An arrest is a deprivation of a person’s liberty for purposes of compelling the person arrested to appear before an authority either as a suspect or a witness.
It is unlawful for police to keep the suspect in custody beyond 24 hours and prolong the questioning of that person by refraining from finally charging him/her.
Art 23(1) of the Constitution of Republic of Uganda states the circumstances under which a person can be arrested including; upon reasonable suspicion that a person has committed or is about to commit a criminal offence under the laws of Uganda.
The foregoing provision gives wider powers to police to effect an arrest as and when it deems fit even before any just cause. This explains why many times the arrested suspects are released without charge after a prolonged detention beyond the 24 hours.
What you need to do upon arrest;
Immediately contact your relative, a lawyer or friend and inform them of your arrest.
Mitigate being released on police bond. This is also called police form 18.
Where police bond has been denied and you have been in custody beyond 24 hours, apply to court for unconditional release.
The Application for unconditional release is by Notice of motion with a supporting affidavit sworn and deponed by a relative/friend.
Once a release order has been granted serve the same to the office of the director of criminal investigations, DPP and to the police station/post where’re the suspect is being held.
Note that police bond/form 18 is signed by the in charge of the department where the suspected criminal offence committed falls and not by the investigating officers. Police bond must also be free.
An arrest is a deprivation of a person’s liberty for purposes of compelling the person arrested to appear before an authority either as a suspect or a witness.
It is unlawful for police to keep the suspect in custody beyond 24 hours and prolong the questioning of that person by refraining from finally charging him/her.
Art 23(1) of the Constitution of Republic of Uganda states the circumstances under which a person can be arrested including; upon reasonable suspicion that a person has committed or is about to commit a criminal offence under the laws of Uganda.
The foregoing provision gives wider powers to police to effect an arrest as and when it deems fit even before any just cause. This explains why many times the arrested suspects are released without charge after a prolonged detention beyond the 24 hours.
What you need to do upon arrest;
1. Immediately contact your relative, a lawyer or friend and inform them of your arrest.
2. Mitigate being released on police bond. This is also called police form 18.
3. Where police bond has been denied and you have been in custody beyond 24 hours, apply to court for unconditional release.
4. The Application for unconditional release is by Notice of motion with a supporting affidavit sworn and deponed by a relative/friend.
5. Once a release order has been granted serve the same to the office of the director of criminal investigations, DPP and to the police station/post where’re the suspect is being held.
Note that police bond/form 18 is signed by the in charge of the department where the suspected criminal offence committed falls and not by the investigating officers. Police bond must also be free.
