PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER VI
PUNISHMENTS

29. Fines Act No. 13 of 1972 Sch

Where a fine is imposed under any law, in the absence of express provisions relating to the fine in that law the following provisions shall apply–

(a) where no sum is expressed to which the fine may extend, the amount of the fine which may be imposed is unlimited but shall not be excessive ;

(b) in the case of an offence punishable with a fine or a term of imprisonment, the imposition of a fine or a term of imprisonment shall be a matter for the discretion of the court ;

(c) in the case of an offence punishable with imprisonment as well as a fine in which the Offender is sentenced to a fine with or without imprisonment and in every case of an offence punishable with a fine only in which the offender is sentenced to a fine, the court passing sentence may, in its discretion–
(i) direct by its sentence that in default of payment of the fine the offender shall suffer imprisonment for a certain term, which imprisonment shall be in addition to any other imprisonment to which he
may have been sentenced or to which he may be liable under a commutation of sentence ; and
(ii) issue a warrant for the levy of the amount on the immovable and movable property of the offender
by distress and sale under warrant :

Provided that if the sentence directs that in default of payment of the fine the offender shall be imprisoned, and if such offender has undergone the whole of such imprisonment in default, no court shall issue a distress warrant unless for special reasons to be recorded in writing it considers it necessary to do so ;

(d) the term of imprisonment ordered by a court in respect of money adjudged to be paid upon conviction or in respect of the default of a sufficient distress to satisfy any such sum shall be such term as in the opinion of the court will satisfy the justice of the case, but shall not exceed in any case the maximum fixed by the following scale :–

Not exceeding Shs. 5,000/- 14 days
Exceeding Shs. 5,000/- but not exceeding Shs.50,000/= 2 months
Exceeding Shs. 50,000/- but not exceeding Shs.100,000/= 6 months
Exceeding Shs. 100,000/- but not exceeding 500,000/- 12 months
Exceeding shs. 500,000/- 24 months

(e) the imprisonment which is imposed in default of payment of a fine shall terminate when the fine is either paid or levied by process of law.

PART IX
CONVICTIONS, JUDGMENT, SENTENCES AND THEIR EXECUTION IN THE SUBORDINATE COURTS AND HIGH COURT

E. - Miscellaneous Powers of the Court to order Compensation, Costs, Forfeiture, etc.

(a) Costs and Compensation

349. The sums allowed for costs or compensation shall in all cases be specified in the conviction or order, and they shall be recoverable in like manner as any penalty may be recoverable under this Act; and in default of payment of such costs or compensation and in default of distress as hereinafter provided the person in default shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months unless the costs or compensation are sooner paid.


350.-(1) Where a court imposes a fine or confirms, on appeal, revision or otherwise, a sentence of fine, or a sentence of which a fine forms part the court may, when passing judgment, order the whole or any part of the fine recovered to be applied–

(a) in defraying expenses properly incurred in the prosecution;
(b) in the payment to any person of compensation for any loss or injury caused by the offence when substantial compensation is, in the opinion of the court, recoverable by civil suit.

(2) If the fine is imposed in a case which is subject to appeal no such payment shall be made before the period allowed for presenting the appeal has elapsed or, if an appeal is presented, before the decision of the appeal.

(3) At the time of awarding any compensation in any subsequent civil suit relating to the same matter, the court hearing the civil suit shall take into account any compensation paid or recovered under section 348.