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Uganda Judgment

High Court of Uganda

Malibano Abdul & Anor v Uganda (Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 5 of 2008) (Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 5 of 2008) [2008] UGHC 42 (14 April 2008)

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01

Holding and result

The court held that while the constitutional right to a speedy trial is recognized, the seriousness of the charge—murder, a capital offence—creates a strong temptation to abscond if bail is granted. The applicants have already been committed for trial, and the summary of evidence provides prima facie grounds for the charge. The court emphasized that bail in capital offences is not automatic and must be determined on a case-by-case basis. The residence of the applicants and their sureties within the jurisdiction is not sufficient to override the gravity of the offence. Accordingly, the application for bail was dismissed, but the court urged the DPP to expedite the trial to avoid further delay and uphold constitutional requirements.

Court disposition

bail_application_dismissed

Orders

  • The application for bail is dismissed due to the gravity of the offence.
  • The accused/applicants shall be remanded in custody pending trial.
  • The DPP is urged to arrange with the Deputy Registrar (Crime) of High Court to fix a date for trial without further delay.

02

Material facts

Parties

Abdul Malibano

Applicant Counsel: V. Kwizera

Badru Mukasa

Applicant Counsel: V. Kwizera

Uganda

Respondent

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Miscellaneous Application / Bail Application Ruling

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Counsel for the applicants argued that Abdul Malibano and Badru Mukasa have been in custody for an inordinate period without trial, violating their constitutional right to a speedy trial. He submitted that the applicants and their sureties reside within the jurisdiction of the court, and urged that bail be granted pending trial.
Respondent
The respondent was not represented at the hearing and did not submit any arguments or apply for an adjournment.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Uganda (DPP) Vs. Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Constitutional Reference No. 20 of 2005

    Granting bail is a matter for the discretion of the court, especially in capital offences.

  2. 02

    Constitution of Uganda, Article 28

    The constitutional right to a speedy trial must be respected, but its definition is not explicit in the Constitution.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that while the constitutional right to a speedy trial is recognized, the seriousness of the charge—murder, a capital offence—creates a strong temptation to abscond if bail is granted. The applicants have already been committed for trial, and the summary of evidence provides prima facie grounds for the charge. The court emphasized that bail in capital offences is not automatic and must be determined on a case-by-case basis. The residence of the applicants and their sureties within the jurisdiction is not sufficient to override the gravity of the offence. Accordingly, the application for bail was dismissed, but the court urged the DPP to expedite the trial to avoid further delay and uphold constitutional requirements.

Obiter and limits

  • The expression 'speedy trial' is not defined in the Constitution, but it remains a constitutional requirement.
  • The fact that applicants and sureties reside within the jurisdiction does not make bail automatic.
  • The court is entitled to review the summary of evidence at the bail stage, provided the same judge does not preside over the trial.
  • Each bail application in capital offences must turn on its own merits or demerits.

Court disposition

bail_application_dismissed

  • The application for bail is dismissed due to the gravity of the offence.
  • The accused/applicants shall be remanded in custody pending trial.
  • The DPP is urged to arrange with the Deputy Registrar (Crime) of High Court to fix a date for trial without further delay.

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High Court of Uganda

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Judgment text

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Source document

High Court of Uganda

Judgment

[2008] UGHC 42

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UGANDA}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA HOLDEN AT KAMPALA \par CRIMINAL MISC. APPLICATION NO. 05 OF 2008 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11534610 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 MALIBANO ABDUL & Ano. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPLICANT}{ \b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11534610 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 VERSUS}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11534610 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 UGANDA :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT

\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 BEFORE: HON. JUSTICE J. P. M TABARO \par \par \par RULING}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12333622\charrsid11534610 \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11534610 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 This morning the two accused persons/applicants Abdul Malibano, and Badru Mukasa, applied for relea}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 s}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 e on bail pending trial. The DPP has been aware of the fixtures for hearing since 5-2-2008 but was not represented. There was no application for an adjournment and so hearing proceeded ex parte. Mr. V. Kwizera appears for the applicants. \par \par The applicants stand indicted for murder C/SS 188 and 189 of the Penal Code. On 19-4-2006 they were committed to High Court for trial. The grav}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610

a}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 men of Mr. Kwizera\rquote s application is that the applicants have inordinately been kept }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 i}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 n custody without trial, and hence their constitutional right to speedy trial has been violated. The expression speedy trial is not defined in the constitution. \par \par The case of }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 Uganda (DPP) Vs. Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 , }{ \b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 Constitutional Reference No. 20 of 2005}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 is authority for the proposition that whether or not bail is granted is a matter for the discretion of the Court. \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13776526\charrsid11534610 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 The charge is capital and hence there is temptation to abscond if bail is granted. I am aware that bail can be granted i}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 n} {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 capital offences but no general rule can be laid down. Each

case must turn on its own merits or demerits. I have looked at the summary of evidence, which in my opinion }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 Cour}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 t is entitled to do}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 ,}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 so long as the same judge does not preside over the trial. Prima facie there is ground for charging the accused \endash of course one cannot say whether at trial with cross examination the same will be said. Murder is a most grave criminal contravention and I would not lightly grant this application }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 i}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 n view of seriousness of the charge}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1143428\charrsid11534610 , and due to the fact that the accused persons have already been committed for trial}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 . \par \par I am alive to the fact that the applicants and the sureties reside in Mukono within the jurisdiction of Court. However, as is well known, this factor alone does not make bail automatic. The bail application }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5798628\charrsid11534610

i}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 s dismissed due to the gravity of the offence. As learned counsel for the applicants, Mr. Kwize ra, submitted speedy trial is}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7956923\charrsid11534610 a}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 constitutional requirement. I would urge the DPP to arrange, with the Deputy Registrar (Crime) of High Court, to fix a date for trial of the accused persons without further delay. But, in the meantime, the accused/applican ts shall be remanded in custody. \par \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 \par J. P. M. Tabaro \par Judge \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1143428\charrsid11534610 \par \par \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 14-4-2008 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 Later in the afternoon \par Accused/applicants before court. \par Mr. V. Kwizera for the applicants \par Counsel for the State not present. \par \par Ruling delivered. \par \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 J. P. M. Tabaro \par Judge \par 14-4-2008 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8142727\charrsid11534610 \par }}

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Uganda (DPP) Vs. Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Constitutional Reference No. 20 of 2005

Case cited

Penal Code Act, Sections 188 and 189

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Constitution of Uganda, Article 28

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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