Attorney General Kiryowa refuses to disclose details on bail amendment

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The Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa has declined to divulge any information on the question of amending bail terms for capital offenders.

This was during a media briefing on Thursday morning attended by AG Kiryowa, Government Chief Hon
Thomas Tayebwa former Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa.

Kiryowa was addressing a journalists under the under Uganda Parliamentary Press Association(UPPA)
to give an update on bills presented before the 11^th parliament. Uganda Parliamentary Press Association usually meets the Government Chief Whip quarterly for a report on various bills before the house.

During the meeting, Journalists demanded to know what strides have been taken in regard to the
amendment of bail terms for capital offences.

 ‘’we are discussing the amendment of the bail rules, we are still discussing with parliament
and shall at the appropriate time bring to parliament a bill for amendment of
bail, so allow us to finish the process .’’

The bail reforms have attracted a lot of debate from the public and stakeholders in the Judicial circles .

During a memorial lecture to commemorate the legacy of the late former Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka, President Museveni demanded that capital offenders should not be eligible for bail.

He was opposed to the current system where bail is granted at the discretion of a judicial officials often consider ing that an accused person’s health, personal and criminal record, the pedigrees of the sureties to
enforce the accused person’s attendance of court and gravity of the offence
allegedly committed.

Museveni  challenged judicial officers to go and read the Constitutional Commission proceedings
where he says the majority of the people of Uganda didn’t want bail for capital offences.

Museveni promised to further engage Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who was present
at the event on the issue of bail especially to murder suspects.

In September 2021 , Museveni chaired a caucas meeting on the same proposal  and close to 300 MPs attended .It was resolved that they make consultations and return in two weeks for another meeting to discuss the way forward.

After the caucus meeting ,Government Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa, said the consultation will
involve proposals to either amend the law or seek guidance from Chief Justice (CJ) Owiny Dollo among others.

“We have to go back and see what we can do. Do we amend the law, do we take it for
constitutional interpretation, do we have more Judicial guidelines over the matter and we are going to engage. In around two weeks time we shall come back
for another caucus meeting,” said Tayebwa.

Compiled by Zainab Ali

Pamela Achom