Obadia Kuku V Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 5 of 1998) [1999] UGCA 5 (28 July 1999)

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\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 THE R}{ \ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid4486956 EPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 IN THE}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.5 OF 1998 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \line CORAM}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 : HON. MR. JUSTICE G. M. OKELLO,JA \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 HON. MR. JUSTICE S. G. ENGWAU,JA \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 HON. LADY JUSTICE C. N. B. KITUMBA,JA \line BETWEEN \line OBADIA KUKU}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 APPELLANT \line AND \line UGANDA}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85......}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 RES PONDENT \line \line (Appeal }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 from the Judgment of the H/C (M}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 ukanza}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 ,}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 J) at }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 Mpi}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 gi in \line High Court Criminal Session Case No.469 of 1995 given on \line 4/2/98) \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4486956 {\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid4486956 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 The appellant was on 4/2/93 convicted by High Court (Mukanza,J) sitting at Mpigi of murder contrary to section 183 of the Penal Code and was sentenced to death. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16402779 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 The appellant, a special police constable and a former military instructor, }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid4486956 was}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 at the material time attached to Nakawuka Police Post. On 6/6/95, the appellant, Cpl M}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 wata Henry, officer-in-charge (O}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C) of Nakawuka Police Post (PW2) and a few other policemen were on their way to Sisa village to check on their other colleagues who had been on duty there over the night. it was suspected tha}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 t :ehi camp was being establishe}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 d in that area. On the way, they }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 found}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 the deceased digging in his garden. He was one of the people suspected to be involved in the rebel activities }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 in the area. The }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 appellant who appeared to have known the deceased, a military veteran before, called him by his first name \lquote God\rquote meaning Godfrey. The deceased responded and came to where the appellant and his colleagues were but stopped a few meters away from them. When the appel lant told the deceased to go to the Police Post to assist the police, he refused, dropped down his hoe which he had held in his hand and started to run away}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 . Without instruction from his O}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C, the appellant started t}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 o chase the deceased. Soon his O}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C (PW2) and his other colleagues (Waswa John (PW1) and Temuteo Bukede (PW3) heard rapid gunshots in the direction followed by the appellant. They started to follow the appellant. When they met him, the appellant told them that \'93 bullets have caught the deceased and}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 that he was already dead.\'94 On c}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 onfirming that the deceased was shot dead, Cpl Mwata Henry disarmed, arrested and detained the appellant at the police post. Later he informed his boss, the District Police Commander Entebbe. Eventually the appellant was cha rged with the murder of the deceased. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 At the trial, his defence was accident. That the bullet which shot the deceased went off accidentally when the appellant slipped on slippery morning grass. The trial judge rejected that defence and convicted the appellant. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 There is only one ground of appeal, the second one having been abandoned. The sole ground is that \'93 the learned trial judge erred when he failed to evaluate the evidence before him as a whole which resulted in a miscarriage of justice to the detrimen}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 t of the appellant.\'94 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 Prof}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 . Joseph icakooza, learned counsel for the appellant, contended that the trial judge was not justified to reject the appellant\rquote s defence when there was no evidence to support his finding that the appellant shot the deceased deliberately and with malice aforethought. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 The appellant in his unsworn s}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 tatement told Court that:- \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4486956 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 \'93The O/}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 C pushed and asked me }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid4486956 to follow the man. The man run }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 and I followed, so I heard the voice coming behind about when I had }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 fro}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 m }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 far}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 for 4 meters (sic). The voice was saying covering fire w}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 ith air or otherwise scarce the }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 deceased/escape (sic) . }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 I }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 started firing in the air and the deceased was running As I was pursiing having reached a corner near a coffee which ifi shamba tree (sic), I saw the deceased aimi ng a hoe at me (sic). As the deceased along the hoe, I knelt down as the gun was already corked. We had ran far 80 meters (sic) I now say we have ran for 80 meters. As I reached in the corner, I found the deceased aiming a hoe when the accused saw the dec eased threw the hoe at me (sic). After throwing \line : the hoe at me, the deceased turned back and started running. As I was trying to avoid the hoe where was coming (sic) . He replied and knelt down, as I was trying to hold the gun tightly the bullet came out accidentally and shot the deceased at the back (sic). I then saw him falling down. I reached where he was and I saw blood coming out from the chest. As it was not my intention to kill the deceased}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 I went back to my friends.\'94 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16402779 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Ms Khisa, Principal State A ttorney, who appeared for the respondent, contended that there was no evidence not only that the 0/c did not instruct the appellant to chase the deceased but also that he should not at all fire the gun even in the air. She pointed out that the evidence of }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 the O}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C dispelled the appellant\rquote s claim that the deceased aimed a hoe at him because the deceased had dropped down his hoe when he started to run. Fu}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 rther that the evidence of the O}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C and that of Temuteo Bukede dispelled the appellant\rquote s claim of first shoo ting in the air and then one last accidental shooting because when the appellant ran after the deceased, the witnesses soon heard rapid gun shots without a break in between. When they later met and asked him what he had done, the appellant replied that he had}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 shot him (deceased). When the O/C}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 asked him why he had shot him, the appellant replied that \'93those were the people disturbing us. \'94 According to Ms Khisa, the above evidence indicated that the killing was deliberate and with malice aforethought. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 We find contradictions in the prosecu}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 tion evidence in two important }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 aspect. Firstly, wit}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 h regard to the hoe, while the O/C testified }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 that the deceased dropped the ho}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 e and started running, Temuteo }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Bukede told Court that they found the hoe only 3 meters fr om the body. This evidence of Temuteo is supported by the evidence of Waswa John who testified that the deceased ran with his hoe in his hand. These two contradictory statements in the evidence of the prosecution can not both be true. The evidence of Buke de which is corroborated by the evidence of Waswa John lent credence to the appellant\rquote s claim that the deceased threw a hoe at him and that in dodging the hoe, he slipped on slippery morning }{ \i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 grass }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 and knelt down when the bullet which shot the deceased went off accidentally as the gun was already corked. \line } {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par Secondly, while both the O/C}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 and Bukede agree that they heard rapid gun shots, the 0/c told Court that on}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 meeting the appellant who was }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 returning from chasing the deceased, the witness asked him what he had done. To that the appellant replied that \'93he shot him\'94. When asked why he shot him, the appellant answe}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 red that \'93these were the people }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 disturbing us.\'94 Bukede however, deni}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 ed, not only that he heard the O}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C ask the appellant \'93}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 why he shot him\'94 but also that he did not hear the answer}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 which he }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 O}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C attributed to the appellant }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid15925709 in}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 response to the }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 question He also denied that he }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 heard }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 what the appellant replied the O}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 C that \'93I shot him\'94. According }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 to Bukede, the appellant replied th at \'93the bullets caught him}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 .\'94}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 That evidence of Bukede in this regard tallies with the evidence of \line Waswa John. In our view, the phrase \'93the bullets caught him\'94 suggested involuntary shooting. That supported the appellant\rquote s story. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 The trial judge dealt with the contradictions in his judgment in this way: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15925709 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \'93 There were indeed some contradictions1 inconsistency in the prosecution case as what the accused told PW1, PW2 and PW3 but were not grave and as such the evidence of the witnesses could not be rejected but I find the inconsistency and contradictions are similar and the}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 y do not point to deliberate }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 untruthfulness and as such I would accept the evidence of PW1, PW2 and PW3 as being the truth I believe them in.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15925709 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 With the }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid15925709 utmost}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 respect, we do not agree with the trial judge. We think these contradictions are grave and cast doubt on the prosection case. Had he properly evaluated the evidence before him, the learned trial judge would have seen the gravity of these contradictions and would not have found that th e prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that t}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 he shooting was deliberate and with malice aforethought. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par The learned tri}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 al judge fur}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 ther stated n his judgment that:}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15925709 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \'93I further agree with the gentlemen assessors that the accused stopped shooting the deceased after releasing the seven bullets because he had achieved his objective.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15925709 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 There is not an iota of evidence on record to support that view. There is no }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid15925709 scintilla}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 of evidence as to the objective of the appellant. It is trite that Judges or Magistrates must act only on the evidence before them. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709

\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16402779 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Ms Khisa submitted that even if it were believed that the a}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 ppellant was instructed by his O}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 /C to follow and arrest the deceased, then the force used was excessive. With respect, we do not subscribe to thatsubmission. The defence in this case is straight and simple: \line accidental killing. It is plain that in such a case, excessiveness of the force used does not arise. It}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15925709 could only have arisen if the }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 defence }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 had been self-}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 defence or defence of property. That was not the case. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424

\par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 In the circumstances of this case, we think that appellant\rquote s complaint was well taken. It is unsafe to allow the conviction to stand. \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 In the result, we allow }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424\charrsid16402779 the appeal, quash the conviction, set aside the sentence of death and order the appellant to be set free forthwith unless being }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 held o}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424\charrsid16402779 n some other lawful grounds. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line Dated at Kampala }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 t}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424\charrsid12221424 his}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 28}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid12221424\charrsid12221424 th}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 day of July 1999.}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12221424 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 G. M. Okello \line }{ \ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Justice of Aea1 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 S. G. Engwau \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Justice of Apea1 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid12221424 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 C. N. B. Kitumba \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 Justice of Appeal}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16402779\charrsid16402779 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16402779 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid14750223\charrsid16402779 \par }}