The Bishop Emeritus of Karamoja Diocese, Rt. Rev. Joseph Abura, has called for an amendment to Uganda's police bond and bail laws, following President Museveni’s recent announcement to ban police bonds. Museveni stated in his New Year’s message that granting police bonds to suspects has contributed to increasing crimes and insecurity, particularly livestock theft, coffee theft, and other petty offenses.
He also highlighted that 3,000 Karamojong warriors are currently detained in various jails across the country, thanks to the court martial system, which he credited for bringing peace to the Karamoja region and surrounding districts, including Teso, Acholi, Sebei, Lango, and Bugisu. In response to the President’s comments, Bishop Abura recommended amending the police bond and bail law, which he claims has fostered corruption and enabled criminality.
According to Abura, the police bond process has become a means of freedom for many suspects, exacerbating the problem of crime in the country. He questioned "I have my questions here, who is attacking the Ugandan constitution? The president, the law, or the police institution?"
Abura criticized the current bail system, stating that it benefits wrongdoers and fails to reform criminals, noting that everything has become monetized, fueling corruption. He pointed out that many suspects are released from police custody before they even reach court.
Reacting to the President’s decision to ban police bonds, Abura expressed concern that this could undermine the constitutional order and infringe on human rights. He suggested that suspects should be charged before being granted bond, rather than being released without facing court proceedings.
Abura said that there is also a need to segregate the criminalities and differentiate those that can be bailed from capital offenses. He noted that currently, all crimes can be bailed so long as a suspect has money to pay for freedom.
He emphasized that "The laws should cut across everybody and not bend to a specific group of people. The laws are now favoring the rich and the top officials in the government while people from the grassroots are denied justice."
Abura also voiced concern that the laws now favor the wealthy and high-ranking government officials, while ordinary citizens are denied justice. He noted that high-profile cases involving powerful figures often go unresolved due to corruption and money exchanges that hinder proper investigations.
//Cue in: "Why don't we......
Cue out :........released on bail".//
According to Justice Center Uganda, a police bond allows a person arrested and detained for suspected crimes to be released before the completion of the police investigation, with the guarantee that the suspect will appear when required. A relative of the suspect can apply for police bond by providing their contact details to ensure the suspect reports back as needed. If a suspect skips bond, they can be re-arrested and returned to police custody.
