Mukula John v Uganda [2003] UGSC 11 (4 March 2003)

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.}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\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 \s18\qc \li0\ri15\sb62\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin15\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF UGANDA }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 AT MENGO }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 \par \par }{\cs32\b\ul\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 5/2001}{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \fi-1454\li1454\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin1454\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb77\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 (CORAM: ODER, TSEKOOKO, KAROKORA, KANYEIHAMBA, KATO, }{\cs36\b\expnd6\expndtw30\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 JJ}{ \cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 SC). \par }\pard\plain \s28\qc \li0\ri0\sb58\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs33\b\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 \par }{\cs33\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 BETWEEN \par }\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 MUKULA }{\cs36\b\expnd6\expndtw30\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 J}{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 OHN::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::APPELLANT \par }\pard\plain \s27\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 AND \par }\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 UGANDA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard\plain \s31\qc \fi-96\li1997\ri1910\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin1910\lin1997\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s31\qc \li0\ri52\sb106\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin52\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 (Appeal from a judgment of the Court of Appeal, at Kampala (Mpagi-Bahigeine,}{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 }{ \cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Engwau, Kitumba, }{\cs36\b\expnd6\expndtw30\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 JJ}{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 A) in Criminal Appeal No. 23/97 dated 29}{\cs32\b\super\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 th}{ \cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 April 1998). \par }\pard\plain \s30\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s30\qc \li0\ri0\sb163\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs40\b\ul\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Reasons for Judgment of the Court. \par }\pard\plain \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb178\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 This is an appeal against conviction and sentence for aggravated robbery contrary to sections 272 and 273(2) of the Penal Code Act. The appellant was tried and con victed by the High Court. He appealed to the Court of Appeal which dismissed the appeal, hence this second appeal. On 4/12/2002, we heard the appeal and dismissed it but reserved our reasons for doing so. We now give the reasons.}{ \cs33\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 The brief facts of the case as adduced before and accepted by the trial court and confirmed by the Court of Appeal are as follows. \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb235\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 On the night of 26/2/97, the complainant, Kadapawo Samuel, was at his home sleeping in a room which was connected to the shop. He was awakened by the noise of the robbers whom he heard cutting the lock on the shop. When he opened the door of the middle room of the shop and flashed his torch he recognised the appellant and two other persons called Muslimu and Kawuya. The appellant was carrying goods fro m the shop. The complainant raised an alarm which was answered by the neighbours. The complainant mentioned the appellant's name to the L. C. I Chairman of the area Sam Dudu to whom he reported the robbery. He also mentioned the same name to the police at Bu tebo Police Post the following day. The appellant was later arrested at Mukongoro village in Kumi District on 29/2/1997. He was charged together with another suspect, Kasani Opedun who was acquitted by the trial court \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 At his trial, the appellant denied ever having committed the offence. He pleaded an alibi to the effect that on the night in question he was in another village called Mukongoro where he had gone to visit his sister.

\par }{\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb10\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 The trial judge and Court of Appeal rejected the appellant's defence of ali bi and accepted the case as presented by the prosecution with the above stated results. \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\sb82\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 The following two grounds of appeal were filed by the appellant's counsel namely: \par }\pard\plain \s21\qj \fi-701\li701\ri0\sb62\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin701\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 "1. The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in fact and law when they failed to re-evaluate the evidence and thereby rejected the appellant's defence of alibi. \par }\pard \s21\ql \fi-720\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s21\ql \fi-720\li720\ri0\sb77\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 2. That the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in fact and law in hold ing that the appellant participated in the robbery by relying on the identification by a single witness when conditions were not conducive for correct identification or where (sic) not free from error" \par }\pard\plain \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb125\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Learned counsel for the appellant, Ms Charity Nakabuye , argued the two grounds together. She submitted that it was not possible for the complainant to identify the appellant through a "spy hole" in the door of the shop. She contended that the only reason why the complainant claimed to have seen the appellant was that he had allegedly known him as a notorious robber in the village. Learned counsel further submitted that the complainant's evidence could not be treated as having been free from error as he must have been scared when he was awakened from sleep.

\par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb82\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 On his part, Mr. Vincent Okwanga, Principal State Attorney, who opposed the appeal, submitted that the appellant was correctly convicted as there was overwhelming evidence adduced against him. According to him there were conditions favouring correct identif i cation of the appellant since there was light from complainant's torch and the appellant was known to the the complainant before the robbery. He argued that the appellant was under the complainant's observation for two minutes, which in his view, was a co nsiderable time.}{\cs33\insrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Judging from the evidence on record, it is evident that the prosecution case was mainly based on the evidence of a single identifying witness, Kadapawo}{ \cs33\insrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Samuel (PW1). }{\cs37\expnd8\expndtw40\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 The}{\cs37\i\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 law relating to this kind of evidence was stated in: }{\cs32\ul\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Abdallah Bin Wendo and Sheh Bin Mwambere V R (1953) 20 EACA 166 at page 168}{\cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 as follows: \par }\pard\plain \s23\ql \li744\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin744\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s23\qj \li744\ri1008\sb211\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin1008\lin744\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 "Subject to certain well-known exceptions it is trite law that a fact may be proved by the testimony of a single witness but this rule does not lessen the need for testing with the greatest care the evidence of a single witness respecting identification e s pecially when it is known that the conditions favouring a correct identification were difficult. In such circumstances what is needed is other evidence, whether it be circumstantial or direct, pointing to guilt, from which Judge or jury can reasonably con clude that the evidence of identification, although based on the testimony of a single witness, can safely be accepted as free from the possibility of error". \par }\pard\plain \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sb10\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\tx3806\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 The learned Justices of Court of Appeal were alive to this cardinal principle}{ \cs33\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 of our law as may be seen in the following passage of their lordship's}{\cs33\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 }{\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 judgment.}{ \cs33\i\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \tab \par }\pard\plain \s23\ql \li1474\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin1474\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s23\qj \li1474\ri1008\sb139\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin1008\lin1474\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 "We agree with Mr. Okwanga State Attorney that the learned trial judge was justified in believing the evidence of the complainant, PW1, as a single identifying witness on the ground that con ditions were favourable for him to identify the appellant. The appellant was known to PW1 before the incident. PW.1 saw the appellant, Muslimu and Kawuya in the shop at a distance of about 3 meters away with the aid of a torch light of 3 new dry battery c ells. He observed them for 2 minutes when the middle door was partially opened. He mentioned them by names to L. C. I Chairperson, PW.2,who answered the alarm and both PW.1 and PW.2 in their report repeated}{\cs32\insrsid15618125 }{ \cs32\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 the same names to the police. In pursuit of the thieves that same night, Muslimu and Kawuya were killed in the process. In the circumstances, we find also that the third ground of this appeal lacks merit and fails".

\par }\pard\plain \s19\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s19\qj \li0\ri0\sb14\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 We are in no doubt that the evidence on record clearly shows that conditions favouring correct identification of the appellant by the complainant existed and both courts below rightly found so. The complainant's evidence was consistent from the beginning and this is sufficiently corroborated by the testimonies of the L. C. I Chairman Sam Dud u (PW2) and Omoding Peter (PW3) to whom he mentioned the name of the appellant as being one of the people who had attacked him. The disappearance of the appellant from his village corroborates the complainant's testimony. We do not agree with the contentio n of the appellant's counsel that there was a mistaken identity. The evidence of the complainant placed the appellant at the scene of crime and that disproved his alibi. Both grounds of appeal must fail. \par }\pard \s19\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s19\qj \li0\ri0\sb62\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 It was for those reasons that we upheld the decisions of the lower courts and dismissed the appeal. \par }\pard \s19\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s19\qc \li0\ri0\sb230\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\tldot\tx4646\tldot\tx7402\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs33\b\i\dn3\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Dated at Mengo this 5th day of March 2003. \par }\pard\plain \s25\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par \par }\pard \s25\qc \li0\ri0\sb202\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 A. H. O. }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 ODER}{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s25\qc \li0\ri0\sb43\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Justice of the Supreme Court}{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 J}{\cs41\expnd-4\expndtw-20\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 . W. N. TS}{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 EKOOKO }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \line }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Justice of the Supreme Court \par }\pard\plain \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sb62\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 A. N. KAROKORA \par }\pard \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sb38\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Justice of the Supreme Court \par }\pard \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 \par }\pard \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sb154\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 G. W. KANYEIHAMBA }{\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \line }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Justice of the Supreme Court

\par }\pard \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sb211\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125 \par }{\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 CM. KATO \par }\pard \s26\qc \li0\ri0\sb34\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15618125 {\cs32\b\insrsid1523661\charrsid15618125 Justice of the Supreme Court \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cs32\b\insrsid15618125\charrsid15618125 \par }}