Omiat v Uganda (Criminal Miscellaneous Application 71 of 2024) [2025] UGHC 225 (14 April 2025)

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA HOLDEN AT SOROTI CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 071 OF 2024 (ARISING FROM CRIMINAL SESSION CASE NO. 364 OF 2022) OMIAT PATRICK :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: VERSUS

UGANDA :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

BEFORE: HON. JUSTICE BONIFACE WAMALA RULING ON BAIL

Introduction

[1] Omiat Patrick (the applicant and A2 in the criminal charges) was charged with the offence of Murder contrary to sections 171 & 172 of the Penal Code Act (PCA), Cap 128 and Arson contrary to section 327 (a) of the Penal Code Act. On Count I, it was alleged that the applicant and others on 4^th January 2022 at Ongoratok village in Soroti District with malice aforethought unlawfully caused the death of Ejemai Norbert. On Count II, it was alleged that the applicant and others on 4^th January 2022 at Ongaratok village in Soroti District willfully and unlawfully set fire to three grass thatched huts, the property of Ejemai Norbert.

[2] The applicant brought this application by Notice of Motion under Articles $23(6)(a)$ and $28(1)$ & (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and sections 14 [now section 15] of the Trial on Indictments Act, Cap 25 (TIA) seeking for an order that the applicant be released on bail pending trial by the Court.

[3] The grounds of the application are summarized in the Notice of Motion and also set out in the affidavit in support of the application deposed by the applicant. Briefly, the grounds are that the applicant was arrested and taken to Soroti Central Police Station, charged with the offence of murder and remanded

$\mathbf{1}$

to Soroti Government Prison. The applicant was committed to the High Court and is not sure of when the hearing of his case shall commence. The applicant is innocent until proved guilty and has a right to apply to court to be released on bail since the offence with which he is charged is bailable. He has presented three substantial sureties who understand their obligations and are ready to be presented before court for examination and approval. He has a permanent place of abode as indicated in the affidavit in support and will not abscond from the jurisdiction of this Court once released on bail pending trial.

[4] The respondent did not file an affidavit in opposition to the application despite service of court process and a further direction by court to file the same when counsel appeared for the hearing. The court allowed the hearing to proceed exparte.

Representation and Hearing

[5] The applicant was represented by Ms. Winnie Agwero of $M/s$ Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society while the respondent (State) was represented by Ms. Lunyolo Stella from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The hearing proceeded by way of written submissions. However only Counsel for the applicant filed their written submissions which have been adopted and relied on by the Court.

[6] The issue for determination by the Court is whether the applicant has established sufficient grounds for his release on bail.

Resolution by the Court

[7] Bail is an agreement between the court and an applicant consisting of a bond, with or without surety, for a reasonable amount as the circumstances of the case permit, conditioned upon the applicant appearing before such a court on a date and time as named in the bond to attend his/her trial. See: Section

15(1) of the Trial on Indictments Act, Cap 25 and Uganda v Lawrence Luzinda 1986 (HCB) 33.

[8] The foundational basis upon which the court is enjoined to exercise its discretion to allow or reject an application for bail is the presumption of innocence, based in law and particularly on Article 28(3)(a) of the Constitution. Article 28(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that "every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until proved guilty or until that person has pleaded guilty". This legal position is also based on Article 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

[9] Under Article 23(6)(a) of the Constitution, it is provided that where a person is arrested in respect of a criminal offence, he/she is entitled to apply to the court to be released on bail, and the court may grant that person bail on such conditions as the court considers reasonable. As such, the core aspects to be taken into consideration by the court when dealing with an application for bail are the presumption of innocence of an accused person, the right of the accused person to apply for bail, and the discretion of the court to either grant or reject the bail application.

[10] When exercising discretion to grant or refuse bail, the court is given further guidance through The Constitution (Bail Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) (Practice) Directions 2022, which under paragraph 5 thereof sets out the following general principles to be taken into account by the court when considering a bail application, namely;

a) the right of an applicant to be presumed innocent as provided for in article $28(3)$ of the Constitution;

- b) the applicant's right to liberty as provided for in article 23 of the Constitution: - c) the applicant's obligation to attend trial; - d) the discretion of the court to grant bail on such terms and conditions as the court considers reasonable; and - e) the need to balance the rights of the applicant and the interest of justice.

[11] Under Section 16(1) of the Trial on Indictments Act, the High Court may refuse to grant bail to any person charged with any of offences stipulated under Section 16(2), Murder being one of them, unless such applicant proves, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she will not abscond when released on bail and that exceptional circumstances exist justifying his or her release on bail. However, under the law, an applicant for bail is no longer required mandatorily to plead or prove exceptional circumstances following the decision of the Constitutional Court in *Foundation for Human Rights Initiatives v Attorney* General, Constitutional Petition No. 20 of 2006 wherein it was held that it is no longer mandatory to prove exceptional circumstances given the fact that the courts have the discretion to grant bail even when none is proved. In *Uganda* $v$ Kizza Besigye, Constitutional Reference No. 20 of 2005 the Court held that both "High Court and subordinate courts are still free to exercise their discretion judicially and to impose reasonable conditions on the applicant" in an application for bail.

[12] On the case before me, although the applicant's bail application has not been opposed by the respondent, the applicant has to satisfy the Court that he will not abscond from bail and is not likely to interfere with key prosecution witnesses. Regarding the possibility of abscondment by the applicant if released on bail, it is provided for under Section 16(4) of the TIA that in considering whether or not the accused is likely to abscond, the court may take into account the following factors;

- a) whether the accused has a fixed abode within the jurisdiction of the court *or is ordinarily resident outside Uganda;* - b) whether the accused has sound sureties within the jurisdiction to *undertake that accused shall comply with the conditions of his or her bail;* - c) whether the accused has on a previous occasion when released on bail *failed to comply with the condition of his or her bail; and* - *d) whether there are other charges pending against the accused.*

[13] On the evidence before me, it was shown by the applicant that he has a fixed place of abode at Ongor Village, Opuure Parish, Atiira Sub-county in Serere District. The applicant produced a copy of his National Identity Card and of a letter from the area L. C 1 Chairperson. I find the above sufficient to prove that the applicant has a fixed place of abode in the area where he resided before his arrest.

[14] Concerning the sureties, the applicant produced three sureties who were identified and observed by the Court, namely, Eumu Martin, a paternal uncle to the applicant; Amuge Beatrice Atim, an Aunt to the applicant and Okello Bernard, a cousin brother to the applicant. The three sureties produced their national identity cards and introductory letters from their area LC1 chairpersons. Their relationship with the applicant was also not contested. They are permanent residents within the court's jurisdiction and are traceable in case the court requires their presence. As such, I would find that the sureties produced by the applicant are substantial.

[15] Regarding the possibility or likelihood of the applicant interfering with key state witnesses, for the court to arrive at a conclusion as to whether or not an applicant for bail is likely to interfere with witnesses or not, the court has to look at a number of circumstances including the nature of the offence, the age of the applicant, how long the applicant has been on remand, how influential

the applicant is in the community, among others. In this case, given the gravity of the offence, the age of the applicant and the allegations on record that the applicant was in the habit of threatening the deceased and his family members before the present offence, I find a possibility or likelihood of the applicant interfering with or intimidating witnesses in this matter. A potential threat to that effect therefore exists and, on this ground, the application for bail would fail.

[16] In light of the foregoing, I find that the applicant has failed to satisfy the Court that he deserves to be released on bail. The interest of justice therefore dictates that the bail application by the applicant be denied. Accordingly, the application for bail is dismissed. The applicant shall await placing of his case on session for hearing.

It is so ordered.

Dated and signed this 14^th day of April, 2025.

*Jomann* Boniface Wamala

JUDGE