[2024] UGHCCRD 50
The court found that the applicant had already been committed to the High Court for trial as per the court records (Session Case No. 303 of 2023). Article 23(6)(c) of the Constitution provides for mandatory bail only if the accused has been on remand for 180 days before committal. Since the applicant was already...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] UGHCCRD 50
- Parties
- Applicant: Nyanzi Isma; Respondent: Uganda
- Court
- HC: Criminal Division (Uganda)
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Criminal Miscellaneous Application 172 of 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Mandatory Bail
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- Elubu, J
- Legal Topics
- Bail Application, Mandatory Bail, Remand Periods, High Court Jurisdiction
- Source Language
- english
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nyanzi Isma
Applicant
Uganda
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Mandatory Bail
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant qualifies for mandatory bail under Article 23(6)(c) of the Constitution after committal to the High Court.
- 2 Whether continued detention without bail is lawful after committal for trial on an offence triable only by the High Court.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had already been committed to the High Court for trial as per the court records (Session Case No. 303 of 2023). Article 23(6)(c) of the Constitution provides for mandatory bail only if the accused has been on remand for 180 days before committal. Since the applicant was already committed, he no longer qualified for mandatory bail. The application was therefore dismissed as the constitutional threshold for mandatory bail was not met post-committal.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for mandatory bail is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
## THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA
## CRIMINAL MISC. APPL. No. 172 of 2024
**BUGEMBE ALEX**
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**APPLICANT**
Versus
**UGANDA**
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## **BEFORE: HON. MR. JUSTICE MICHAEL ELUBU RULING**
This application is commenced under Articles 23 (6) (a) and 28 (3) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; Sections 14 (1) and 15 (1) (b) of the Trial on Indictments Act; and Clause 10 (1) of The Constitution (Bail Guidelines for **Courts of Judicature) (Practice) Directions 2022**
The applicant, Nyanzi Isma, seeks an order that he be released on mandatory bail.
The grounds on which the application is based are set out in the Notice of Motion and elaborated in affidavit sworn by the applicant.
He states that he was charged with the offence of Aggravated Robbery contrary to Sections 285 and 286 (2) of the Penal Code Act. That he was remanded ON THE
16<sup>TH</sup> of February 2021 and has remained in detention without committal. On this basis the applicant seeks a mandatory release on bail.
It has however been established from the court case management information system that the applicant was committed to the High Court and his High Court Session Case No. 303 of 2023. The matter was entered in the system on the 14<sup>th</sup> of June 2021.
## **Determination**
This application is made on the premise that the applicant qualifies for mandatory bail. Because the applicant was charged with the offence of Aggravated Robbery contrary to Sections 285 and 286 (2) of the Penal Code Act, which is only triable by the High Court, then the relevant provision of **the Constitution** is Article 23 (6) (c) which states that,
Where a person is arrested in respect of a criminal offence in the case of an offence triable only by the High Court, if that person has been remanded in custody for one hundred and eighty days before the case is committed to the High Court, that person shall be released on bail on such conditions as the court considers reasonable.
Clause 10 (1) of The Constitution (Bail Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) (Practice) Directions 2022 reproduces the above article of the constitution.
This Court notes that the provisions are couched in mandatory terms.
The procedural provision is Clause 10 (3) of the above Guidelines which stipulates,
For the avoidance of doubt, mandatory release on bail for offences triable by the High Court under Article 23 (6) (c) of the Constitution shall be granted only by the High Court.
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I have perused the court record and checked with the court case database, and established that indeed, the applicant has been committed to the high court for his trial. The matter was entered in the court database as High Court Session Case No. 303 of 2023.
For release under Article 23 (6) (c) of the Constitution to be effected, the applicant should not have been committed to the High Court for trial. In view of the fact that he has now been committed, then he does not qualify for mandatory release on bail. For that reason, this application must fail and is dismissed.
**Michael Elubu** Judge 06.06.2024