Kitalya — The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, on Friday officially flagged off a Plea Bargaining Camp at Kitalya Mini Max Prison, in a move aimed at fast-tracking the disposal of criminal cases and easing congestion in Ugandan prisons.
The camp, organised by the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Registry under the leadership of the Focal Judge in charge of ADR, Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, brought together more than 100 inmates with pending cases from the Criminal Division and the Mubende High Court Circuit.
In her remarks, Justice Abodo emphasised the importance of plea bargaining in strengthening access to justice. She noted that the process allows inmates who accept responsibility for their offences to have their cases concluded promptly, thereby reducing prolonged periods on remand.
She commended the Kitalya Mini Max Prison authorities for maintaining accurate inmate records and expressed optimism that the number of inmates on remand would significantly reduce by the end of the exercise. She also urged judicial officers, prosecutors and defence lawyers to ensure the process is handled professionally, with the proper recording of guilty pleas before sentencing, in order to guarantee fairness and efficiency.
Following the opening ceremony, Justice Abodo presided over 15 cases, successfully disposing of five of them. Justice Prof. Khaukha handled 13 case files, while Justice Tadeo Asiimwe concluded 14 others. The judges agreed to complete the remaining files on Tuesday, December 2, at the Criminal Division in Kampala.
As court proceedings continued, a sensitisation team comprising HW Esther Nasambu (Chief Magistrate, Judicial Training Institute), HW Daniel Bwambale (Senior Principal Magistrate Grade I, ADR), and HW Josephine Nakato (Judicial Training Institute) engaged inmates on the benefits of plea bargaining. They highlighted its role in reducing overcrowding in prisons, promoting reconciliation between offenders and victims, and ensuring timely conclusion of cases. More than 100 inmates expressed interest in enrolling for the exercise.
Also in attendance were HW Justine Atukwasa, Registrar at the ADR Registry; HW Rogers Kinobe, Deputy Registrar at Mubende High Court; HW Ssalaamu Godfrey Ngobi, Assistant Registrar of the Criminal Division; and HW Edger Nyakairu, Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) was represented by its Plea Bargaining Focal Person, Ms. Margaret Nakigudde, together with Mr. Hamuza Muzige, Chief State Attorney for Mubende; Mr. Bengo Wasswa, Resident State Attorney for Mityana; Mr. Nabimanya Julius, State Attorney; Ms. Lillian Nandawula, Senior State Attorney; and state brief lawyers Ms. Susan Wakabala, Ms. Shamimu Namyalo and Ms. Evas Akankwasa.
The successful organisation of the camp was made possible with the support of the Officer in Charge of Kitalya Mini Max Prison, Superintendent of Prisons, Hassan Walanganira, assisted by Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Ben Talemwa and their team.
