CRIME WATCH: Assault can be costly

Feb 19, 2003

ONE of the most common crimes committed in Uganda is assault.

ONE of the most common crimes committed in Uganda is assault. Many people are known to settle their scores by throwing a few punches at each other, especially after drinking a few bottles of alcohol.
According to the annual crime statistics, in the year 2002, there were 13,419 cases of assaults reported to the Police. Of these, 3,388 assault cases caused grievous harm or injury. Yet many cases of assault go unreported to the Police.
Assault is the second highest crime committed in Uganda after theft.
The law on assault is particularly hash. When convicted, you can spend a number of years in prison.
The Penal Code classifies assault into three categories: Common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and assault causing grievous harm.
In the case of common assault, the jail term is up to one year. Common assault refers to when you may physically attack a person, but do not cause any scratch on their body.
An Asian was shocked when a court in Nakawa sentenced him to 10 months in prison, for throwing a newspaper paper in the face of his female worker. Although the paper did not injure her, according to the law assault had been committed.
Assault causing actual bodily harm is when one hits another bruising or causing other injuries to the skin. This, according to section 228 of the Penal Code, can land you in prison for up to five years.
The assault that causes grievous harm is the kind that causes an injury that poses threat to one’s life. For example, a fracture of the borne or a severe damage to any body organ. This is could earn you seven years in prison.
When assault results in the death of a person within a period of one year and one day, you will be presumed to have caused the death of that person and will be charged with murder by the courts of law. Ends

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