Publications

The Commission has done dissemination and consolidation of enacted laws and publication of user friendly versions of those laws to make them easily accessible and understood by the public. This was against the background research information that revealed that much as Uganda has good laws, the majority of the people are not aware of the existence of these laws. Those who know of the laws and can access them do not understand the provisions of the laws.

Compendium of labour laws

The Commission prepared a compendium containing labour related laws. The Compendium puts together all the laws relating to employment to facilitate easy access for the users. Consultations were undertaken with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the First Parliamentary Counsel. Printed copies are available for sale.

Compendium of former Constitutions of the Republic of Uganda

The Commission prepared a compendium of the former Constitutions of the Republic of Uganda to facilitate easy access. The compendium forms a collective memory for the constitutional history of Uganda. Copies have been printed and are available at the offices of Uganda Law Reform Commission for sale.

The table below illustrates the various Commission publications

Sentencing guidelines

The Commission in conjunction with the JLOS secretariat under the Criminal Justice Reform program (SIPI) undertook a study on reform of the law on sentencing that made recommendations for the need of sentencing guidelines. This is because the study revealed that there was abuse of Judicial discretion because judicial officers sentenced people that committed similar offences under similar circumstances with sentences that were by and large different. This created loss of confidence in the judicial system. Against this background, the Commission with support from JLOS made proposals for development of sentencing guidelines with the aim of promoting uniformity and consistency in sentencing. The proposals were considered by the rules committee and issued as practice directions under article 133 of the constitution and are now being implemented by the Courts as The Constitution (Sentencing Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) practice (Directions) Legal notice No.8 of 2013.

 Uganda Living law journal

The commission printed 1000 copies of the Uganda Living Law Journal, Vol.7 No. 2 under the theme: Challenges in the administration of Justice in Uganda today. The journal contributes to the Commission’s mandate of creating awareness of legal issues to the public and promotion of access to justice through articles of topical issues and leading judgments that are published in the journal

Reprint of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda

In 2006, the Commission incorporated the amendments to the Constitution introduced by the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2005, Act No. 11 of 2005 and the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2005, Act No. 21 of 2005. The Commission printed and published copies in 2006 and 2010. To meet the ever increasing public demand, the Commission has reprinted more copies of the Constitution.

Local Council Courts Act, 2006 into Ateso and Ng’akarimojong

Following the translation of the Local Council Courts Act into Ateso and Ng’akarimojong in 2011, the Commission has printed 1000 copies of the
translated Local Council Courts Act for dissemination and distribution to Ateso and Ng’akarimojong speaking communities for distribution to the endusers and duty bearers. Mortgage Act No. 8 of 2009. Five hundred (500)copies of the pocket size Mortgage Act were printed for dissemination to the general public.

Cumulative supplement to the laws of Uganda

The Commission has prepared a draft cumulative supplement as at 31st December, 2012. The last Cumulative supplement prepared and published by the Commission was in 2004. The Cumulative supplement is aimed at providing the reader with detailed information on the laws of Uganda. It includes; the index of all the laws of Uganda, a table listing all the principal laws of Uganda which were repealed between January, 2001 and December, 2012, as well as the repealing Acts, a table listing all the principal laws amended within the period of January 2001 to December 2012, together with the amending laws and laws of the former East African Community.
Reprint of the Income Tax Act, Cap.340 and Value Added Tax Act, Cap. 349

The Commission together with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Revenue Authority and the First Parliamentary Counsel embarked on the preparation of the reprint of both the Income Tax Act and the Value Added Tax Act both of which have been extensively amended. All the amendments were incorporated in the reprint of the two Acts and the copies made available to the public.
The Contracts Act, No.7 of 2010

Parliament passed the Contracts Act No.7 of 2010.The Act is intended to ease doing business and regulate contractual relationships between business people.
The Act codifies the principles of common law and the creation and enforcement of different contractual obligations such as, contracts of agency, contracts of bailment, and contracts of indemnity and guarantee.

The Commission has prepared and printed an information document that simplifies and guides users on the key provisions of the law. The information document on the Contracts Act is to provide users and the general public with information on the key provisions and processes and procedures of the law of contract. Five hundred (500)copies of the Contracts Act were printed for dissemination to the general public

Trade Secrets Protection Act, No. 2 of 2009

Parliament passed the Trade Secrets Protection Act, No. 2 of 2009. The Commission has prepared and printed an information document on the Act. The information document has simplified the Act and pointed out key provisions to guide users on the key provisions of the law.

This document is intended to help users, implementers and the general public to understand the Trade Secrets Act, 2009 and its implications to the doing business environment in Uganda.

Hire Purchase Act, 2009

Parliament passed the Hire Purchase Act, 2009, and this Act was operationalised in 2010.

The Commission has prepared and printed an information document on the Act. The information document has simplified the Act and pointed out key provisions to guide users on the key provisions of the law.

This document is intended to help users, implementers and the general public to understand the Hire Purchase Act, 2009 and its implications to doing business environment in Uganda.

OTHER COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS

• Laws of Uganda(Sixth Edition)
• Compendium of Electoral Laws,(2006)
• Publication of Compendium of  Electoral Laws ,(2011)
• Local Governments Act, Cap.243 (as at 2006).
• Reprint of the Constitution of Uganda
• Revised [Principal Laws(2001-2004)
• Subsidiary Laws (2001-2004)
• Grey Book-Compendium of selected civil and criminal procedure laws (12 enactments relating to everyday processes in courts.)
• Compendium of  Land laws and related laws on land, 2011
• Compendium of selected Commercial Laws, 2006.
• Study on reform of the Children Act, Cap 59.
• Translated version of the Constitution into Langi and Acholi(2008)
• Translated version of Local Council Courts Act, Cap 13 (as at 2006).
• Booklet on “How our laws are made”
• Simplified Local Council Courts Act in Ateso ( Local Council Courts Act, Cap 13 (as at 2006).
• Simplified Local Council Courts Act in Luganda.( Local Council Courts Act, Cap 13 (as at 2006).
• Simplified Local Council Courts Act in Ngakarimojong. ( Local Council Courts Act, Cap 13 (as at 2006).