HABITUAL CRIMINALS (PREVENTIVE DETENTION) ACT.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

   Section

   1.   Court may impose sentence of preventive detention on certain persons.

   2.   Imprisonment in certain cases may be commuted to preventive detention.

   3.   Commencement of preventive detention.

   4.   Establishment of special prisons or prison camps.

   5.   President to review sentences.

   6.   Discharge of person undergoing sentence of preventive detention.

   7.   Rules.

CHAPTER 118
HABITUAL CRIMINALS (PREVENTIVE DETENTION) ACT.

Commencement: 13 September, 1951.

   An Act to make provision for the introduction in Uganda of preventive detention for habitual criminals.

1.   Court may impose sentence of preventive detention on certain persons.

   (1) When a person who in the opinion of the court is not less than 30 years of age—

   (a)   is convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of two years or more; and

   (b)   has been convicted on at least three previous occasions since reaching, in the opinion of the court, the age of 16 years, of offences punishable with such a sentence, and was on at least two of those occasions sentenced to imprisonment,

then, if the court is satisfied that it is expedient for the protection of the public that the person should be detained in custody for a substantial time, the court may pass on the person, in addition to or in lieu of any other sentence, a sentence of preventive detention for such term of not less than five nor more than 14 years as the court may determine; but where a sentence of preventive detention is passed in addition to any other sentence, the total term of preventive detention and imprisonment shall not exceed 14 years.

   (2) No person shall be sentenced to preventive detention unless—

   (a)   the Director of Public Prosecutions either in person or in writing asks that such a sentence be imposed; but no such request shall be deemed to fetter the discretion of the