Wakilii

Ndyomugyenyi Pius v Attorney General and Others (Miscellaneous Cause No. 235 of 2025)

High Court · [2025] UGHCCD 171 · 2025 Application Granted AI-generated summary ↓ Download Pin to watchlist Add to matter
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Type
Application for writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum challenging alleged unlawful detention
Decision
Writ of habeas corpus issued directing respondents to produce the applicant before court

Observed later treatment

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Holding

The High Court granted a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum where the applicant's affidavit established reasonable grounds that he had been unlawfully detained. The court held that particularised facts including date of arrest, description of abductors, and information indicating detention at a specific security facility constituted reasonable grounds under section 34 of the Judicature Act, crossing the threshold required to trigger the protective remedy of habeas corpus.

Outcome

Writ of habeas corpus issued directing respondents to produce the applicant before court

Facts

The applicant, a 22-year-old student on vacation, was arrested on 25 June 2025 from Rukungiri Town Council by unknown men dressed in military fatigue using vehicles known as 'Drone' and a Double Cabin pick-up. He was whisked away to an unknown destination. His family searched various police and security offices in the jurisdiction without success. The applicant's brother later discovered that the applicant was allegedly being held at Defence Intelligence Security Headquarters at Mbuya on alleged offence of cyber harassment. The applicant had not been produced before any court of law. The third respondent denied that the applicant was in detention at DIS Headquarters or any gazetted UPDF detention facility.

Issues

  1. Whether the Applicant has shown reasonable ground for this court to issue a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum.

Orders

  • Application granted.
  • Writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum issued to the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director Defence Intelligence Security in respect of Ndyomugyenyi Pius.
  • Costs of the application granted to the Applicant.

Rules and key headnotes

Constitutional Law — Personal Liberty — Habeas Corpus — Threshold for Issuance of Writ
The threshold to obtain a writ of habeas corpus under section 34 of the Judicature Act is not proof beyond reasonable doubt but a showing by affidavit of reasonable ground for the complaint that the person has been deprived of personal liberty unlawfully.
Human Rights — Personal Liberty — Habeas Corpus — What Constitutes Reasonable Grounds
Particularised facts including date of arrest, place, description of abductors, and a positive lead as to a detention location constitute reasonable grounds within the meaning of section 34 of the Judicature Act and are not mere speculation, calling for judicial scrutiny by way of habeas corpus.
Administrative Law — Habeas Corpus — Naming of Respondents — Technical Objections
In habeas corpus proceedings, it is common practice to name as respondents public officers charged with custody, control or oversight of places where persons may be detained. Where legal technicalities arise about whether an office is a separate juristic person, the court's primary concern is the restoration of liberty and ascertainment of truth, not hyper-technical objections which would defeat the remedy.
Constitutional Law — Personal Liberty — Constitutional Protection — Inviolability of Habeas Corpus
The Constitution of Uganda 1995 guarantees personal liberty and expressly protects the right to an order of habeas corpus which right is inviolable and not to be suspended. The writ provides an assurance that personal freedom will always be protected.

Legislation cited (9)

Cases cited (1)

  • In the matter of Sheik Abdul Karim Sentamu & Another (Constitutional Reference No. 1 of 1998)

Full judgment

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The original judgment as reported. Read the original PDF before relying on any passage.

Ndyomugyenyi Pius v Attorney General and Others (Miscellaneous Cause No. 235 of 2025) [2025] UGHCCD 171 (8 October 2025)
Source: this page presents Wakilii’s issue analysis and metadata for a publicly reported Ugandan judgment. Any AI-generated summary is marked as such. Judgment text is sourced from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ulii.org). Wakilii is not affiliated with ULII.