Uganda
Commissions of Inquiry Act
Chapter 166
- Commenced on 15 August 1914
- [This is the version of this document at 31 December 2000.]
- [Note: The version of the Act as at 31 December 2000 was revised and consolidated by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
1. Power to issue commissions into matters of public nature, etc.
2. Power to appoint fresh commissioners and to alter and revoke commissions
If any commissioner is or becomes unable or unwilling to act or dies, the Minister may appoint another commissioner in his or her place; and any commission issued under this Act may be altered by any subsequent commission issued by the Minister, or may be revoked.3. Commissions not affected by change of Minister
No commission issued under this Act shall lapse by reason of, or be otherwise affected by, the death, absence or removal of the Minister issuing the commission.4. Oath of office by commissioners
Each commissioner appointed under this Act shall make and subscribe an oath or affirmation in the form in the First Schedule to this Act, which oath or affirmation may be taken before the Minister, or before such person as the Minister may appoint, and shall be deposited by the commissioner with the Minister.5. Power to appoint secretary; secretary's duties
The Minister may appoint a secretary to attend the sittings of the commission, to record its proceedings, to keep its papers, summon and minute the testimony of witnesses and generally to perform such duties connected with the inquiry as the commissioners shall prescribe.6. Duties of commissioners
The commissioners shall, after taking the oath or making the affirmation as provided in section 4, make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the matter specified in the commission; conduct the inquiry in accordance with the direction, if any, in the commission; in due course, report to the Minister, in writing, the result of the inquiry; and also, when required, furnish to the Minister a full statement of the proceedings of the commission and of the reasons leading to the conclusions arrived at or reported.7. Division of opinion of commissioners
If the commissioners are, in any case, equally divided on any question that arises during the proceedings of the commission, the chairperson of the commission shall have a second or casting vote.8. Commissioners' power for regulating proceedings
Commissioners acting under this Act may make such rules for their own guidance, and the conduct and management of proceedings before them, and the hours and times and places for their sittings, not inconsistent with their commission, as they may from time to time think fit, and may from time to time adjourn for such time and to such place as they may think fit, subject only to the terms of their commission.9. Power to summon and examine witnesses
10. Nonliability of commissioners to suit
Any commissioner or other person acting under this Act shall be entitled to the like protection as that enjoyed by judicial officers and officers executing warrants and orders under the Judicature Act, or other Act for the time being substituted for that Act.11. Witnesses
12. Appearance of advocate
Any person whose conduct is the subject of inquiry under this Act, or who is in any way implicated or concerned in the matter under inquiry, shall be entitled to be represented by an advocate at the whole of the inquiry, and any other person who may consider it desirable that he or she should be so represented may, by leave of the commission, be represented in the manner aforesaid.13. Police officers detailed to attend commissioners
The Minister may direct the Inspector General of Police to detail police officers to attend upon any such commissioners, to preserve order during the proceedings of the commission, to serve summonses on witnesses and to perform such ministerial duties as the commissioners shall direct.14. Remuneration to commissioners, etc.
15. Commissions, etc. to be published in Gazette
All commissions under this Act, and all alterations to and revocations of any such commission, shall be published in the Gazette and shall take effect from the date of that publication.16. Proceedings for penalties
No proceedings shall be commenced for any penalty under this Act except by the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions.History of this document
15 August 1914
Commences.