[2008] UGHC 94

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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA \par AT GULU \par HCT \endash 02 \endash CO \endash C}{\b\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 A}{\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 \endash 0008 \endash 2007 \par (Arising from Apac}{\b\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 Grade I Court}{\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 Cr}{\b\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 iminal}{\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 Case N}{\b\insrsid3628443\charrsid5190817 umber }{ \b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 266/2006) \par }{\b\insrsid928139\charrsid5190817 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 1. ANGULU GEORGE \par 2. ANGULU ALFRE}{\b\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 D ::}{\b\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 :::::}{\b\insrsid10102384\charrsid5190817 ::}{\b\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 ::::}{\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 :::::::APPELLANTS \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 REPUBLIC OF UGANDA::::::}{\b\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 :::::::::}{\b\insrsid10102384\charrsid5190817 ::}{\b\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 :::RESPONDENT \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\b\ul\insrsid10306739\charrsid5190817 BEFORE: JUSTICE REMMY KASULE \par \par JUDGMENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1729231 {\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid15681534\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab The two appellants, together with three others who were acquitted on a no case to answer were tried and convicted by Grade I Court, Apac, of the charge of Criminal }{\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 Trespass}{ \insrsid15681534\charrsid5190817 c/s 302 (a) of the Penal Code Act. \par \tab \tab The original criminal case is No. 266 of 2005. Judgment, the subject of this appeal, was delivered on 19.01.2006. \par \tab \tab }{\insrsid5254712\charrsid5190817 The particulars of }{\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 offence}{\insrsid5254712\charrsid5190817 were that, during April, 2005, at Ajuri village in the Apac District, the appellants ( and the three acquitted) entered into the land of Adea Maxwell with intent to intimidate, insult or annoy him.}{\insrsid15681534\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab The appeal is premised on three grounds of appeal: failure of the trial court to properly evaluate the evidence and thus rea}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 ch}{\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 ing a wrong decision, failure to find that the prosecution had not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and failing to hold that the second appellant enjoyed immunity as a judicial officer, having been a member of the Local Council Court. \par \tab \tab }{\insrsid3545744\charrsid5190817 The court will deal with the first and second grounds together and then the third ground }{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 on its own. }{\insrsid1729231\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid3545744\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab It is a fact that Adea Maxwell, who is stated in the charge sheet as the one the appellants had intention to intimidate, insult or annoy n}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 ever testified in court througho}{ \insrsid3545744\charrsid5190817 ut the whole trial. \par \tab \tab It was therefore never proved at all that the appellants intended to intimidate, insult or annoy the said Adea Maxwell.}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 An essential ingredient of the charge was thus never proved beyond reasonable doubt, or at all. The appellants, like was the case of the other three accused}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 who were acquitted,}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 ought to have been acquitted on a no case to answer}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 . I}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 t is the duty of the prosecution to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt: the accused does not}{ \insrsid1787794\charrsid5190817 }{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 have to establish his innocence: the burden is upon the prosecution throughout the trial, unless }{\insrsid1787794\charrsid5190817 statutory}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 law provides other wise: }{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 See: }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 WOOLMINGTON VS DPP:}{\b\insrsid7755700\charrsid5190817 (}{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 1935) AC 462; }{\b\insrsid3545744\charrsid5190817 \par }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 WIBIRO}{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 alias MUSA V. R (1960)}{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 }{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 EA 184 \par }{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab \tab and \par }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 BOGERE MOSES & ANOTHER VS UGANDA: SUPREME COURT}{\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 (UGANDA) CRIMINAL APPEAL NUMBER 1 OF 1997.}{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab This court, being the first }{\insrsid1787794\charrsid5190817 appellate}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 court, has also the duty to re-evaluate the evidence adduced at trial}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 , }{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 make its own inferences and reach its own conclusions, bearing in mind that it did not see the demeanour of }{\insrsid1787794\charrsid5190817 witnesses}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 at trial, and}{ \insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 thus}{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 being guided by the observations of the trial court on the issue of demeanour: }{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 See: }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 SUPREME COURT OF UGANDA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 10 OF 1998: BOGERE CHARLES VERSUS UGANDA}{\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 }{\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 \par \tab \tab and also \par }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 PANDYA VERSUS R. (1957) EA 336}{\b\insrsid9328258\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid10578497\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab On the review of the evidence adduced at tr}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 ia}{\insrsid10578497\charrsid5190817 l there was no criminal trespass proved, in the considered view of this court.}{ \insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 }{\insrsid10578497\charrsid5190817 All that happened is that PW1, Barcolina Akidi, who looks after the land of Adea Maxwell, who stays in United Kingdom, constructed a kraal, for cattle keeping , in the land of Adea Maxwell, but just at the border with the land of and where the first appellant, Angulu George, was cultivating}{\insrsid14092611\charrsid5190817 , }{\insrsid10578497\charrsid5190817 growing food crops. \par }{\insrsid3145879\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab The first appellant saw this as a source of future misunderstanding because due to the nearness of t he kraal of cattle to his land and his crops, a possibility of the cattle escaping from the kraal to his farm and thus destroy his crops was always there. \par \tab \tab He therefore took the matter to the local leaders and those others }{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 in the neighbourhood,}{\insrsid3145879\charrsid5190817 who in all comprised of the accused, and some prosecution witnesses. In April, 2005, this group came to the area, stated to PW1 why they had come, and PW1 without any objection, allowed them to look to examine the locus in quo,}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 and thereafter were allowed to sit at the home of PW1 where an agr}{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 eement, exhibit \'93A\'94 was reached and was}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 reduced in writing by prosecution witness Ogwang Bosco. Every one at the meeting signed this agreement, except PW1 who declined, and nothing was done}{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 to her there and then}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 , or}{ \insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 soon}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 thereafter.}{\insrsid3145879\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab The agreement was to the effect that the kraal be removed from where it had been built by the 9}{\super\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 th}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 May 2005. No evidence was given as to whether anything was done to the complainant, on or after the 9}{\super\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 th}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 May 2005. \par \tab \tab On the basis of the above facts, }{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 which was}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 the evidence adduced before the trial court, it cannot be said that any criminal trespass was proved beyond reasonable doubt against the appellants}{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 . Y}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 et, like in a }{ \insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 charge of forcible entry, me}{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 n}{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 s}{\insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 rea}{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 , has to be proved }{ \insrsid14886504\charrsid5190817 beyond reasonable doubt }{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 on the part of the appellants, in a charge of criminal trespass: see}{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 \par }{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 UGANDA V. SAM SALONGO SEPUYA: (1988-1990) HCB }{\b\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 79}{\b\insrsid12209238\charrsid5190817 . }{\b\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 }{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 No mens rea was proved.}{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 \par \tab \tab Grounds one and two of the appeal therefore succeed. \par \tab \tab As to the third ground of appeal, the evidence adduced is not clear whether the local council officials, including the second appellant were acting as an LC court or not, when the decision to remove the kraal was taken on the 26.04.2005. }{ \insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 It is however not disputed that the group went to PW1\rquote s place to look at the place, and resolve the matters in dispute. This is what was done with an agreement to remove the kraal by a certain date being reached, a }{\insrsid5507511\charrsid5190817 l}{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 b}{\insrsid5507511\charrsid5190817 ei}{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 t PW1 refused to sign the same. }{\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 If}{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 they were acting as an LC court, then the second appellant would enjoy immunity from prosecution under Section 33 of the Executive }{\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 Committees (}{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 Judicial Powers) Act, Cap. 8, which was in operation at the material time, }{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 i.e. }{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 26.4.2005, before it was repealed by the Local Council Act, 13 of 2006}{\insrsid12584815\charrsid5190817 . }{\insrsid7625649\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid12584815\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab Since the case against the second appellant is criminal in nature, the doubt, as to whether or not the LC officials were acting as a judicial organ on 26.4.2005 has to be resolved in favour of the second appellant. The third ground of appeal also succeeds. \par }{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab The appellants appeal is allowed. Each of the appellants is acquitted of the charge of criminal trespass }{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 c}{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 /}{ \insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 s}{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 302(a) of Penal Code Act}{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 . E}{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 ach one\rquote s conviction and sentence is hereby set aside. \par \tab \tab If any of the appellants had paid the fine of shs. 300,000/= as ordered by the trial court}{\insrsid15822274\charrsid5190817 ;}{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 it is hereby ordered that the said money be forthwith refunded to the appellant who paid the same. \par }{\insrsid6772069\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid14366569\charrsid5190817 \par }{\b\insrsid6772069\charrsid5190817 ........................................ \par Remmy Kasule \par Judge \par 29}{\b\super\insrsid6772069\charrsid5190817 th}{\b\insrsid6772069\charrsid5190817 August 2008. \par }{\insrsid5322281\charrsid5190817 \par }{\insrsid1050699\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab \par }{\insrsid10578497\charrsid5190817 \tab \tab \par }}