• For simple offences, the accused person can ask for bail by word of mouth from the trial magistrate and the request will be accepted or rejected there and then. you do not necessarily need a lawyer.
• For serious offences, by making a written bail application to the high court. It is better than this application be made by a lawyer.
• It is the court which decides on when to hear the bail application.

• The accused must have a permanent home.
• The accused should have substantial surety(ies).
• The accused person should be in a position to report to court without escaping from Uganda or going into hiding.
• The accused person must promise not to interfere with investigations being carried out by police.
• The accused person must not threaten or conflict with the complainant or any of the witnesses once bail has been granted.
• The court will also consider the criminal record of the accused person. People, who commit offences all the time, may be denied bail.
• The court will also consider how serious the crime is.
• The court will also consider how harsh the punishment for the crime is once the person is convicted.

A surety is a person who appears in court and promises that the accused will come to court for his or her trial if released on bail. He or she accepts the responsibility to pay a fixed sum of money to the government if the accused does not appear in court when needed.