This is the version of this Ordinance as it was from 3 September 2010 to 8 May 2014. Read the latest available version.
Penal Code Act
Related documents
Uganda
Penal Code Act
Chapter 128
- Commenced on 15 June 1950
- [This is the version of this document as it was from 3 September 2010 to 8 May 2014.]
- [Note: This legislation was revised and consolidated as at 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2023 by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
- [Amended by Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002 (Act 14 of 2002) on 7 June 2002]
- [Amended by Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 2007 (Act 8 of 2007) on 17 August 2007]
- [Amended by Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 (Act 6 of 2009) on 25 August 2009]
- [Amended by Trademarks Act, 2010 (Act 17 of 2010) on 3 September 2010]
Chapter I
Preliminary
1. General rule of construction
This Code shall be interpreted in accordance with the principles of legal interpretation obtaining in England, and expressions used in it shall be presumed, so far as is consistent with their context, and except as may be otherwise expressly provided, to be used with the meaning attaching to them in English criminal law and shall be construed in accordance therewith.2. Interpretation
In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires—“Code” means this Penal Code;“court” means a court of competent jurisdiction;“dangerous harm” means harm endangering life;“dwelling house” includes any building or structure or part of a building or structure which is for the time being kept by the owner or occupier for his or her residence or that of his or her family or servants or any of them, and it is immaterial that it is from time to time uninhabited; a building or structure adjacent to or occupied with a dwelling house is deemed to be part of the dwelling house if there is a communication between such building or structure and the dwelling house, either immediate or by means of a covered and enclosed passage leading from the one to the other, but not otherwise;“felony” means an offence which is declared by law to be a felony or, if not declared to be a misdemeanour, is punishable, without proof of previous conviction, with death or with imprisonment for three years or more;“grievous harm” means any harm which amounts to a maim or dangerous harm, or seriously or permanently injures health or which is likely so to injure health, or which extends to permanent disfigurement, or to any permanent or serious injury to any external or internal organ, membrane or sense;“harm” means any bodily hurt, disease or disorder whether permanent or temporary;“husband” means husband of a monogamous marriage;“judicial proceeding” includes any proceeding had or taken in or before any court, tribunal, commission of inquiry or person, in which evidence may be taken on oath;“knowingly”, used in connection with any term denoting uttering or using, implies knowledge of the character of the thing uttered or used;“local authority” means a local authority established under any written law;“maim” means the destruction or permanent disabling of any external or internal organ, membrane or sense;“Minister” means Attorney General;“misdemeanour” means any offence which is not a felony;“money” includes bank notes, bank drafts, cheques and any other orders, warrants or requests for the payment of money;“monogamous marriage” means a marriage which is by law necessarily monogamous and binding during the lifetime of both parties unless dissolved by a valid judgment of the court;“night” or “nighttime” means the interval between half-past six o’clock in the evening and half-past six o’clock in the morning;“oath” includes affirmation or declaration;“offence” is an act, attempt or omission punishable by law;“person” and “owner” and other like terms when used with reference to property include corporations of all kinds and any other association of persons capable of owning property, and also when so used include the Government;“person employed in the public service” means any person holding any of the following offices or performing the duty of the office, whether as a deputy or otherwise—(i)any civil office the power of appointing a person to which or of removing from which is vested in any person or in any public commission or board;(ii)any office to which a person is appointed or nominated by any written law;(iii)any civil office, the power of appointing to which or removing from which is vested in any person or persons holding an office of any kind included in paragraph (i) or (ii) of this definition; or(iv)any office of arbitrator or umpire in any proceeding or matter submitted to arbitration by order or with the sanction of any court, or in pursuance of any written law, and the term further includes—(v)a justice of the peace;(vi)a member of a commission of inquiry appointed under or in pursuance of any written law;(vii)any person employed to execute any process of a court;(viii)all persons belonging to the armed forces of Uganda;(ix)all persons in the employment of the Government or the administration of a district;(x)a person acting as a minister of religion of any denomination insofar as he or she performs functions in respect of the notification of intending marriage or in respect of the solemnisation of marriage or in respect of the making or keeping of any register or certificate of marriage, birth, baptism, death or burial, but not in any other respect;(xi)a person in the employ of an urban authority;“possession”, “be in possession of” or “have in possession” includes not only having in one’s own personal possession, but also having anything in the actual possession or custody of any other person, or having anything in any place (whether belonging to or occupied by oneself or not) for the use or benefit of oneself or of any other person; if there are two or more persons and any one or more of them with the knowledge and consent of the rest has or have anything in his or her or their custody or possession, it shall be deemed and taken to be in the custody and possession of each and all of them;“property” includes everything animate or inanimate capable of being the subject of ownership;“public” refers not only to all persons within Uganda, but also to the persons inhabiting or using any particular place, or any number of such persons, and also to such indeterminate persons as may happen to be affected by the conduct in respect to which that expression is used;“public body” has the meaning assigned to it under section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act;“publicly”, when applied to acts done, means either—(i)that they are so done in any public place as to be seen by any person whether such person is or is not in a public place; or(ii)that they are so done in any place not being a public place as to be likely to be seen by any person in a public place;“public place” or “public premises” includes any public way and any building, place or conveyance to which, for the time being, the public are entitled or permitted to have access either without any condition or upon condition of making any payment, and any building or place which is for the time being used for any public or religious meetings or assembly or as an open court;“public way” includes any highway, marketplace, square, street, bridge or other way which is lawfully used by the public;“utter” means and includes using or dealing with and attempting to use or deal with and attempting to induce any person to use, deal with or act upon the thing in question;“valuable security” includes any document which is the property of any person, and which is evidence of the ownership of any property or of the right to recover or receive any property;“vehicle” includes any kind of bicycle or tricycle;“vessel” includes a ship, a boat and every other kind of vessel used in navigation either on the sea or in inland waters, and includes aircraft;“wife” means wife of a monogamous marriage;“wound” means any incision or puncture which divides or pierces any exterior membrane of the body, and any membrane is exterior for the purpose of this definition which can be touched without dividing or piercing any other membrane.3. Saving of certain laws
Nothing in this Code shall affect—Chapter II
Territorial application of the Code
4. Extent of jurisdiction of courts
5. Offences committed partly within and partly beyond the jurisdiction
When an act which, if wholly done within the jurisdiction of the court, would be an offence against this Code is done partly within and partly beyond the jurisdiction, every person who within the jurisdiction does or makes any part of such act may be tried and punished under this Code in the same manner as if such act had been done wholly within the jurisdiction.Chapter III
General rules as to criminal responsibility
6. Ignorance of law
Ignorance of the law does not afford any excuse for any act or omission which would otherwise constitute an offence unless knowledge of the law by the offender is expressly declared to be an element of the offence.7. Claim of right
A person is not criminally responsible in respect of an offence relating to property if the act done or omitted to be done by the person with respect to the property was done in the exercise of an honest claim of right and without intention to defraud.8. Intention and motive
9. Mistake of fact
10. Presumption of sanity
Every person is presumed to be of sound mind, and to have been of sound mind at any time which comes in question, until the contrary is proved.11. Insanity
A person is not criminally responsible for an act or omission if at the time of doing the act or making the omission he or she is through any disease affecting his or her mind incapable of understanding what he or she is doing or of knowing that he or she ought not to do the act or make the omission; but a person may be criminally responsible for an act or omission, although his or her mind is affected by disease, if that disease does not in fact produce upon his or her mind one or other of the effects mentioned in this section in reference to that act or omission.12. Intoxication
13. Judicial officers
Except as expressly provided by this Code, a judicial officer is not criminally responsible for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her in the exercise of his or her judicial functions, although the act done is in excess of his or her judicial authority or although he or she is bound to do the act omitted to be done.14. Compulsion
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence if it is committed by two or more offenders and if the act is done or omitted only because during the whole of the time in which it is being done or omitted the person is compelled to do or omit to do the act by threats on the part of the other offender or offenders instantly to kill him or her or do him or her grievous bodily harm if he or she refuses; but threats of future injury do not excuse any offence.15. Defence of person or property and rash, reckless and negligent acts
Subject to any express provisions in this Code or any other law in force in Uganda, criminal responsibility—16. Use of force in effecting arrest
Where any person is charged with a criminal offence arising out of the arrest, or attempted arrest, by him or her of a person who forcibly resists the arrest or attempts to evade being arrested, the court shall, in considering whether the means used were necessary, or the degree of force used was reasonable, for the apprehension of that person, have regard to the gravity of the offence which had been or was being committed by the person and the circumstances in which the offence had been or was being committed by the person.17. Compulsion by husband
A married woman is not free from criminal responsibility for doing or omitting to do an act merely because the act or omission takes place in the presence of her husband; but on a charge against a wife for any offence other than treason or murder, it shall be a good defence to prove that the offence was committed in the presence of, and under the coercion of, the husband.18. Person not to be punished twice for same offence
A person shall not be punished twice either under this Code or under any other law for the same offence.Chapter IV
Parties to and persons inciting to commit offences
19. Principal offenders
20. Joint offenders in prosecution of common purpose
When two or more persons form a common intention to prosecute an unlawful purpose in conjunction with one another, and in the prosecution of that purpose an offence is committed of such a nature that its commission was a probable consequence of the prosecution of that purpose, each of them is deemed to have committed the offence.21. Incitement to commit an offence
Chapter V
Punishment for misdemeanours
22. General punishment for misdemeanours
When in this Code no punishment is specially provided for any misdemeanour, it shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.23. Treason and offences against the State
24. Penalty for acts intended to alarm, annoy or ridicule the President
Any person who, with intent to alarm or annoy or ridicule the President—(a)wilfully throws any matter or substance at or upon the person of the President;(b)wilfully strikes the person of the President; or(c)assaults or wrongfully restrains the person of the President,commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.Division I — Offences against public order
Chapter VI
Treason and offences against the State
25. Concealment of treason
Any person who knowing that any person intends to commit treason does not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station, or use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence of treason commits the offence of misprision of treason and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.26. Terrorism
27. Promoting war on chiefs, etc.
Any person who, without lawful authority, or by reason of his or her office, carries on, or makes preparation for carrying on, or aids in or advises the carrying on of, or preparation for, any war or warlike undertaking with, for, by or against any chief, body or group of persons commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.28. ***
[section 28 repealed by section 33(a) of Act 14 of 2002]29. Aiding soldiers or policemen in acts of mutiny
Any person who—30. Inducing soldiers or policemen to desert
Any person who, by any means, directly or indirectly—31. Aiding prisoners of war to escape
32. Definition of overt act
For the purposes of any offence defined in this Chapter, when the manifestation by an overt act of an intention to effect any purpose is an element of the offence, every act in furtherance of the commission of the offence defined or every act of conspiring with any person to effect that purpose and every act done in furtherance of the purpose by any of the persons conspiring shall be deemed to be an overt act manifesting the intention.33. Interpretation of import, publication, etc.
For the purposes of sections 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43 and 44—34. Power to prohibit importation of publications, etc.
35. Offences in relation to publications, the importation of which is prohibited
36. Delivery of prohibited publications
37. Publication of information prejudicial to security
38. Power to examine packages
39. Seditious intention
40. Seditious offences
41. Promoting sectarianism
42. Power of courts to confiscate printing machines and prohibit publication
43. Legal proceedings
44. Evidence
No person shall be convicted of an offence under section 40 on the uncorroborated testimony of one witness.45. Unlawful oaths
Any person who—46. Other unlawful oaths
Any person who—47. Limitations on compulsion as a defence to unlawful oath or engagement
A person who takes any such oath or engagement as is mentioned in section 45 or 46 cannot set up as a defence that he or she was compelled to do so, unless within fourteen days after taking it, or, if he or she is prevented by actual force or sickness, within fourteen days after the termination of such prevention, he or she declares by information on oath before a magistrate, or, if he or she is on actual service in the armed forces of Uganda, or in a police force, either by such information or by information to his or her commanding officer, the whole of what he or she knows concerning the matter, including the person or persons by whom and in whose presence, and the place where, and the time when, the oath or engagement was administered or taken.48. Unlawful drilling
49. Wrongfully inducing a boycott
50. Publication of false news
51. Incitement to violence
52. Incitement to refuse or delay payment of tax
Chapter VII
Offences affecting relations with foreign States and external tranquillity
53. Defamation of foreign princes
Any person who, without such justification or excuse as would be sufficient in the case of the defamation of a private person, publishes anything intended to be read, or any sign or visible representation, tending to degrade, revile or expose to hatred or contempt any foreign prince, potentate, ambassador or other foreign dignitary with intent to disturb peace and friendship between Uganda and the country to which such prince, potentate, ambassador or dignitary belongs, commits a misdemeanour.54. Foreign enlistment
Any person commits a misdemeanour who does any of the following acts without the licence of the President—55. Piracy
Any person who is guilty of piracy or any crime connected with or relating or akin to piracy is liable to be tried and punished according to the law of England for the time being in force.Chapter VIII
Unlawful assemblies, riots and other offences against public tranquillity
56. Unlawful society
57. Managing unlawful society
Any person who manages or assists in the management of an unlawful society commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.58. Offences in relation to an unlawful society
Any person who—59. Restrictions on office bearers
60. Definition of office bearer
For the purpose of this Chapter, “office bearer”, in relation to a society, means any person who—61. Miscellaneous provisions relating to unlawful societies
62. Powers in relation to unlawful societies
63. Disposition of property of unlawful societies
64. Forfeiture of insignia, etc.
Subject to section 63, the insignia, banners, arms, books, papers, documents and other property belonging to an unlawful society shall be forfeited to the Government, and shall be dealt with in such manner as the Minister may direct.65. Definition of unlawful assembly and riot
66. Punishment for unlawful assembly
Any person who takes part in an unlawful assembly commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.67. Punishment for riot
Any person who takes part in a riot commits a misdemeanour.68. Proclamation for rioters to disperse
Any magistrate or, in his or her absence, any police officer of or above the rank of inspector, or any commissioned officer in the armed forces of Uganda, in whose view twelve or more persons are riotously assembled, or who apprehends that a riot is about to be committed by twelve or more persons assembled within his or her view, may make or cause to be made a proclamation in the President’s name, in such form as he or she thinks fit, commanding the rioters or persons so assembled to disperse peaceably.69. Dispersal of rioters
If upon the expiration of a reasonable time after the proclamation is made, or after the making of the proclamation has been prevented by force, twelve or more persons continue riotously assembled together, any person authorised to make the proclamation, or any police officer or any other person acting in aid of that person or police officer, may do all things necessary for dispersing the persons so continuing assembled or for apprehending them or any of them, and if any person makes resistance, may use all such force as is reasonably necessary for overcoming such resistance and shall not be liable in any criminal or civil proceeding for having, by the use of such force, caused harm or death to any person.70. Rioting after proclamation
If a proclamation is made commanding the persons engaged in a riot or assembled with the purpose of committing a riot to disperse, every person who, at or after the expiration of a reasonable time from the making of the proclamation, takes or continues to take part in the riot or assembly, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.71. Preventing or obstructing the making of proclamation
Any person who forcibly prevents or obstructs any person making a proclamation under section 68 commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years; and if the making of the proclamation is so prevented, every person who knowing that it has been so prevented takes or continues to take part in the riot or assembly is liable to imprisonment for five years.72. Rioters demolishing buildings, etc.
Any persons who, being riotously assembled together, unlawfully pull down or destroy or begin to pull down or destroy any building, railway, machinery, structure or property commits a felony and each of them is liable to imprisonment for life.73. Rioters injuring buildings, machinery, etc.
Any persons who, being riotously assembled together, unlawfully damage any of the things mentioned in section 72 commits a felony, and each of them is liable to imprisonment for seven years.74. Riotously preventing or hindering the loading, etc. of railway wagons, etc.
All persons are guilty of a misdemeanour who, being riotously assembled, unlawfully and with force prevent, hinder or obstruct the loading or unloading of any railway wagon or coach or vehicle or vessel, or the starting or transit of any railway wagon or coach or vehicle or the sailing or navigating of any vessel, or unlawfully and with force board any railway wagon or coach or vehicle or vessel with intent so to do.75. Going armed in certain places
Any person who carries a dangerous or offensive weapon—76. Going armed in public
Any person who carries an offensive weapon in public without lawful occasion in such a manner as to be liable to cause terror to any person commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for five years.77. Forcible entry
Any person who, in order to take possession thereof, enters on any lands or tenements in a violent manner, whether such violence consists in actual force applied to any other person or in threats or in breaking open any house or in collecting an unusual number of people, commits the misdemeanour termed forcible entry; it is immaterial whether he or she is entitled to enter on the land or not; except that a person who enters upon lands or tenements of his or her own, but which are in the custody of his or her servant or bailiff, does not commit the offence of forcible entry.78. Forcible detainer
Any person who, being in actual possession of land without colour of right, holds possession of it in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, against a person entitled by law to the possession of the land commits the misdemeanour termed forcible detainer.79. Affray
Any person who takes part in a fight in a public place commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.80. Challenge to fight a duel
Any person who challenges another to fight a duel, or attempts to provoke another to fight a duel or attempts to provoke any person to challenge another to fight a duel, commits a misdemeanour.81. Threatening violence
Any person who—82. Watching and besetting
83. Incitement to violence
84. Assembling for the purpose of smuggling
Any persons who assemble together to the number of two or more for the purpose of unshipping, carrying or concealing any goods subject to customs duty and liable to forfeiture under any law relating to the customs commits a felony, and each of them is liable to imprisonment for five years.Division II — Offences against the administration of lawful authority
Chapter IX
Corruption and the abuse of office
85. ***
[section 85 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]86. ***
[section 86 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]87. ***
[section 87 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]88. ***
[section 88 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]89. ***
[section 89 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]90. ***
[section 90 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]91. ***
[section 91 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]92. ***
[section 92 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]93. ***
[section 93 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]Chapter X
Offences relating to the administration of justice
94. Perjury and subornation of perjury
95. Contradictory statements
96. False statements by interpreters
Any person who, lawfully sworn as an interpreter in a judicial proceeding, wilfully makes a statement material in the proceeding which he or she knows to be false, or does not believe to be true, commits perjury.97. Punishment of perjury
Any person who commits perjury or suborns perjury is liable to imprisonment for seven years.98. Evidence on charge of perjury
A person shall not be convicted of committing perjury or of subornation of perjury solely upon the evidence of one witness as to the falsity of any statement alleged to be false.99. Fabricating evidence
Any person who, with intent to mislead any tribunal in any judicial proceeding—100. False swearing
Any person who swears falsely or makes a false affirmation or declaration before any person authorised to administer an oath or take a declaration upon a matter of public concern under such circumstances that the false swearing or declaration, if committed in a judicial proceeding, would have amounted to perjury commits a misdemeanour.101. Deceiving witnesses
Any person who practises any fraud or deceit or knowingly makes or exhibits any false statement, representation, token or writing, to any person called or to be called as a witness in any judicial proceeding, with intent to affect the testimony of such person as a witness, commits a misdemeanour.102. Destroying evidence
Any person who, knowing that any book, document or thing of any kind is or may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, removes or destroys it or renders it illegible or undecipherable or incapable of identification, with intent thereby to prevent it from being used in evidence, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years.103. Conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses
Any person who—104. Compounding felonies
Any person who asks, receives or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain, any property or benefit of any kind for himself or herself or any other person upon any agreement or understanding that he or she will compound or conceal a felony, or will abstain from, discontinue or delay a prosecution for a felony, or will withhold any evidence thereof, commits a misdemeanour.105. Compounding penal actions
Any person who, having brought or under pretence of bringing, an action against another person upon a penal written law in order to obtain from him or her a penalty for any offence committed or alleged to have been committed by him or her, compounds the action without the order or consent of the court in which the action is brought, or is to be brought, commits a misdemeanour.106. Advertisements for stolen property
Any person who—107. Offences relating to judicial proceedings
Chapter XI
Rescues, escapes and obstructing officers of court of law
108. Rescue
109. Escape
Any person who, being in lawful custody, escapes from custody commits a misdemeanour.110. Aiding prisoners to escape
Any person who—111. Removal, etc. of property under lawful seizure
Any person who, when any property has been attached or taken under the process of authority of any court, knowingly, and with intent to hinder or defeat the attachment or process, receives, removes, retains, conceals or disposes of such property, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.112. Obstructing court officers
Any person who wilfully obstructs or resists any person lawfully charged with the execution of an order or warrant of any court commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.Chapter XII
Miscellaneous offences against public authority
113. Frauds and breaches of trust by person employed in the public service
Any person employed in the public service who, in the discharge of the duties of his or her office, commits any fraud or breach of trust affecting the public, whether such fraud or breach of trust would have been criminal or not if committed against a private person, commits a misdemeanour.114. Neglect of duty
115. False information
Whoever gives to any person employed in the public service any information which he or she knows or believes to be false, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he or she will thereby cause, any person employed in the public service—116. Disobedience of statutory duty
Any person who wilfully disobeys any written law by doing any act which it forbids, or by omitting to do any act which it requires to be done, and which concerns the public or any part of the public, commits a misdemeanour and is liable, unless it appears from such written law that it was the intention of the legislature to provide some other penalty for such disobedience, to imprisonment for two years.117. Disobedience of lawful orders
Any person who disobeys any order, warrant or command duly made, issued or given by any court, officer or person acting in any public capacity and duly authorised in that behalf commits a misdemeanour and is liable, unless any other penalty or mode of proceeding is expressly prescribed in respect of such disobedience, to imprisonment for two years.Division III — Offences injurious to the public in general
Chapter XIII
Offences relating to religion
118. Insult to religion
Any person who destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship or any object which is held sacred by any class of persons, with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons, or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to its religion, commits a misdemeanour.119. Disturbing religious assemblies
Any person who voluntarily causes disturbance to any assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremony commits a misdemeanour.120. Trespassing on burial places
Every person who with the intention of wounding the feelings of any person or of insulting the religion of any person, or with the knowledge that the feelings of any person are likely to be wounded, or that the religion of any person is likely to be insulted thereby, commits any trespass in any place of worship or in any place of sepulture or in any place set apart for the performance of funeral rites or as a depository for the remains of the dead, or offers any indignity to any human corpse, or causes disturbance to any persons assembled for the purpose of funeral ceremonies, commits a misdemeanour.121. Hindering burial of dead body, etc.
Whoever unlawfully hinders the burial of the dead body of any person, or without lawful authority in that behalf or otherwise than in accordance with rules made by the Minister disinters, dissects or harms the dead body of any person or, being under a duty to cause the dead body of any person to be buried, fails to perform such duty, commits a misdemeanour.122. Writing or uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings
Any person who, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any other person, writes any word, or any person who, with the like intention, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of any other person or makes any gesture or places any object in the sight of any other person, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.Chapter XIV
Offences against morality
123. Definition of rape
Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind or by fear of bodily harm, or by means of false representations as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband, commits the felony termed rape.124. Punishment for rape
A person convicted of rape is liable to suffer death.125. Attempt to commit rape
Any person who attempts to commit rape commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.[section 125 amended by section 1(2) of Act 8 of 2007]126. Abduction
Any person, whether male or female, who—127. Elopement
128. Indecent assaults, etc.
129. Defilement of persons under eighteen years of age
129A. Child to child sex
129B. Payment of compensation to victims of defilement
130. Defilement of idiots or imbeciles
Any person who, knowing a woman or girl to be an idiot or imbecile, has or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her under circumstances not amounting to rape, but which prove that the offender knew at the time of the commission of the offence that the woman or girl was an idiot or imbecile, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.131. Procuration
132. Procuring defilement of women by threats, etc.
133. Householder, etc. permitting defilement of girl under the age of eighteen
Any person who, being the owner or occupier of premises or having or acting or assisting in the management or control of the premises, induces or knowingly suffers any girl under the age of eighteen years to resort to or be upon such premises for the purpose of being unlawfully and carnally known by any man, whether such carnal knowledge is intended to be with any particular man or generally, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.134. Detention with sexual intent
135. Power of search
136. Person living on earnings of prostitution
137. Brothels
Any person who keeps a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for purposes of prostitution commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.138. Definition of prostitute and prostitution
In this Code, “prostitute” means a person who, in public or elsewhere, regularly or habitually holds himself or herself out as available for sexual intercourse or other sexual gratification for monetary or other material gain, and “prostitution” shall be construed accordingly.139. Prohibition of prostitution
Any person who practises or engages in prostitution commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.140. Conspiracy to defile
Any person who conspires with another to induce any woman or girl, by means of any false pretence or other fraudulent means, to permit any man to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.141. Attempts to procure abortion
Any person who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to her or causes her to take any poison or other noxious thing, or uses any force of any kind, or uses any other means, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.142. Procuring miscarriage
Any woman who, being with child, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, unlawfully administers to herself any poison or other noxious thing, or uses any force of any kind, or uses any other means, or permits any such things or means to be administered to or used on her, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.143. Supplying drugs, etc. to procure abortion
Any person who unlawfully supplies to or procures for any person any thing, knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure the miscarriage of a woman, whether she is or is not with child, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.144. Knowledge of age of female immaterial
Except as otherwise expressly stated, it is immaterial in the case of any of the offences committed with respect to a woman or girl under a specified age that the accused person did not know that the woman or girl was under that age, or believed that she was not under that age.145. Unnatural offences
Any person who—146. Attempt to commit unnatural offences
Any person who attempts to commit any of the offences specified in section 145 commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.147. Indecent assaults on boys under eighteen
Any person who unlawfully and indecently assaults a boy under the age of eighteen years commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.[section 147 amended by section 1(1) of Act 8 of 2007]148. Indecent practices
Any person who, whether in public or in private, commits any act of gross indecency with another person or procures another person to commit any act of gross indecency with him or her or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any person with himself or herself or with another person, whether in public or in private, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.149. Incest
150. Test of relationship
In section 149, the expressions “brother” and “sister” respectively include half-brother and half-sister, and the section shall apply whether the relationship between the person charged with an offence and the person with whom the offence is alleged to have been committed is or is not traced through lawful wedlock.151. Consent to prosecution
No prosecution for an offence under section 149 shall be commenced without the sanction of the Director of Public Prosecutions.Chapter XV
Offences relating to marriage and domestic obligations
152. Fraudulent pretence of marriage
Any person who wilfully and by fraud causes any woman who is not lawfully married to him to believe that she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.153. Bigamy
Any person who, having a husband or wife living, goes through a ceremony of marriage which is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years; except that this section shall not extend to any person whose marriage with such husband or wife has been declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction, nor to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband or wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, shall have been continually absent from such person for the space of seven years, and shall not have been heard of by such person as being alive within that time.154. Adultery
155. Fraudulent marriage ceremony
Any person who dishonestly or with a fraudulent intention goes through the ceremony of marriage, knowing that he or she is not thereby lawfully married, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.156. Desertion of children
Any person who, being the parent, guardian or other person having the lawful care or charge of a child under the age of fourteen years, and being able to maintain such child, wilfully and without lawful or reasonable cause deserts the child and leaves it without means of support, commits a misdemeanour.157. Neglecting to provide food, etc. for children
Any person who, being the parent or guardian or other person having the lawful care or charge of any child of tender years and unable to provide for itself, refuses or neglects, being able to do so, to provide sufficient food, clothes, bedding and other necessaries for such child, so as thereby to injure the health of the child, commits a misdemeanour.158. Master not providing for servants or apprentices
Any person who, being legally liable either as master or mistress to provide for any apprentice or servant necessary food, clothing or lodging, wilfully and without lawful excuse refuses or neglects to provide the same, or unlawfully and maliciously does or causes to be done any bodily harm to such apprentice or servant so that the life of such apprentice or servant is endangered or that his or her health has been or is likely to be permanently injured, commits a misdemeanour.159. Child stealing
Chapter XVI
Nuisances and offences against health and convenience
160. Common nuisance
161. Gaming houses
162. Gaming machines
Any person who imports or has in his or her possession any machine or other contrivance for the purpose of gaming commits a misdemeanour and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment.163. Betting houses
164. Keeper of premises defined
Any person who appears, acts or behaves as master or mistress, or as the person having the care or management of any such house, room, set of rooms or place as is mentioned in sections 161 and 163 is to be taken to be the keeper thereof, whether he or she is or is not the real keeper.165. Chain letters
166. Traffic in obscene publications
167. Idle and disorderly persons
Any person who—168. Rogues and vagabonds
169. Offences in relation to uniforms
170. Wearing of uniform declared to be for the exclusive use of persons performing services in the public interest
171. Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease
Any person who unlawfully or negligently does any act which is and which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.172. Adulteration of food or drink
Any person who adulterates any article of food or drink so as to make the article noxious as food or drink, intending to sell that article as food or drink, or knowing it to be likely that it will be sold as food or drink, commits a misdemeanour.173. Sale of noxious food or drink
Any person who sells or offers or exposes for sale, as food or drink, any article which has been rendered or has become noxious or is in a state unfit for food or drink, knowing or having reason to believe that the same is noxious as food or drink, commits a misdemeanour.174. Adulteration of drugs
Any person who adulterates any drug or medical preparation in such a manner as to lessen the efficacy or change the operation of such drug or medical preparation, or to make it noxious, intending that it shall be sold or used for or knowing it to be likely that it will be sold or used for any medicinal purpose, as if it had not undergone such adulteration, commits a misdemeanour.175. Sale of adulterated drugs
Any person who, knowing any drug or medical preparation to have been adulterated in such a manner as to lessen its efficacy, to change its operation, or to render it noxious, sells the same or offers or exposes it for sale, or issues it from any dispensary for medicinal purposes as unadulterated, or causes it to be used for medicinal purposes by any person not knowing of the adulteration, commits a misdemeanour.176. Fouling water
Any person who voluntarily corrupts or fouls the water of any public spring or reservoir, so as to render it less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used, commits a misdemeanour.177. Fouling air
Any person who voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way commits a misdemeanour.178. Offensive trades
Any person who, for the purposes of trade or otherwise, makes loud noises or offensive or unwholesome smells in such places and circumstances as to annoy any considerable number of persons in the exercise of their common rights, commits an offence and is liable to be punished, as for a common nuisance.Chapter XVII
Defamation
179. Definition of libel
Any person who, by print, writing, painting, effigy or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words or other sounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, commits the misdemeanour termed libel.180. Definition of defamatory matter
181. Definition of publication
182. Definition of unlawful publication
Any publication of defamatory matter concerning a person is unlawful within the meaning of this Chapter, unless—183. Absolute privilege of defamatory matter
184. Conditional privilege of defamatory matter
The publication of defamatory matter is privileged if it is published in good faith and—185. Good faith defined
A publication of defamatory matter shall not be deemed to have been made in good faith by a person, within the meaning of section 184, if it is made to appear either—186. Presumption as to good faith
If it is proved on behalf of the accused person that the defamatory matter was published under such circumstances that the publication would have been justified if made in good faith, the publication shall be presumed to have been made in good faith until the contrary is made to appear, either from the libel itself, or from the evidence given on behalf of the accused person or from evidence given on the part of the prosecution.Division IV — Offences against the person
Chapter XVIII
Murder and manslaughter
187. Manslaughter
188. Murder
Any person who of malice aforethought causes the death of another person by an unlawful act or omission commits murder.189. Punishment of murder
Any person convicted of murder shall be sentenced to death.190. Punishment of manslaughter
Any person who commits the felony of manslaughter is liable to imprisonment for life.191. Malice aforethought
Malice aforethought shall be deemed to be established by evidence providing either of the following circumstances—192. Killing on provocation
When a person who unlawfully kills another under circumstances which, but for this section, would constitute murder, does the act which causes death in the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation as defined in section 193, and before there is time for his or her passion to cool, he or she commits manslaughter only.193. Provocation defined
194. Diminished responsibility
195. Suicide pacts
196. Causing death defined
A person is deemed to have caused the death of another person although his or her act is not the immediate or sole cause of death in any of the following cases—197. When child deemed a person
A child becomes a person capable of being killed when it has completely proceeded in a living state from the body of its mother, whether it has breathed or not, and whether it has an independent circulation or not, and whether the navel string is severed or not.198. Limitation as to time of death
Chapter XIX
Duties relating to the preservation of life and health
199. Responsibility of person who has charge of another
It is the duty of every person having charge of another who is unable by reason of age, sickness, unsoundness of mind, detention or any other cause to withdraw himself or herself from such charge and who is unable to provide himself or herself with the necessaries of life, whether the charge is undertaken under a contract, or is imposed by law, or arises by reason of any act, whether lawful or unlawful, of the person who has such charge, to provide for that other person the necessaries of life; and he or she shall be deemed to have caused any consequences which adversely affect the life or health of the other person by reason of any omission to perform that duty.200. Duty of head of family
It is the duty of every person who, as head of a family, has charge of a child under the age of fourteen years, being a member of his or her household, to provide the necessaries of life for such child; and he or she shall be deemed to have caused any consequences which adversely affect the life or health of the child by reason of any omission to perform that duty, whether the child is helpless or not.201. Duty of masters
It is the duty of every person who, as master or mistress has contracted to provide necessary food, clothing or lodging for any servant or apprentice under the age of sixteen years to provide the same; and he or she shall be deemed to have caused any consequences which adversely affect the life or health of the servant or apprentice by reason of any omission to perform that duty.202. Duty of persons doing dangerous acts
It is the duty of every person who, except in a case of necessity, undertakes to administer surgical or medical treatment to any other person, or to do any other lawful act which is or may be dangerous to human life or health, to have reasonable skill and to use reasonable care in doing such act; and he or she shall be deemed to have caused any consequences which adversely affect the life or health of any person by reason of any omission to observe or perform that duty.203. Duty of persons in charge of dangerous things
It is the duty of every person who has in his or her charge or under his or her control anything, whether living or inanimate, and whether moving or stationary, of such a nature that in the absence of care or precaution in its use or management, the life, safety or health of any person may be endangered, to use reasonable care and take reasonable precautions to avoid such danger; and he or she shall be deemed to have caused any consequences which adversely affect the life or health of any person by reason of any omission to perform that duty.Chapter XX
Offences connected with murder and suicide
204. Attempt to murder
Any person who—205. Attempt to murder by convict
Any person who, being under sentence of imprisonment for three years or more, attempts to commit murder is liable to imprisonment for life.[section 205 amended by section 1(2) of Act 8 of 2007]206. Accessory after the fact to murder
Any person who becomes an accessory after the fact to murder commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.207. Written threats to murder
Any person who, knowing the contents of the writing, directly or indirectly causes any person to receive any writing threatening to kill any person commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.208. Conspiracy to murder
Any person who conspires with any other person to kill any person, whether such person is in Uganda or elsewhere, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.209. Aiding suicide
Any person who—210. Attempting suicide
Any person who attempts to kill himself or herself commits a misdemeanour.211. Concealing birth of child
Any person who, when a woman is delivered of a child, endeavours by any secret disposition of the dead body of the child to conceal the birth, whether the child died before, at or after its birth, commits a misdemeanour.212. Killing unborn child
Any person who, when a woman is about to be delivered of a child, prevents the child from being born alive by any act or omission of such a nature that if the child had been born alive and had then died, he or she would be deemed to have unlawfully killed the child, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.213. Infanticide
Where a woman by any wilful act or omission causes the death of her child being a child under the age of twelve months, but at the time of the act or omission the balance of her mind was disturbed by reason of her not having fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to the child or by reason of the effect of lactation consequent upon the birth of the child, then, notwithstanding that the circumstances were such that but for the provisions of this section the offence would have amounted to murder, she commits the felony of infanticide, and may for such offence be dealt with and punished as if she had been guilty of the offence of manslaughter of the child.Chapter XXI
Offences endangering life or health
214. Disabling in order to commit felony or misdemeanour
Any person who, by any means calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle, and with intent to commit or to facilitate the commission of a felony or misdemeanour, or to facilitate the flight of an offender after the commission or attempted commission of a felony or misdemeanour, renders or attempts to render any person incapable of resistance commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.215. Stupefying in order to commit felony or misdemeanour
Any person who, with intent to commit or to facilitate the commission of a felony or misdemeanour, or to facilitate the flight of an offender after the commission or attempted commission of a felony or misdemeanour, administers or attempts to administer any stupefying or overpowering drug or thing to any person commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.216. Acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest
Any person who, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable any person, or to do some grievous harm to any person or to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of any person—217. Preventing escape from wreck
Any person who unlawfully—218. Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway
Any person who, with intent to injure or to endanger the safety of any person, whether a particular person or not, travelling by any railway—219. Doing grievous harm
Any person who unlawfully does grievous harm to another commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.220. Attempting to injure by explosive substances
Any person who, unlawfully and with intent to do any harm to another, puts any explosive substance in any place commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.221. Maliciously administering poison with intent to harm
Any person who, unlawfully and with intent to injure or annoy another, causes any poison or noxious thing to be administered to or taken by any person and thereby endangers his or her life or does him or her some grievous harm commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.222. Wounding and similar acts
Any person who—223. Failure to supply necessaries
Any person who, being charged with the duty of providing for another the necessaries of life, without lawful excuse fails to do so, whereby the life of that other person is or is likely to be endangered, or his or her health is or is likely to be permanently injured, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for three years.224. Surgical operation
A person is not criminally responsible for performing in good faith and with reasonable care and skill a surgical operation upon any person for his or her benefit, or upon an unborn child for the preservation of the mother’s life, if the performance of the operation is reasonable, having regard to the patient’s state at the time, and to all the circumstances of the case.225. Excess of force
Any person authorised by law or by the consent of the person injured by him or her to use force is criminally responsible for any excess, according to the nature and quality of the act which constitutes the excess.226. Consent
Notwithstanding section 225, consent by a person to the causing of his or her own death or his or her own maim does not affect the criminal responsibility of any person by whom such death or maim is caused.Chapter XXII
Criminal recklessness and negligence
227. Rash or negligent act causing death
Any person who, by any rash or negligent act not amounting to manslaughter, causes the death of another person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to a fine not exceeding seventy thousand shillings or to both such imprisonment and fine.228. Specific rash and negligent acts
Any person who, in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or to be likely to cause harm to any other person—229. Other rash and negligent acts
Any person who unlawfully does any act or omits to do any act which it is his or her duty to do, not being an act or omission specified in sections 227 and 228, by which act or omission harm is caused to any person, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months.230. Dealing in poisonous substances in negligent manner
Any person who does with any poisonous substance any act in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such care with any poisonous substance in his or her possession as is sufficient to guard against probable danger to human life from such poisonous substance, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months or to a fine of two thousand shillings.231. Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway
Any person who, by any unlawful act or omission not specified in section 218, causes the safety of any person travelling by any railway to be endangered, commits a misdemeanour.232. Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
Any person who exhibits any false light, mark or buoy intending or knowing it to be likely that such exhibition will mislead any navigator is liable to imprisonment for seven years.233. Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe vessel
Any person who knowingly or negligently conveys or causes to be conveyed for hire any person by water in any vessel, when that vessel is in such a state or so loaded as to be unsafe, commits a misdemeanour.234. Danger or obstruction in public way, etc.
Any person who, by doing any act or by omitting to take reasonable care with any property in his or her possession or under his or her charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation is liable to a fine.Chapter XXIII
Assaults
235. Common assault
Any person who unlawfully assaults another commits a misdemeanour, and, if the assault is not committed in circumstances for which a greater punishment is provided in this Code, is liable to imprisonment for one year.236. Assaults causing actual bodily harm
Any person who commits an assault occasioning actual bodily harm commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.237. Assaults on persons protecting wreck
Any person who assaults and strikes or wounds any magistrate, officer or other person lawfully authorised in or on account of the execution of his or her duty in or concerning the preservation of any vessel in distress, or of any vessel or goods or effects wrecked, stranded or cast on shore, or lying under water, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.238. Assaults punishable with two years’ imprisonment
Any person who—Chapter XXIV
Offences against liberty
239. Definition of kidnapping from Uganda
Any person who conveys any person beyond the limits of Uganda without the consent of that person or of some person legally authorised to consent on behalf of that person is said to kidnap that person from Uganda.240. Definition of kidnapping from lawful guardianship
Any person who takes or entices any minor under fourteen years of age if a male, or under sixteen years of age if a female, or any person of unsound mind, out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of that minor or person of unsound mind, without the consent of the guardian, is said to kidnap the minor or person from lawful guardianship.241. Definition of abduction
Any person who by force compels, or by any deceitful means induces, any person to go from any place is said to abduct that person.242. Punishment for kidnapping
Any person who kidnaps any person from Uganda or from lawful guardianship commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.243. Kidnapping or detaining with intent to murder, etc.
244. Kidnapping or abducting with intent to confine person
Any person who kidnaps or abducts any person with intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.245. Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous harm, slavery, etc.
Any person who kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous harm, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fifteen years.246. Wrongfully concealing or confining kidnapped or abducted person
Any person who, knowing that any person has been kidnapped or has been abducted, wrongfully conceals or confines that person commits a felony and shall be punished in the same manner as if he or she had kidnapped or abducted the person with the same intention or knowledge, or for the same purpose, as that with or for which he or she conceals or detains the person in confinement.247. Kidnapping or abducting child under fourteen years
Any person who kidnaps or abducts any child under the age of fourteen years with the intention of taking dishonestly any movable property from the person of such child commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.248. Wrongful confinement
Any person who wrongfully confines any other person commits a misdemeanour.249. Buying, etc. of any person as a slave
Any person who imports, exports, removes, buys, sells or disposes of any person as a slave, or accepts, receives or detains against his will any person as a slave, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.250. Habitual dealing in slaves
Any person who habitually imports, exports, removes, buys, sells, traffics or deals in slaves commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fifteen years.251. Inducing a person to give up himself or herself as a slave
252. Unlawful compulsory labour
Any person who unlawfully compels any person to labour against the will of that person commits a misdemeanour.Division V — Offences relating to property
Chapter XXV
Theft
253. Things capable of being stolen
254. Definition of theft
255. Special cases
256. Funds, etc. held under direction
When a person receives, either alone or jointly with another person, any money or valuable security or a power of attorney for the sale, mortgage, pledge or other disposition of any property, whether capable of being stolen or not, with a direction in either case that such money or any part thereof, or any other money received in exchange for it, or any part thereof, or the proceeds or any part of the proceeds of such security, or of such mortgage, pledge or other disposition, shall be applied to any purpose or paid to any person specified in the direction, such money and proceeds are deemed to be the property of the person from whom the money, security or power of attorney was received until the direction has been complied with.257. Funds, etc. received by agents for sale
When a person receives, either alone or jointly with another person, any property from another on terms authorising or requiring him or her to sell it or otherwise dispose of it and requiring him or her to pay or account for the proceeds of the property or any part of such proceeds, or to deliver anything received in exchange for the property to the person from whom it is received, or some other person, then the proceeds of the property, and anything so received in exchange for it, are deemed to be the property of the person from whom the property was so received, until they have been disposed of in accordance with the terms on which the property was received, unless it is a part of those terms that the proceeds, if any, shall form an item in a debtor and creditor account between him or her and the person to whom he or she is to pay them or account for them, and that the relation of debtor and creditor only shall exist between them in respect thereof.258. Money received for another
When a person receives, either alone or jointly with another person, any money on behalf of another, the money is deemed to be the property of the person on whose behalf it is received, unless the money is received on the terms that it shall form an item in a debtor and creditor account, and that the relation of debtor and creditor only shall exist between the parties in respect of it.259. Theft by persons having an interest in the thing stolen
When any person takes or converts anything capable of being stolen, under such circumstances as would otherwise amount to theft, it is immaterial that he or she has a special property or interest in that thing, or that he or she is the owner of the thing taken or converted subject to some special property or interest of some other person in it, or that he or she is lessee of the thing, or that he or she is one of two or more joint owners of the thing, or that he or she is a director or officer of a corporation or company or society who are the owners of it.260. Husband and wife
A person who, while a man and his wife are living together, procures either of them to deal with anything which is to his or her knowledge, the property of the other in a manner which would be theft if they were not married, is deemed to have stolen the thing and may be charged with theft.261. General punishment for theft
Any person who steals anything capable of being stolen commits the felony called theft and is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the theft or the nature of the thing stolen some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment not exceeding ten years.262. Stealing wills
If the thing stolen is a testamentary instrument, whether the testator is living or dead, the offender is liable to imprisonment for ten years.263. Stealing postal matter, etc.
If the thing stolen is postal matter or any chattel, money or valuable security contained in any postal matter, the offender is liable to imprisonment for ten years.264. Stealing cattle
If the thing stolen is a horse, mare, gelding, ass, mule, camel, bull, cow, ox, ram, ewe, wether, goat or pig, or the young of any such animal, the offender is liable on conviction for a first offence to imprisonment for seven years and for a subsequent offence to imprisonment for fifteen years.265. Stealing vehicle
If the thing stolen is a vehicle, the offender is liable to imprisonment for seven years.266. Cattle rustling
267. Stealing from the person; stealing goods in transit, etc.
If a theft is committed in any of the following circumstances—268. ***
[section 268 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]269. ***
[section 269 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]270. Compensation
Where a person is convicted under section 268 or 269 or where a convicted person is sentenced under section 271, the court shall, in addition to the punishment provided there, order such person to pay by way of compensation to the aggrieved party, such sum as in the opinion of the court is just, having regard to the loss suffered by the aggrieved party; and such order shall be deemed to be a decree under section 25 of the Civil Procedure Act, and shall be executed in the manner provided under section 38 of that Act.271. Stealing by agents, etc.
If the thing stolen is any of the following things—272. Stealing by tenants or lodgers
If the thing stolen is a fixture or chattel let to the offender to be used by him or her with a house or lodging, and its value exceeds one hundred shillings, he or she is liable to imprisonment for seven years.273. Stealing after previous conviction
If the offender, before committing the theft, had been convicted of a theft punishable under any of sections 261, 269, 271 and 272 he or she is liable to imprisonment for seven years.274. Application of Director of Public Prosecution’s powers under certain sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act
The powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 16 to 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to offences under sections 261, 268, 269 and 271 as they apply to offences under that Act, and the penalties prescribed in the applied sections shall apply accordingly.275. Court to restrict disposal of assets or bank accounts of accused
Chapter XXVI
Offences allied to stealing
276. Concealing registers
Any person who, with intent to defraud, conceals or takes from its place of deposit any register which is authorised or required by law to be kept for authenticating or recording the title to any property, or for recording births, baptisms, marriages, deaths or burials, or a copy of any part of any such register which is required by law to be sent to any public office, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.277. Concealing wills
Any person, who with intent to defraud, conceals any testamentary instrument, whether the testator is living or dead, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.278. Concealing deeds
Any person who, with intent to defraud, conceals the whole or part of any document which is evidence of title to any land or estate in land commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.279. Killing animal with intent to steal
Any person who kills any animal capable of being stolen with intent to steal the skin or carcass, or any part of the skin or carcass, commits an offence and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had stolen the animal.280. Severing with intent to steal
Any person who makes anything movable with intent to steal it commits an offence and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had stolen the thing after it had become movable.281. Fraudulent disposition of mortgaged goods
282. Fraudulent dealing in minerals
Any person who takes, conceals or otherwise disposes of any ore or any metal or mineral in or about a mine, with intent to defraud any person, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.283. Fraudulent appropriation of power
Any person who fraudulently abstracts or diverts to his or her own use or to the use of any other person any mechanical, illuminating or electrical power derived from any machine, apparatus or substance, the property of another person, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.284. Unlawful use of vehicles, animals, etc.
Any person who, unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of stealing, takes or converts to his or her own use or to the use of any other person, any draught or riding animal or any vehicle or cycle, however propelled, or any vessel, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months or to a fine of one thousand shillings or to both such imprisonment and such fine.Chapter XXVII
Robbery and extortion
285. Definition of robbery
Any person who steals anything and at or immediately before or immediately after the time of stealing it uses or threatens to use actual violence to any person or property in order to obtain or retain the thing stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to its being stolen or retained commits the felony termed robbery.286. Punishment for robbery
287. Attempted robbery
288. ***
[section 288 repealed by section 4 of Act 8 of 2007]289. Assault with intent to steal
Any person who assaults any person with intent to steal anything commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.290. Demanding property by written threats
Any person who, with intent to extort or gain anything from any person, and knowing the contents of the writing, causes any person to receive any writing demanding anything from any person without reasonable or probable cause, and containing threats of any injury or detriment of any kind to be caused to any person, either by the offender or any other person, if the demand is not complied with, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.291. Attempts at extortion by threats
292. Procuring execution of deeds, etc. by threats
Any person who, with intent to defraud, and by means of any unlawful violence to, or restraint of, the person of another, or by means of any threat of violence or restraint to be used to the person of another, or by means of accusing or threatening to accuse any person of committing any felony or misdemeanour, or by offering or making any solicitation or threat to any person as an inducement to commit or permit the commission of any offence, compels or induces any person—293. Demanding property with menaces
Any person who, with intent to steal any valuable thing, demands it from any person with menaces or force, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.Chapter XXVIII
Burglary, housebreaking and similar offences
294. Definition of breaking and entering
295. Housebreaking and burglary
296. Entering dwelling house with intent to commit felony
297. Breaking into building and committing felony
Any person who—298. Breaking into building with intent to commit felony
Any person who breaks and enters a schoolhouse, shop, warehouse, store, office or counting house, or a building which is adjacent to a dwelling house and occupied with it but is no part of it, or any building used as a place of worship, with intent to commit a felony in it, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.299. Penalty in case of breaking, etc. by armed persons
When a person committing or attempting to commit an offence under section 295, 296, 297 or 298 is at the time of committing or attempting to commit such offence armed with a dangerous or offensive weapon, he or she is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.300. Persons found, etc. with intent to commit felony
301. Persons found loitering, etc. with intent
302. Criminal trespass
Any person who—303. Forfeiture
When any person is convicted of an offence under this Chapter, the court may order that any dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument of housebreaking carried or used in connection with any such offence shall be forfeited to the Government.Chapter XXIX
False pretences
304. Definition of false pretence
Any representation made by words, writing or conduct, of a matter of fact, either past or present, which representation is false in fact, and which the person making it knows to be false or does not believe to be true, is a false pretence.305. Obtaining goods by false pretences
Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.306. Obtaining execution of a security by false pretences
Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, induces any person to execute, make, accept, endorse, alter or destroy the whole or any part of any valuable security, or to write any name or impress or affix any seal upon or to any paper or parchment in order that it may be afterwards made or converted into or used or dealt with as a valuable security, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.307. Cheating
Any person who by means of any fraudulent trick or device obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen or to pay or deliver to any person any money or goods or any greater sum of money or greater quantity of goods than he or she would have paid or delivered but for such trick or device, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for three years.308. Obtaining credit, etc. by false pretences
Any person who—309. Conspiracy to defraud
Any person who conspires with another by deceit or any fraudulent means to affect the market price of anything publicly sold, or to defraud the public or any person, whether a particular person or not, or to extort any property from any person, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for three years.310. Frauds on sale or mortgage of property
Any person who, being a seller or mortgagor of any property, or being the advocate or agent of any such seller or mortgagor, with intent to induce the purchaser or mortgagee to accept the title offered or produced to him or her, and with intent to defraud—311. Pretending to tell fortunes
Any person who for gain or reward undertakes to tell fortunes or pretends from his or her skill or knowledge in any occult science to discover where or in what manner anything supposed to have been stolen or lost may be found commits a misdemeanour.312. Obtaining registration, etc. by false pretence
Any person who wilfully procures or attempts to procure for himself or herself or any other person any registration, licence or certificate under any law by any false pretence commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.313. False declaration for passport
Any person who makes a statement which is to his or her knowledge untrue for the purpose of procuring a passport, whether for himself or herself or for any other person, commits a misdemeanour.Chapter XXX
Receiving property stolen or unlawfully obtained and like offences
314. Receiving stolen property, etc.
315. Persons suspected of having or conveying stolen property
316. Unlawful possession of Government stores
317. Receiving goods stolen outside Uganda
Any person who, without lawful excuse, knowing or having reason to believe the same to have been stolen or obtained in any way under such circumstances that if the act had been committed in Uganda the person committing it would have been guilty of a felony or misdemeanour, receives or has in his or her possession any property so stolen or obtained outside Uganda, commits an offence of the like degree (whether felony or misdemeanour) and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.318. Prohibition of exportation without licence
319. Smuggling
320. Possession of goods suspected to have been smuggled
Any person who is found in possession of property or goods reasonably suspected to have been smuggled into Uganda or about to be smuggled from Uganda in contravention of sections 318 and 319 commits an offence and is liable to the same penalties as are prescribed in section 319.321. Attempting to smuggle
Chapter XXXI
Frauds by trustees and persons in a position of trust, and false accounting
322. ***
[section 322 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]323. Fraudulent offences by directors and officers of corporations or companies
Any person who—324. False statements by officials of companies
Any person who, being a promoter, director, officer or auditor of a corporation or company, either existing or intended to be formed, makes, circulates or publishes, or concurs in making, circulating or publishing, any written statement or account which, in any material particular, is to his or her knowledge false, with intent thereby to effect any of the following purposes—325. ***
[section 325 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]326. ***
[section 326 repealed by section 69 of Act 6 of 2009]Division VI — Malicious injuries to property
Chapter XXXII
Offences causing injury to property
327. Arson
Any person who wilfully and unlawfully sets fire to—328. Attempt to commit arson
Any person who—329. Setting fire, etc. to crops and growing plants
Any person who wilfully and unlawfully sets fire to or otherwise destroys or damages—330. Attempt to set fire to crops, etc.
Any person who—331. Prevention and control of fires
Any person who—332. Casting away ships
Any person who—333. Attempt to cast away ships
Any person who attempts unlawfully to cast away or destroy a vessel, whether completed or not, or attempts unlawfully to do any act tending to the immediate loss or destruction of a vessel in distress, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.334. Injuring animals
335. Punishment for malicious injuries in general
336. Attempt to destroy property by explosives
Any person who, unlawfully and with intent to destroy or damage any property, puts any explosive substance in any place commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.337. Communicating infectious diseases to animals
Any person who wilfully and unlawfully causes, or is concerned in causing, or attempts to cause, any infectious disease to be communicated to or among any animal or animals capable of being stolen commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.338. Removing boundary marks
Any person who wilfully and unlawfully and with intent to defraud removes or defaces any object or mark which has been lawfully erected or made as an indication of the boundary of any land commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.339. Wilful damage, etc. to survey and boundary marks
Any person who—340. Penalties for damage, etc. to railway works
Any person who—341. Threats to burn, etc.
Any person who, knowing the contents of it, sends, delivers, utters or directly or indirectly causes to be received, any letter or writing threatening to burn or destroy any house, barn or other building, or any rick or stack of grain, hay or straw, or other agricultural produce, whether in or under any building or not, or any vessel, or to kill, maim or wound any cattle, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.Division VII — Forgery, coining, counterfeiting and similar offences
Chapter XXXIII
Definitions
342. Forgery
Forgery is the making of a false document with intent to defraud or to deceive.343. Document
In this division of this Code, “document” does not include a trademark or any other sign used in connection with articles of commerce though they may be written or printed.344. Bank note and currency note
In this division of this Code, “bank note” and “currency note” include any notes, by whatever name called, which are legal tender in the country in which they are issued.345. Making a false document
Any person makes a false document who—346. Intent to defraud
An intent to defraud is presumed to exist if it appears that at the time when the false document was made there was in existence a specific person, ascertained or unascertained, capable of being defrauded by it, and this presumption is not rebutted by proof that the offender took or intended to take measures to prevent such person from being defrauded in fact, nor by the fact that he or she had, or thought he or she had, a right to the thing to be obtained by the false document.Chapter XXXIV
Punishment for forgery
347. General punishment for forgery
Any person who forges any document commits an offence which, unless otherwise stated, is a felony and is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the forgery or the nature of the thing forged some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.348. Forgery of wills, etc.
349. Forgery of judicial or official document
Any person who forges any judicial or official document is liable to imprisonment for ten years.350. Forgery of and other offences in relation to stamps
Any person who—351. Uttering false documents
Any person who knowingly and fraudulently utters a false document commits an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had forged the thing in question.352. Uttering cancelled or exhausted documents
Any person who knowingly utters as and for a subsisting and effectual document, any document which has by any lawful authority been ordered to be revoked, cancelled or suspended, or the operation of which has ceased by effluxion of time or by death, or by the happening of any other event commits an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had forged the document.353. Procuring execution of documents by false pretences
Any person who by means of any false and fraudulent representation as to the nature, content or operation of a document, procures another to sign or execute the document commits an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had forged the document.354. Obliterating crossings on cheques
Any person who, with intent to defraud—355. Making documents without authority
Any person who, with intent to defraud or to deceive—356. Demanding property upon forged testamentary instruments
Any person who procures the delivery or payment to himself or herself or any other person of any property or money by virtue of any probate or letters of administration granted upon a forged testamentary instrument, knowing the testamentary instrument to have been forged, or upon or by virtue of any probate or letters of administration obtained by false evidence, knowing the grant to have been so obtained, commits an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if he or she had forged the document or thing by virtue of which he or she procures the delivery or payment.357. Purchasing forged bank or currency notes
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him or her, imports into Uganda or purchases or receives from any person, or has in his or her possession, a forged bank note or currency note, whether filled up or in blank, knowing it to be forged, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.358. Falsifying warrant for money payable under public authority
Any person who, being employed in the public service, knowingly and with intent to defraud makes out or delivers to any person a warrant for the payment of any money payable by public authority, for a greater or less amount than that to which the person on whose behalf the warrant is made out is entitled, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.359. Falsification of register
Any person who, having the actual custody of any register or record kept by lawful authority, knowingly permits any entry, which in any material particular is to his or her knowledge false, to be made in the register or record, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.360. Sending false certificate of marriage to registrar
Any person who signs or transmits to a person authorised by law to register marriages, a certificate of marriage, or any document purporting to be a certificate of marriage, which in any material particular is to his or her knowledge false, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.361. False statements for registers of births, deaths and marriages
Any person who knowingly and with intent to procure the same to be inserted in a register of births, deaths or marriages makes any false statement touching any matter required by law to be registered in any such register, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.Chapter XXXV
Offences relating to coin and bank and currency notes
362. Definitions
In this Chapter—363. Counterfeiting coin
Any person who makes or begins to make any counterfeit coin commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.364. Preparations for coining
Any person who—365. Making or having in possession paper or implements for forgery
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him or her—366. Clipping
Any person who deals with any coin in such a manner as to diminish its weight with intent that when so dealt with it may pass as coin commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.367. Melting down of currency
368. Possession of clippings
Any person who unlawfully has in his or her possession or disposes of any filings or clippings of gold or silver, or any gold or silver in bullion, dust, solution, or any other state, obtained by dealing with gold or silver coin in such a manner as to diminish its weight, knowing the same to have been so obtained, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.369. Uttering counterfeit coin
Any person who utters any counterfeit coin, knowing it to be counterfeit, commits a misdemeanour.370. Repeated uttering
Any person who—371. Uttering metal or coin not current as coin
372. Exporting counterfeit coin
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him or her, exports or puts on board of a vessel or vehicle of any kind, for the purpose of being exported from Uganda, any counterfeit coin, knowing it to be counterfeit, commits a misdemeanour.373. Selling articles bearing designs in imitation of currency
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies upon him or her, sells or offers or exposes for sale any article which bears a design in imitation of any currency or bank note or coin in current use in Uganda or elsewhere commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for five years.374. Forfeiture
When any person is convicted of an offence under this Chapter or Chapter XXXIV, the court shall order the forfeiture to the Government of any forged bank note or currency note or of any counterfeit coin or any stamp, mould, tool, instrument, machine, press or any coin, bullion or metal or any article bearing a design in imitation of any currency note, bank note or coin used or employed in the commission of any such offence.Chapter XXXVI
Counterfeit stamps
375. Possession of die used for purpose of making stamps
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him or her—376. Paper and dies for postage stamps
Chapter XXXVII
***
[Chapter XXXVII repealed by section 99(1) of Act 17 of 2010]377. ***
[section 377 repealed by section 99(1) of Act 17 of 2010]378. ***
[section 378 repealed by section 99(1) of Act 17 of 2010]379. ***
[section 379 repealed by section 99(1) of Act 17 of 2010]380. ***
[section 380 repealed by section 99(1) of Act 17 of 2010]Chapter XXXVIII
Personation
381. Personation in general
382. Falsely acknowledging deeds, recognisances, etc.
Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him or her, makes in the name of any other person, before any court or person lawfully authorised to take such an acknowledgment, an acknowledgment of liability of any kind, or an acknowledgment of a deed or other instrument, commits a misdemeanour.383. Personation of a person named in a certificate
384. Personation of a person named in a testimonial of character
Chapter XXXIX
Cheques
385. Issue of false cheques
Division VIII — Attempts and conspiracies to commit crimes, and accessories after the fact
Chapter XL
Attempts
386. Attempt defined
387. Attempts to commit offences
Any person who attempts to commit a felony or a misdemeanour commits an offence, which unless otherwise stated, is a misdemeanour.388. Punishment of attempts to commit certain felonies
Any person who attempts to commit a felony of such a kind that a person convicted of it is liable to the punishment of death or imprisonment for a period of fourteen years or upwards, with or without other punishment, commits a felony and is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for seven years.389. Neglect to prevent felony
Every person who, knowing that a person designs to commit or is committing a felony, fails to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or completion of the felony, commits a misdemeanour.Chapter XLI
Conspiracies
390. Conspiracy to commit felony
Any person who conspires with another to commit any felony, or to do any act in any part of the world which if done in Uganda would be a felony and which is an offence under the laws in force in the place where it is proposed to be done, commits a felony and is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for seven years, or if the greatest punishment to which a person convicted of the felony in question is liable is less than imprisonment for seven years, then to such lesser punishment.391. Conspiracy to commit misdemeanour
Any person who conspires with another to commit a misdemeanour, or to do any act in any part of the world which if done in Uganda would be a misdemeanour, and which is an offence under the laws in force in the place where it is proposed to be done, commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.392. Other conspiracies
Any person who conspires with another to effect any of the following purposes—Chapter XLII
Accessories after the fact
393. Definition of accessories after the fact
394. Punishment of accessories after the fact to felonies
Any person who, becomes an accessory after the fact to a felony commits a felony, and is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.395. Punishment of accessories after the fact to misdemeanours
Any person who, becomes an accessory after the fact to a misdemeanour, is guilty of a misdemeanour.History of this document
23 December 2024
Amended by
Corrigendum
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31 December 2023
Consolidation
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28 July 2023
05 November 2021
09 May 2014
Amended by
Anti-Pornography Act, 2014
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03 September 2010 this version
Amended by
Trademarks Act, 2010
25 August 2009
Amended by
Anti-Corruption Act, 2009
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17 August 2007
07 June 2002
Amended by
Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002
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31 December 2000
Consolidation
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15 June 1950
Commenced
Cited documents 0
Documents citing this one 4
Act 4
1. | Magistrates Courts Act | 250 citations |
2. | Trademarks Act, 2010 | 27 citations |
3. | Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 | 15 citations |
4. | Anti-Pornography Act, 2014 | 1 citation |