations on which bail pending appeal is granted were laid down by the Supreme Court in }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Arvind Patel vs Uganda}{ \insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 (supra) as follows:- \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (i)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls5\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The character of the applicant. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (ii)\tab}Whether or not he/she is a first offender. \par

{\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (iii)\tab}Whether the offence of which he was convicted involves personal violence. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (iv)\tab}That the appeal is not frivolous and has reasonable chance of success. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (v)\tab}The possibility of substantial delay in the determination of the appeal, and \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (vi)\tab}Whether appeal has complied with bail conditions granted before the applicants conviction and during the pendency of the appeal. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par I now assess the merit of this application guided by these considerations. \par \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (i)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Character of Applicant. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116

{\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Learned counsel for the applicant stated from the bar that the applicant was first offender. He pointed out that even on the day the applicant was sentenced, the respondent did not contest that fact. The State Attorney who appeared before me did not wish to contest the fact. Since there is an appeal against this first conviction, it can be assumed that if the appeals ended in his favour, he would be declared a person of good character. I think and hold this consideration is in the applicant \rquote s favour. \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (ii)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Whether the applicant is a first offender or not. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 I have pronounced myself on his matter in (i)

above. \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (iii)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Whether the offence of which the applicant was convicted involves personal violence. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 This consideration is in favour of the applicant \par }{\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (iv)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The appeal is not frivolous and has reasonable possibility of success. \par }\pard \qj \li360\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116

{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The issue whether the key prosecution witness was an accomplice in the case or not could make a difference to the result of the case if it was decided in his favour. I am unable to say at this stage that the appeal court will reject that ground of appeal and throw it out. This consideration is decided in favour of the applicant. \par }{\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (v)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The possibility of substantial delay in determination of the appeal. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 In }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Frank Iga vs Uganda }{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 (supra) I stated that there are thousands of cases pending in this court all of which require urgent attention. Yet we are completely understaffed and an increment of judges to deal with these cases in the near future is not yet in sight. I will

decide this consideration in favour of the applicant. \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (vi)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-720\li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1080\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Whether the applicant has complied with bail conditions granted before the applicants conviction and during the pendency of the appeal. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qj \li1080\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1080\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 The applicant deponed by affidavit that he was released on police bound after his arrest but before he was charged in court. He honoured the terms of th e bond. Upon his being charged in court, he continued to honour all the bail terms till he was convicted and the bail was cancelled. This has not been disputed by the respondent. In those circumstances, this consideration is in favour of the applicant.

\par \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 In }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Arvind Patel vs Uganda }{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 (supra) it was stated that these considerations do not all have to be present in every application. A combination of two or more could be sufficient. Despite strong objection from the State, I am satisfied that the law allows c onvicts to be released on bail pending appeal if they satisfy at least two of these considerations. Of course each case must be decided on its own merits. There may be cases where despite the fact that the considerations are satisfied, yet bail pending appeal could be refused. In this case all the considerations named in }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Arvind Patel case}{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 are present in favour of the applicant. I therefore order that the applicant be released on bail pending appeal on the following conditions:- \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (1)\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls4\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6369116 { \insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 He will deposit in this court Ug.shs. 20,000,000/= [Twenty million only]. \par

{\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (2)\tab}The two sureties whose particulars appear in the proceedings above to sign a non-cash bond of shs.20,000,000/= each. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (3)\tab}The applicant\rquote s passport to remain in custody of the High Court till the determination of the appeal. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (4)\tab}The applicant to report to the Chief Registrar of this Court every second Friday of each month. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (5)\tab}The Registrar should fix the appeal for disposal as soon as possible. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Dated at Kampala this 11}{\super\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 th}{\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 day of September 2009. \par \par \par \par }{\i\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 Hon. Justice Amos Twinomujuni \par }{\b\ul\insrsid6369116\charrsid6369116 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6369116 {\insrsid14750223\charrsid6369116 \par }}

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Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Arvind Patel v Uganda S.C. Cr. App. No.1 of 2003

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Frank Iga v Uganda C.A. Misc. Appl. No.99 of 2009

Case cited

Section 132(4) Trial on Indictments Act

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Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 40 Criminal Procedure Act

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Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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