Critical Examination of the Legal Framework on Forensic  Autopsy in Uganda

Asiimwe Joshua

School of Law Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

This article examines the legal framework governing the forensic autopsies in Uganda. The article revealed that all types of unnatural deaths in Uganda are reported to nearest police station and appointed investigating police officer(s) who take necessary actions to have a medico-legal postmortem done as soon as possible. Currently there is neither a qualified forensic pathologist in Uganda nor forensic autopsy legislation. Suggestions are made with regard to the enactment of a Forensic Medicine Services Act by the Department of Health, the creation of a forensic medicine unit with, under the administrative umbrella of pathology department, in medical schools and imparting of forensic medicine training to anatomical pathologists to act as a qualified, specialist forensic pathologists. More so, the government and various stakeholders need a proper legislation for forensic autopsy in Uganda with a body or department governing forensic pathology practices including the updating of the existing Inquest Act, 1935 to also involve all persons including those serving in the army, introduction of the human tissue Act, and involving.

Keywords: Autopsy, Legal framework, Pathologist, Prosecutor, Unnatural deaths

CITE AS: Asiimwe Joshua (2024). Critical Examination of the Legal Framework on Forensic      Autopsy in Uganda. IDOSR JOURNAL OF BANKING, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 9(1):17-22.https://doi.org/10.59298/JBESS/2024/91.172200