DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE OBSERVATION OF THE RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING IN UGANDA

TABLE OF TABLE

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

TABLE OF TABLE ....................................................................................................................... iii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. vi

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. vii

CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introdnction ............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................................... I

1.2 Statement of Problem ................................................................................................................ 4

1.3 Purpose of the study .................................................................................................................. 5

1.4 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................. 5

1.5 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................... 5

1.5.1 Geographical scope ................................................................................................................ 5

1.5.3 Time scope ................................................................................ , ............................................ 6

1.6 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 6

1.7 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 7

1.8 Them·etical Framework ............................................................................................................. 7

1.9 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... II

1.10 The essential elements of a fair hearing include ................................................................... 12

1.11 Public Hearing ...................................................................................................................... 13

1.12 Related Literature .................................................................................................................. 14

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 20

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL ........................................ 20

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 20

2.2 Concept of Right to a Fair Trial .............................................................................................. 20

2.3 Historical development to the Right to a Fair Trial ................................................................ 22

2.4 The Normative Content of the Right to a Fair Trial ............................................................... 24

3.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 27

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 28

LAWS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS IN RESPONSES TO RIGHTS ON FAIR HEARING .................................. 28

3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... : ..................................... 28

3.2 The Regional and International Legal Framework ................................................................. 28

3.3 Constitution of Uganda, 1995 ................................................................................................. 30

3.4 The Right to a Timely Trial .................................................................................................... 30

3.5 The Evidence Act Cap 6 ......................................................................................................... 32

3.6 Institutional aspects of the right to an independent tribunal ................................................... 32

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 35

THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE RIGHTS ON FAIR HEARING HAS BEEN

OBSERVED ................................................................................................................................. 35

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 35

4.2 The Constitutional Protection of the Right to a Fair Trial without Unreasonable Delay ....... 35

4.3 The Right to have a Trial Begin and Conclude without Unreasonable Delay ........................ 38

4.3.1 Pre-Trial Delay ..................................................................................................................... 38

4.4 Missing Court Records ........................................................................................................... 39

4.5 Unavailable Court Records ..................................................................................................... 41

4.6 Inadequate court records ......................................................................................................... 42

4.6.1 Illegible material .................................................................................................................. 42

4.6.2 Incorrect records .................................................................................................................. 42

4.6.3 Incomplete and mutilated records ........................................................................................ 43

4.7 Effect of the court record on the right to a fair hearing .......................................................... 45

4.7.1 Presence at the hearing ......................................................................................................... 46

4.7.2 Adequate time and facilities for preparation of the Defence ............................................... 46

4.7.3 Hearing without undue delay ............................................................................................... 48

4.7.4 Appeal/Review/Revision ..................................................................................................... 50

4.8 Uganda's Military Justice System and the Right to a Fair Trial ............................................. 53

4.9 Analysis of International and Regional Human Rights Instruments ...................................... 54

4.10 Appraisal of Relevant Case Law and Concluding Observations of the HRC ....................... 55

4.11 Remedies ............................................................................................................................... 55

4.12 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 56

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 57

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 57

5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 57

5.1 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 57

5.2 Recommendation .................................................................................................................... 58

5.2.1 Conducting regular public awareness campaigns ................................................................ 58

5.2.1 Employing record management system ............................................................................... 58

5.2.2 Setting time frames in criminal cases .................................................................................. 59

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 60

ABSTRACT 

The study examined the detailed analysis of the observation of the right to fair hearing in Uganda in this, the study was guided by the following objectives;- To examine the laws and regulatory framework in responses to rights on fair hearing in Comis of Uganda, to examine the extent to which the rights to fair hearing has been observed by Uganda government, to examine the challenges faced while implementing rights to fair hearing in Uganda and lastly to examine the recommendation and conclusion on rights to fair hearing in Uganda. The right to fair hearing in criminal proceedings is synonymous with the hearing process itself and has gained recognition for centuries through codification in various international, regional and national instruments. It has existed in the international arena as an integral part of the general scheme for the protection of human rights. It is recognized since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, and its codification in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in I 966. Article 28 on the other hand protects the right to a fair hearing which includes among others the presumption of innocence until proved guilty, the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare one's defence, the right to an interpreter, the right to a lawyer at ones cost and the right to cross examine witnesses among others. The study therefore recommended that the government, through the department of justice, should embark on conducting public awareness campaigns to educate the public of the right to a fair trial especially the right to have a trial without unreasonable delay as it is stipulated in Article 28(1) of the Republic of Uganda Constitution that In the determination of civil rights and obligations or any criminal charge, a person shall be entitled to a fair, speedy and public hearing before an independent and impatiial court or tribunal established by law.