What to do when you or a relative is arrested in Uganda
In brief
Stay calm and assert your rights. On arrest you are entitled to be told why, in a language you understand, to contact a lawyer and a next of kin, and to be produced before a court within forty-eight hours (Constitution, art. 23; Police Act, Cap. 324, s.25). Ask for police bond for release pending court — it is free (Police Act, s.39). Once charged in court, apply for bail (Magistrates Courts Act, Cap. 19, s.77; Trial on Indictments Act, Cap. 25, s.15). Do not pay bribes, and do not sign statements you do not understand.
1. Governing law
The protections come from Article 23 of the Constitution and the Police Act, Cap. 324. An arrested person is entitled to be informed immediately, in a language they understand, of the reasons for the arrest and of the right to a lawyer; to reasonable access to a lawyer, a medical practitioner and next of kin; and to be produced before a court as soon as possible but not later than forty-eight hours from the arrest (Article 23(3)-(5)) — the forty-eight-hour rule is given statutory effect by s.25 of the Police Act, which requires a suspect arrested without a warrant to be produced before a magistrate's court within forty-eight hours unless earlier released on bond. Police bond — the police-station release pending court — is free of charge (Police Act, s.39). The right to apply for bail arises under Article 23(6), and a magistrate's court must inform a person charged with a bailable offence of that right (Magistrates Courts Act, Cap. 19, s.77(1)); bail is applied for in the magistrate's court for most offences and the High Court for the most serious (MCA s.75; Trial on Indictments Act, Cap. 25, ss.15-16). Detention beyond forty-eight hours without production in court is unlawful. Statutory text verified against the consolidated Laws of Uganda as at 31 December 2023. Sourced from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ulii.org).
2. Key statutes & rules
- Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 — Article 23 (reasons for arrest in a language understood; access to a lawyer and next of kin; production in court within forty-eight hours; right to apply for bail).
- Police Act, Cap. 324 — s.25 (production before a magistrate's court within forty-eight hours unless released on bond); s.39 (police bond is free of charge).
- Magistrates Courts Act, Cap. 19 — s.77(1) (the court must inform of the right to apply for bail); s.75 (magistrate's bail). Trial on Indictments Act, Cap. 25 — ss.15-16 (High Court bail).
3. Practical guidance
Ask why you are being arrested and stay calm; you are entitled to the reasons in a language you understand (art. 23(3)).
Contact a lawyer and a next of kin immediately — you have a right to reasonable access (art. 23(5)).
Note the time of arrest; you must be produced in court within forty-eight hours unless released on bond (art. 23(4); Police Act s.25).
Ask for police bond for release pending court — it is free; never pay for it (Police Act s.39).
Do not sign any statement you do not understand, and do not pay bribes; ask for an interpreter if needed.
Once charged in court, apply for bail (MCA s.77; TIA ss.15-16) — see the bail guide. If held beyond forty-eight hours without court production, tell your lawyer: the detention is unlawful.
This note is a practitioner orientation, not legal advice, and does not create an advocate–client relationship. Ugandan law changes and chapter and section numbers were revised in the 2023 Laws of Uganda. Verify every statute, rule and authority against the current primary source — and the specific facts of your matter — before filing or relying on it.