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Uganda v Kamba & Anor (HCT-01-CR-SC-0019 OF 2015) [2018] UGHCCRD 136 (13 April 2018)
- Citation
- [2018] UGHCCRD 136
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Masalu Musene, J
- Case number
- HCT-01-CR-SC-0019 OF 2015
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)
- Panel
- Masalu Musene, J
- Case number
- HCT-01-CR-SC-0019 OF 2015
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the prosecution failed to establish any of the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused. There was no direct or circumstantial evidence placing the accused at the scene or proving his participation in the death of the deceased. The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were either hearsay or did not implicate the accused. The court concluded that the accused had no case to answer and acquitted him under Section 73(1) of the Trial Indictment Act.
Court disposition
acquitted
Orders
- The accused, Kamba Amos, is acquitted under Section 73(1) of the Trial Indictment Act.
02
Material facts
Parties
Uganda
ApplicantKamba Amos
DefendantAnother (still at large)
Defendant03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Law / Ruling on No Case to Answer
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the prosecution proved the ingredients of murder against the accused.
- 02
Whether there was sufficient evidence linking the accused to the death of the deceased.
- 03
Whether the accused has a case to answer.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the discovery of bones and clothes allegedly belonging to the deceased, and hearsay statements regarding a fight involving the accused and the deceased. No direct evidence was presented linking the accused to the murder.
- Respondent
- The accused did not present a formal defense at this stage, as the ruling was on whether there was a case to answer. The evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient and failed to establish the accused's participation in the alleged murder.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Sections 188 & 189 of the Penal Code Act
All ingredients of the offence of murder must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, including unlawful death, malice aforethought, and participation of the accused.
- 02
Section 73(1) of the Trial Indictment Act
Where the prosecution fails to establish a prima facie case, the accused must be acquitted.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the prosecution failed to establish any of the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused. There was no direct or circumstantial evidence placing the accused at the scene or proving his participation in the death of the deceased. The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were either hearsay or did not implicate the accused. The court concluded that the accused had no case to answer and acquitted him under Section 73(1) of the Trial Indictment Act.
Obiter and limits
- The delay in discovering the bones and clothes of the deceased raises questions about the circumstances of death.
- The failure of the deceased's relatives to report his disappearance to authorities undermined the investigation.
Court disposition
acquitted
- The accused, Kamba Amos, is acquitted under Section 73(1) of the Trial Indictment Act.
Source and reliance status
HC: Criminal Division (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.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)
Judgment
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT FORT PORTAL
HCT-01-CR-SC-0019 OF 2015
UGANDA............................................ PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
KAMBA AMOS & ANOTHER........................ ACCUSED
RULING
BEFORE: HIS LORDSHIP MR. JUSTICE WILSON MASALU
MUSENE.
The accused, Kamba Amos and another still at large were indicted with the offence of murder Contrary to Sections 188 &189 of the Penal Code Act.
The particulars were that Kamba Amos and another on the 28/3/2013 at Nyamigongo Kirere village, Busoro Sub County in Kabarole District murdered Mwesige Robert.
The prosecution adduced evidence of three witnesses, namely Kabasomi Violet , PW1, the mother of the deceased, PW2 Asiimwe James, the brother of the deceased, and PW3, Joseph Irumba the Vice-Chairman, LC. I, Kirere Nyamigongo village. PW1’s brief testimony was that her deceased son disappeared from the village for almost 1½ years. And that when bones were discovered in the bush of Christopher Byaruhanga by workers, with clothes under those bones, it was assumed that the clothes belonged to the deceased. PW2, also maintained that upon discovery of the bones and clothes, he identified the clothes as belonging to the deceased.
PW3, the LC. I Vice Chairman testified that the deceased Mwesige disappeared in 2013 when one Muhumuza had reported a case of assault. PW3 summoned Mwesige three times in vain and he assumed he had run away as usual. Pw3 concluded that he did not go to the scene where fighting took place and did not know who killed Mwesige. PW3 also wondered why accused, Kamba was arrested.
From the foregoing evidence on record, it is clear that no one saw the accused Kamba Amos fighting with the deceased.
Muhumuza, who reported the alleged fight to the Chairman, PW3 is on the ran. And he had reported a case against the deceased.
Pw1, the mother of the deceased, did not report to police or relevant authorities about the disappearance of her son, the deceased. Even PW2, Asiimwe James was not there when the alleged fighting took place and so what he stated that Muhumuza left Kamba fighting the deceased was hearsay.
So whereas the deceased could have died, it is not clear who killed him and why it took long to discover his bones and clothes.
In any case, and as already stated, even PW3, the Vice Chairman was categorical that Kamba Amos, the accused now was never mentioned and he did not know why he was arrested.
The ingredients of the offence of murder, notably whether the death was unlawfully caused, whether it was caused out of malice aforethought and participation of Amos Kamba have not been established. And where all the ingredients of the offence have not been established, then the accused has no case to answer.
I accordingly record a finding of not guilty and acquit the accused, Kamba Amos under S. 73 (1) of the Trial Indictment Act.
.....................................
WILSON MASALU MUSENE
JUDGE.
13.4.2018
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