[1991] UGHC 62
The court found that the convictions of the accused, Phoebe Acen and Joel Opio, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm were proper as the pleas of guilty were unequivocal and the facts supported the charges. However, the default sentence of six weeks imprisonment imposed for failure to pay a fine of shs. 200/=...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1991] UGHC 62
- Parties
- Applicant: Uganda; Respondent: Phoebe Acen; Respondent: Joel Opio
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 93 of 1991
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Revision Order
- Outcome
- Default sentence revised; convictions upheld.
- Judges
- GM OKELLO, J
- Legal Topics
- Assault Occasions Actual Bodily Harm, Sentencing Illegality, Default Sentence, Plea of Guilty
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Uganda
Applicant
Phoebe Acen
Respondent
Joel Opio
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Revision Order
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the default sentence of six weeks imprisonment for failure to pay a fine of shs. 200/= is legal under section 192(d) of the Magistrates Courts Act as amended.
- 2 Whether the convictions based on the accused's pleas of guilty were proper.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the convictions of the accused, Phoebe Acen and Joel Opio, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm were proper as the pleas of guilty were unequivocal and the facts supported the charges. However, the default sentence of six weeks imprisonment imposed for failure to pay a fine of shs. 200/= was illegal, as section 192(d) of the Magistrates Courts Act (as amended) limits the maximum default sentence for such a fine to 7 days imprisonment. The court therefore set aside the illegal default sentence and substituted it with the lawful maximum of 7 days imprisonment.
Court Disposition
Default sentence revised; convictions upheld.
Orders
- The default sentence of six weeks imprisonment for non-payment of the fine is set aside.
- A default sentence of 7 days imprisonment is substituted in place of the previous sentence.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
34 paragraphs
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA CRIMINAL REVISION ORDER NO. 93/91 de 100 mais (ORIGINAL CR. CASE NO. 85/88 AT ALOI) 86/88 UGANDA. **PROSECUTOR** $\bullet$ $\bullet$ $\bullet$ $\circ$ $\circ$ $\bullet$ $\bullet$ $\mathcal{L} = \mathcal{L}$ VERSUS.
The File
.. tof
**ACCUSED** PHOEBE ACEN .................................... $\cdots$ AND JOEL OPIO icfo: $\mathbf{A}$
## **REVISION ORDER**
The accused in the above cases were convicted on their own pleas of guilty of assault occasioning actual bodidly harm $c/s$ 228 of the PCA. Subsequently they were each sentenced to a fine of shs. $200/$ = or to six weeks imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
On personal of the record of the proceedings, in those cases, I was satisfied that the convictions in both files were proper, because the pleas upon which they are based were unequivocal. I am however of the view that the default sentence of six weeks for a fine of shs. $200/$ = is illegal as it violates section 192(d) of the MCA'70 as amended by Act 4 of 1985.
When the relevant files were sent to the DPP for his views, George Bamugamureirwe a State Attorney who wrote the opinion for the DPP in his letter ref. $6/4/2$ of 3st July 1991 shared the view that the default sentence was illegal and did not wish to be heard in the event of a revision order being made.
The plea on which the accused were convicted were recorded $as;$
"I admit the charge. It is true that I assaulted the complainant and caused her bodily harm"
The above plea is clearly <sup>a</sup>n unequivocal plea of guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm c/s 228 of the Penal Code Act. The facts which were narrated after the plea
$\ldots 12 \ldots$
of guilty was entered reveal the commission of the offence charged. The convictions are therefore proper.
$\mathbf{2}$
The default sentence of 6 weeks imprisonment for a fine of $200/$ = is however illegal because it violates section 192(d) of the MCA'70 as amended by Act 4 of 1985. This section stipulates that for a fine of not exceeding shs.2000/= the maximum default sentence shall be 7 days imprisonment. Accordingly a default sentence of 6 weeks imprisonment for a fine of shs $200/$ = clearly violates this section. For that reason the default sentence of 6 weeks imprisonment is set aside and in its place it is substituted a default sentence of 7 days imprisonment.
コロエオル 日本語
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