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Identification of Offenders Act

Ordinance 44 of 1958 Current version · as at 31 December 2023

An Act to provide for the identification of offenders by means of fingerprints, footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements.

Enacted1958
Commenced1 September 1960
Last amended28 July 2023Act 17 of 2023
Point-in-time consolidation · as at 31 December 2023. This page may not reflect amendments made after that date. Confirm the current position against the latest Uganda Gazette before relying on it.

About this Act

An Act to provide for the identification of offenders by means of fingerprints, footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements.

Jurisdiction
Uganda
Type
Principal Legislation
Status
In force
Language
English

Amendments

1 amending instrument
  1. 28 July 2023 Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 Act 17 of 2023

Full text of the Act

0 parts · 6 sections

Enhanced Annotated View adds approved, source-linked propositions, operative requirements, judicial passages, related provisions, amendment notes and authority status. Choose Original PDF to inspect the source consolidation.

Uganda

Identification of Offenders Act

Commenced on 1 September 1960

[This is the version of this document at 31 December 2023.]

An Act to provide for the identification of offenders by means of fingerprints, footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements.

1. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

"authorised officer" means-

(a)

any police officer as defined in the Police Act;

(b)

any prison officer as defined in the Prisons Act; and

(c)

any person appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette to be an authorised officer for the purpose of this Act;

"currency point" has the value assigned to it in the Schedule to this Act;

"Fingerprint Bureau" means the office established under section 3 .

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Definition

This section supplies the definitions or statutory meaning governing “Interpretation”.

“In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires "authorised officer" means-”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

Use this definition when interpreting other provisions that employ the language addressed by “Interpretation”.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

2
  1. "currency point" has the value assigned to it in the Schedule to this Act;
  2. "Fingerprint Bureau" means the office established under section 3.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions
Section 3 · Fingerprint Bureau Police Act Prisons Act
Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

2. Taking of fingerprints, etc

(1)

Any authorised officer may take, or cause to be taken in his or her presence, for the purpose of record and identification, the fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements of any person in lawful custody.

(2)

The Minister may prescribe the form upon which fingerprints, palmprints or footprints shall be taken; and the authorised officer who took the prints or caused them to be taken shall certify on the form that he or she took the prints or caused them to be taken in his or her presence and that the particulars on the form are correct to the best of his or her information, knowledge and belief.

(3)

If a person whose fingerprints, footprints or palmprints have been taken is convicted of any offence, the conviction and the sentence imposed in respect of it shall be recorded by an authorised officer on a form prescribed by the Minister which the authorised officer shall then send to the Fingerprint Bureau in order that the conviction may be entered on the form referred to in subsection (2) relating to the convicted person.

(4)

If a person whose fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs or measurements have been taken is acquitted of any offence with which he or she is charged or is discharged from custody and if he or she has not previously been convicted, the fingerprints, footprints, casts, palmprints, photographs and measurements and any record of them shall be destroyed.

(5)

Any person who, being required under subsection (1) to have any print, cast, photograph or measurement taken, refuses to comply with the requirement commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty currency points.

(6)

Where any person is convicted of an offence under subsection (5), the court may make an order authorising the taking of any print, cast, photograph or measurement from the convicted person; and an authorised officer shall be entitled thereupon to take such print, cast, photograph or measurement using the force as may be necessary so to do.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Offence or consequence

This section creates or governs statutory liability concerning “Taking of fingerprints, etc”.

“(1) Any authorised officer may take, or cause to be taken in his or her presence, for the purpose of record and identification, the fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements of any person in lawful custody.”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

A party alleging or defending liability should test the facts and prescribed consequence against each operative requirement.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

6
  1. (1) Any authorised officer may take, or cause to be taken in his or her presence, for the purpose of record and identification, the fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements of any person in lawful custody.
  2. (2) The Minister may prescribe the form upon which fingerprints, palmprints or footprints shall be taken; and the authorised officer who took the prints or caused them to be taken shall certify on the form that he or she took the prints or caused them to be taken in his or her presence and that the particulars on the form are correct to the best of his or her information, knowledge and belief.
  3. (3) If a person whose fingerprints, footprints or palmprints have been taken is convicted of any offence, the conviction and the sentence imposed in respect of it shall be recorded by an authorised officer on a form prescribed by the Minister which the authorised officer shall then send to the Fingerprint Bureau in order that the conviction may be entered on the form referred to in subsection (2) relating to the convicted person.
  4. (4) If a person whose fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs or measurements have been taken is acquitted of any offence with which he or she is charged or is discharged from custody and if he or she has not previously been convicted, the fingerprints, footprints, casts, palmprints, photographs and measurements and any record of them shall be destroyed.
  5. (5) Any person who, being required under subsection (1) to have any print, cast, photograph or measurement taken, refuses to comply with the requirement commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty currency points.
  6. (6) Where any person is convicted of an offence under subsection (5), the court may make an order authorising the taking of any print, cast, photograph or measurement from the convicted person; and an authorised officer shall be entitled thereupon to take such print, cast, photograph or measurement using the force as may be necessary so to do.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

3. Fingerprint Bureau

There is established an office to be known as the Fingerprint Bureau, for the comparison of fingerprints, footprints or casts of fingerprints and footprints, and palmprints and for the preservation and indexing of the forms upon which any prints are taken

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Governing rule

This section states the governing statutory rule for “Fingerprint Bureau”.

“There is established an office to be known as the Fingerprint Bureau, for the comparison of fingerprints, footprints or casts of fingerprints and footprints, and palmprints and for the preservation and indexing of the forms upon which any prints are taken”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

Use this section as the starting statutory rule for “Fingerprint Bureau”, together with the linked provisions and current consolidation.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

0

This section states a single governing proposition and does not enumerate separate elements.

Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

4. Fingerprint forms to be evidence

Any form prescribed under section 2(2) and certified in the manner described in there shall be admissible in evidence without proof and shall be prima facie evidence (a) that any fingerprint, footprint or palmprint recorded on the form was taken from the person who it is stated in the form to have been taken; and

(b)

that the person has been convicted of the offence recorded on the form.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Offence or consequence

This section creates or governs statutory liability concerning “Fingerprint forms to be evidence”.

“Any form prescribed under section 2(2) and certified in the manner described in there shall be admissible in evidence without proof and shall be prima facie evidence (a) that any fingerprint, footprint or palmprint recorded on the form was taken from the person who it is stated in the form to have been taken; and”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

A party alleging or defending liability should test the facts and prescribed consequence against each operative requirement.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

1
  1. (b) that the person has been convicted of the offence recorded on the form.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions
Section 2 · Taking of fingerprints, etc
Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

5. Rules

The Minister may make rules (a) prescribing the manner in which fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements shall be taken under this Act;

(b)

prescribing anything required to be prescribed under this Act;

(c)

regulating the work of the Fingerprint Bureau; and

(d)

for better carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Statutory power

This section confers or regulates the statutory power described as “Rules”.

“The Minister may make rules (a) prescribing the manner in which fingerprints, footprints, casts of the fingerprints, casts of the footprints, palmprints, photographs and measurements shall be taken under this Act;”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

The power must be exercised by the authorised decision-maker, within the conditions and purpose stated in the section.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

3
  1. (b) prescribing anything required to be prescribed under this Act;
  2. (c) regulating the work of the Fingerprint Bureau; and
  3. (d) for better carrying out the purposes of this Act.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

6. Power to amend Schedule

The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1 , 6 )

Currency point A currency point is equivalent to twenty thousand shillings.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Statutory power

This section confers or regulates the statutory power described as “Power to amend Schedule”.

“The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1, 6)”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

The power must be exercised by the authorised decision-maker, within the conditions and purpose stated in the section.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

1
  1. The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1, 6)
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions
Section 1 · Interpretation
Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

Original Laws of Uganda consolidation (as at 31 December 2023) — public-domain legislation, consolidated by ULII / Laws.Africa (CC BY 4.0). This is a point-in-time text and may not reflect later amendments; confirm against the latest Uganda Gazette before relying on it.