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Uganda v Kasozi Stephen (HCCT-00-CR-SC 829 of 2019) [2021] UGHC 18 (9 March 2021)
- Citation
- [2021] UGHC 18
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Panel
- Senoga-Anglin, J
- Case number
- HCCT-00-CR-SC 829 of 2019
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Panel
- Senoga-Anglin, J
- Case number
- HCCT-00-CR-SC 829 of 2019
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the accused, Kasozi Stephen, suffers from a permanent intellectual disability that renders him incapable of understanding the proceedings. Requiring him to give a defence or detaining him pending a ministerial order would violate his fundamental right to be heard and constitute an abuse of court process. The statutory provisions for detention in safe custody are inapplicable where the incapacity is permanent and ministerial action is unlikely or unduly delayed. Exercising its inherent powers under the Judicature Act, the court terminated the proceedings and discharged the accused to prevent further abuse of process and to ensure substantive justice.
Court disposition
proceedings terminated, accused discharged
Orders
- The proceedings are terminated.
- The accused is discharged forthwith.
02
Material facts
Parties
Uganda
ProsecutorKasozi Stephen
Accused03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Lunacy Proceeding / Ruling After Prosecution Case, Before Defence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the accused is fit to stand trial given his intellectual disability.
- 02
Whether requiring the accused to give a defence would breach his right to be heard and amount to abuse of court process.
- 03
Whether the court should detain the accused pending ministerial order despite a permanent incapacity to stand trial.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Counsel for the accused argued that the medical report confirms the accused has a permanent intellectual disability and cannot understand the proceedings. Requiring him to give a defence or detaining him pending a ministerial order would violate his rights and amount to abuse of court process.
- Respondent
- The prosecution relied on statutory provisions that allow for detention in safe custody pending a ministerial order when an accused is found unfit to stand trial, but did not address the issue of permanent incapacity or the delays in ministerial action.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Trial on Indictments Act, ss. 45, 49
A person who is permanently incapable of understanding proceedings cannot be tried or required to give a defence, as this would breach the right to be heard and constitute abuse of process.
- 02
Judicature Act, s.39(2), s.17(2)
Where no procedure is laid down by law, the High Court may adopt a justifiable procedure in the circumstances to prevent abuse of process and ensure substantive justice.
- 03
Case law referenced by the court (not specifically cited)
Detaining an accused in an asylum pending a ministerial order is unjust where the accused's incapacity is permanent and ministerial action is uncertain or delayed.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the accused, Kasozi Stephen, suffers from a permanent intellectual disability that renders him incapable of understanding the proceedings. Requiring him to give a defence or detaining him pending a ministerial order would violate his fundamental right to be heard and constitute an abuse of court process. The statutory provisions for detention in safe custody are inapplicable where the incapacity is permanent and ministerial action is unlikely or unduly delayed. Exercising its inherent powers under the Judicature Act, the court terminated the proceedings and discharged the accused to prevent further abuse of process and to ensure substantive justice.
Obiter and limits
- The Minister has on numerous occasions failed or ignored to issue the necessary orders under the relevant statutory provisions.
- It would be unjust to detain the accused in any asylum pending ministerial orders which may take ages to come, or not at all.
Court disposition
proceedings terminated, accused discharged
- The proceedings are terminated.
- The accused is discharged forthwith.
Source and reliance status
High Court 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.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
High Court of Uganda
Judgment
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA
HCCT 00 – CR- SC- 0829 OF 2019
UGANDA --------------------------------------------- PROSECUTOR
5 VERSUS
KASOZI STEPHEN -------------------------------------- ACCUSED
BEFORE LADY JUSTICE FLAVIA SENOGA ANGLIN
RULING
I carefully listened to the submissions of both Counsel and went through the provisions of the law relied upon to seek the orders of this court.
The issue of the Accused's ability to understand proceedings in the present case 15 was brought up after closure of the Prosecution case but before the Accused was called upon to give his Defence.
Court directed the Accused to be medically examined. The report given by the Doctor clearly indicates that the Accused has an intellectual disability and cannot 20 understand the proceedings.
In those circumstances, this court finds that the requirement to give his Defence would amount to abuse of court process and a breach of the fundamental right to be heard before being condemned.
So would the issuing of any order requiring him to be detained in safe custody pending an order by the Minister. More so, under SS 45 and 49 of the Trial on Indictment Act when Doctor's report clearly indicates his condition is permanent and he can never be in a position to stand trial.
And it is apparent from a number of decided cases that the Minister has on 5 numerous occasions failed or ignored to issue the necessary orders.
Under S.39 (2) of the Judicature Act – where in any case, no procedure is laid down for the High Court by any written law or practice, the court may, in its discretion, adopt a procedure justifiable by the circumstances of the case.
Court will in the circumstances of the present case exercise its inherent powers to prevent abuse of the process of court, which includes the power to limit and discontinue delayed Prosecutions, and to ensure that substantive justice is been administered without undue regard to technicalities S.17(2) Judicature Act.
In this case where there is no hope of the Accused ever understanding the proceedings, it would be unjust to detain the him in any asylum pending the orders of the minister which may take ages to come or not at all or only considering the Prosecution evidence and condemning the Accused without hearing his side of the
20 story.
The Proceedings are accordingly hereby terminated and the Accused is discharged forthwith.
25 The fact that the Accused in his condition could not stand trial/ or should have not stood trial in the first instance invalidates the proceedings before court.
The order is made in a bid to prevent further abuse of court process.
FLAVIA SENOGA ANGLIN
JUDGE 09.03.2021
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