Frequently Asked Questions
Bail is where an accused person is released from prison before their trial but that person is required to come to court on the days when their case will be heard.
Every accused person is entitled to apply to the court for bail while waiting for trial. The decision is up to the court to give or not to give bail to an accused person.
- The accused must have a permanent home.
- The accused should have substantial surety(ies).
- The accused person should be in a position to report to court without escaping from Uganda or going into hiding.
- The accused person must promise not to interfere with investigations being carried out by police.
- The accused person must not threaten or conflict with the complainant or any of the witnesses once bail has been granted.
- The court will also consider the criminal record of the accused person. People, who commit offences all the time, may be denied bail.
- The court will also consider how serious the crime is.
- The court will also consider how harsh the punishment for the crime is once the person is convicted.
A surety is a person who appears in court and promises that the accused will come to court for his or her trial if released on bail. He or she accepts the responsibility to pay a fixed sum of money to the government if the accused does not appear in court when needed.
- A responsible person in society.
- One without a criminal record.
- One with a home and has been staying in that place for more than 6 months. The home should be able to be traced.
- Aged 21 years and above.
- One of sound mind (no mental problem)
- One who is able to supervise and make the accused person appear in court for trial.
- One who is respectable and of good behaviour.
- It is important to be well dressed.