[2010] UGCA 14
The Court of Appeal held that although the Supreme Court has removed the mandatory nature of the death penalty for murder, each case must be considered on its own merits. In this case, the appellants' conduct—lying in wait for the deceased, attacking her with pangas, chasing her, and inflicting multiple deep...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] UGCA 14
- Parties
- Appellant: Omasige Calvin; Appellant: Okia James; Respondent: Uganda
- Court
- Court of Appeal of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal No. 179 of 2003
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence
- Outcome
- appeal_dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Guidelines, Death Penalty, Mitigating Factors, Premeditated Murder
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Omasige Calvin
Appellant
Okia James
Appellant
Uganda
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the death sentence imposed on the appellants for murder should be upheld in light of the Supreme Court decision making the death penalty non-mandatory.
- 2 Whether mitigating factors warrant a reduction of the sentence from death to a term of imprisonment.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal held that although the Supreme Court has removed the mandatory nature of the death penalty for murder, each case must be considered on its own merits. In this case, the appellants' conduct—lying in wait for the deceased, attacking her with pangas, chasing her, and inflicting multiple deep wounds—demonstrated premeditation and extreme brutality. The mitigating factors advanced by the appellants, including time spent on remand, remorse, and family responsibilities, were insufficient to outweigh the gravity of the offence and the manner in which it was committed. The court found no merit in the appeal against sentence and upheld the death penalty imposed by the trial judge.
Court Disposition
appeal_dismissed
Orders
- The appeal against sentence is dismissed.
- The death sentence imposed by the High Court is upheld.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
2 paragraphs
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{\b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 179 OF 2003 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12155519 { \b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 OMASIGE CALVIN \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}OKIA JAMES :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPELLANTS \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 VERSUS \par UGANDA :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\b\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 \par CORAM:\tab HON JUSTICE L. E. M. MUKASA-KIKONYOGO, DCJ \par \tab \tab HON JUSTICE A. E. N. MPAGI-BAHIGEINE, JA \par \tab \tab HON JUSTICE C. K. BYAMUGISHA, JA \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\b\i\insrsid13050393\charrsid12155519 (Appeal from the decision of the High Court at Soroti by Hon. Mr. Justice Rugadya Atwoki dated 18}{ \b\i\super\insrsid13050393\charrsid12155519 th}{\b\i\insrsid13050393\charrsid12155519 August, 2008 in Criminal Case Session No. 201 of 2001)}{\b\i\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid13050393\charrsid12155519 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT \par }{\b\ul\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\insrsid8594705\charrsid12155519 The appellants were charged with two counts of murder and attempted murder. They were convicted on both counts. They were each sentenced to death on the first count and three years of imprisonment on the second count. The sentence on the second count was suspended. \par Being dissatisfied with the conviction and sentence of murder they lodged }{\insrsid1382790\charrsid12155519 a}{\insrsid8594705\charrsid12155519 n appeal}{\insrsid1382790\charrsid12155519 to this court against conviction and sentence. }{ \insrsid8594705\charrsid12155519 \par }{\insrsid1382790\charrsid12155519 At the hearing of the appeal}{\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 , learned counsel for the appe llants intimated to court that they, appellants were no longer challenging their conviction, instead they sought to challenge the sentence of death. \par In her submission on sentence Mrs. Kasande \endash Murangira stated that at the time of conviction there was only one sentence that could be passed. She pointed out that since January 2009 \endash the Supreme Court in the case of }{ \b\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 Attorney General Vs Susan Kigula & 417 Others, Constitutional Appeal 3/}{\b\insrsid3689136\charrsid12155519 06}{\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 the death penalty is no longer mandatory. \par She prayed for setting aside the }{\insrsid3689136\charrsid12155519 sentence of death and substituting}{\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 it with a sentence of 8 years imprisonment. \par \par On mitigating factors, learned counsel stated that the appellants were on remand for three years before trial. They were related to the deceased and are now remorseful. Th ey have families and dependants to look after. She prayed that the sentence be reduced to 8 years. \par \par In reply Mr. Semalemba Principal State Attorney supported the sentence }{\insrsid7290361\charrsid12155519 of death as being justifiable in the circumstances of the case. He pointed out that t he evidence led at the trial, showed that the conduct of the appellants before and after the commission of the offence, deserved the sentence of death. Learned counsel stated that according to the testimony off PW4, the deceased\rquote s daughter}{ \insrsid3689136\charrsid12155519 ,}{\insrsid7290361\charrsid12155519 the appellants came to the home of the deceased and took cover for one hour. When the deceased came, they attacked her with pangas. They chased her across the road for a distance of 15 meters. They continued cutting her to make sure she died. It was his submissions that according to the post mortem report the deceased had 6 deep cut wounds. \par He further pointed out that considering the weapons used the conduct of the appellants before and after the commission of the offence, the trial judge was justified to impose the death sentence. \par \par We have listened to the submissions and the arguments advanced by both counsel. We have perused the record of appeal and the authority cited to us. We agree that since the decision of the Supreme Court in the case cited by Mrs. Kasande \endash Murang ira, the death sentence is no longer mandatory. That notwithstanding each case must be considered on its own merit. In the instant appeal, considering the injuries received and the }{\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 weapon used, the conduct of the appellants before and after the commission of the offence, irrestibly point to premeditated murder. \par In the circumstance we find no merit in the appeal against sentence and we accordingly dismiss}{\insrsid3689136\charrsid12155519 it}{\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 forthwith.}{\insrsid7290361\charrsid12155519 }{\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519
\par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 Dated at Kampala this }{\b\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 6}{\b\super\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 th}{ \insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 day of }{\b\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 April 2010}{\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 . \par }{\b\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 L. E. M. MUKASA \endash KIKONYOGO}{\b\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 \par }{\b\insrsid8932999\charrsid12155519 DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE \par \par A. E. N MPAGI \endash BAHIGEINE \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par \par C. K. BYAMUGISHA \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12155519 {\insrsid10183655\charrsid12155519 }{\insrsid1382790\charrsid12155519 \par }{\insrsid9063614\charrsid12155519 \par }}