Related documents
- Is amended by Police (Amendment) Act, 2006
Uganda
Police Act
Chapter 303
- Commenced on 14 October 1994
- [This is the version of this document from 8 June 2006.]
- [Note: The version of the Act as at 31 December 2000 was revised and consolidated by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
- [Amended by Police (Amendment) Act, 2006 (Act 16 of 2006) on 8 June 2006]
Part I – Interpretation
1. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—“arrestable offence” means an offence which on conviction may be punished by a term of imprisonment of one year or more, or a fine of not less than one hundred thousand shillings or both;“assistant commissioner” means an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police in accordance with this Act;“assistant inspector general of police” means an officer of the rank of assistant inspector general of police;“assistant superintendent” includes a cadet assistant superintendent;“attested member” means a police officer, regardless of rank, who has completed the training course, taken the requisite oath and been listed in the Force as a member;“code” means the disciplinary code of conduct established under section 44;“commissioner of police” means an officer of the rank of commissioner of police;“constable” means a police officer below the rank of corporal;“Constitution” means the Constitution of Uganda;“deputy inspector general” means the Deputy Inspector General of Police appointed under article 213 of the Constitution;“force” means the Uganda Police Force established by Article 211 of the Constitution;“inspector general” means the Inspector General of Police appointed under article 213 of the Constitution;“inspector of police” means an officer of the rank of inspector and includes an assistant inspector of police;“legal officer” means a police officer designated as a legal officer under this Act;“local government” means the local councils established under the Local Governments Act;“magistrate” means a magistrate appointed under the Magistrates Courts Act;“Minister” means the Minister responsible for internal affairs;“officer-in-charge of police” means a police officer not being below the rank of inspector appointed by the inspector general to be in charge of a police station or a police unit in an area;“police appeals court” means the highest disciplinary court established by section 51 of this Act;“police authority” means—(a)in relation to the force, the police authority established by section 8;(b)in relation to local administration police, the administration of the area in which that force is established;“police council” means the police council established by section 10;“police officer” means any attested member of the police force;“police unit” means a police establishment or formation with an officer in charge or with an officer in command at or within a district;“President” means the President of Uganda;“private security organisation” means a private security organisation registered under the Companies Act;“region” means any area of Uganda declared by the inspector general to constitute a regional or extra regional police command;“regional commander” means a police officer appointed by the inspector-general to be in command of the police in any region or extra region;“regional police court” means a disciplinary court established at the regional police headquarters or at the force headquarters;“responsible officer” means—(a)in the case of a senior police officer, the regional police commander;(b)in the case of a subordinate police officer, the district police commander;(c)in any other case, the officer-in-charge of a police unit;“senior police officer” means an officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent;“subordinate police disciplinary court” means a police disciplinary court lower than a regional police disciplinary court;“subordinate police officer” means a police officer of or below the rank of inspector;“superintendent” includes senior superintendent, senior assistant superintendent and assistant superintendent;“unit commander” means the officer-in-charge of a district or a police unit within a district.”[section 1 substituted by section 2 of Act 16 of 2006]Part II – Establishment and functions
2. Establishment of the force
There is established a force to be known as the “Uganda Police Force”.3. Composition of the force
The force shall be composed of—4. Functions of the force
Part III – Force command
5. Inspector general and deputy inspector general
6. General powers of the inspector general to make standing orders
7. Regional and district force command
8. Establishment, composition and meetings of the police authority
9. Functions of the police authority
10. Police council
11. Functions of the police council
12. District police committees, their functions and composition
Part IV – Appointments, promotions, recruitment, service and discharge or termination of appointments
13. Delegation by the President of power of appointment under the Constitution
14. Procedure and form of application
15. Retirement
16. Service in the force on contract
17. Resignation by police officers
Subject to section 15, a police officer may not terminate his or her service with the force except on completion of a minimum of five years uninterrupted service, and with the written permission of the appointing authority.[section 17 substituted by section 13 of Act 16 of 2006]18. Oath on appointment
19. Conditions on termination of service
20. Employment of civilians
Part V – Powers, duties and privileges of police officers
21. General powers and duties of a police officer
22. Power to regulate traffic
23. Arrest without a warrant
24. Arrest as preventive action
25. Disposal of a person arrested by a police officer
26. Power of detention and search by a police officer
Without prejudice to section 315 of the Penal Code Act and section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Code Act, a police officer may search or detain—27. Search by police officers
27A. Procurement of information and attendance of witness
28. Use of arms by police officers in special cases
29. Seizure and retention of property by police
30. Power to take photographs of accused or convicted persons
31. Power to institute criminal proceedings
A police officer may institute criminal proceedings before a magistrate, apply for summons, warrants, search warrants or undertake any other legal process as may be necessary against a person charged with an offence.32. Power to regulate assemblies and processions
33. Power to stop and to order to disperse assemblies and processions unlawfully convened
Where an assembly is convened or procession formed in contravention of a prohibition under section 32, the inspector general or officer in charge of police may require the assembly to cease to be held or the procession to be stopped and may order the immediate dispersal of that assembly or procession.34. Unlawful assemblies
Any assembly or procession of three or more persons which neglects or refuses to obey any order for immediate dispersal given under section 33 shall be deemed to be an unlawful assembly within the meaning of section 65 of the Penal Code Act.35. Gazetted areas
36. Dispersal of assembly after it has been ordered to be terminated
If upon the expiration of a reasonable time after a senior police officer has ordered an assembly to disperse under section 35(4) the assembly has continued in being, any police officer, or any other person acting in aid of the 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 that resistance, and shall not be liable in any criminal or civil proceedings for having by the use of that force caused harm or death to any person.37. Penalty for taking part in an unauthorised procession or assembly
Any person who—38. No fee on bail bonds taken by police
39. Power to inspect licences
40. Use of public address system
41. Disposal of property in possession of a police officer
42. Disposal of unclaimed property
43. No liability for action done under authority of a warrant
Part VI – Discipline
44. Establishment of the police disciplinary code of conduct
45. Persons subject to the code
The following persons are subject to the police disciplinary code of conduct—46. Disciplinary control of police officers
The power of disciplinary control of a police officer —47. Dismissal of police officers
48. Recommendation for dismissal of police officers
49. Establishment of a police disciplinary court and protection of members from legal proceedings
50. Categories of police disciplinary courts
The following categories of disciplinary courts may have power to arrest, try and punish anybody under their jurisdiction —51. Establishment and composition of a police appeals court
52. Establishment and composition of regional police courts
53. Establishment and composition of subordinate police courts
54. Decisions of the police appellate courts
55. Appeals
55A. Appeals by prosecution
The prosecution in a police disciplinary court may appeal against the decision of the court on the following grounds—56. Arrest for disciplinary offences
Where a person subject to the code commits or attempts to commit an offence against the code, he or she may be arrested with or without a warrant by a police officer higher in rank.57. Place of confinement of offenders
A police officer arrested in respect of an offence under section 56 shall be informed as soon as is practicable of the nature of the offence and be confined in a guardroom or a cell provided for that purpose.58. Criminal proceedings take precedence over disciplinary proceedings
If criminal proceedings of a nature likely to warrant disciplinary proceedings are instituted against a person subject to the code, no such disciplinary proceedings shall be taken until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings and the determination of any appeal from those proceedings.59. Penalty and definition of desertion
Part VII – Police welfare
60. Police Welfare Fund
61. Disposal of deceased’s estate
62. Police pension scheme, etc.
63. ***
[section 63 repealed by section 27 of Act 16 of 2006]Part VIII – Special constables, police reserves and local administration police
64. Power to appoint special constables
65. Responsibilities of special constables
A constable appointed under section 64 shall—66. Police reserve
67. ***
[section 67 repealed by section 28 of Act 16 of 2006]67A. Local administration police
67B. Administration, training, etc.
67C. Transfer of local administration police property to police force
The properties belonging to and used by the local administration police force under the local governments shall, on the coming into force of this Act, be transferred to the Uganda Police Force.[section 67C inserted by section 29 of Act 16 of 2006]Part IX – General
68. ***
[section 68 repealed by section 30 of Act 16 of 2006]69. Harbouring police officers on duty
A person who knowingly—70. Complaints by the public against police officers
71. Employment of police officers on special duty at the expense of private persons
72. Control of private security organisations
73. Regulations
History of this document
08 June 2006 this version
Amended by
Police (Amendment) Act, 2006
14 October 1994
Commences.