PJ, Hon. Justice Dr. Zeija Flags Off Plea Bargaining Session and Camp at Nakasongola Main Prison
On Monday June 13,2022 the Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr Flavian Zeija flagged off a two-day-long Plea-Bargaining session and Camp at Nakasongola Main Prison. The Camp which was organised by the Criminal Division of the High Court was presided over by the Deputy Head of Division, Hon. Justice Tadeo Asiimwe.
"Plea bargain is a backlog reduction strategy the Judiciary developed and has been in place since 2014," PJ said. Adding that during the Annual Judges Conference2022, it was resolved that the Judiciary develops a paradigm shift from case backlog to caseload management whereby not only backlog cases are prioritized but rather the readily prepared case files.
He noted that during the camp, the trial Judge would be ready to hear a case that was even committed that very day as long as the accused pleads guilty.
"For those that committed the offence, accept and take responsibility, and negotiate the sentence. When you accept now, you save your time and that of the stakeholders," he added. PJ however cautioned the inmates against being lured into pleading guilty just because of overstaying on remand but rather called upon them to have faith in the justice system.
He went on to inform the participants that the Judiciary is currently piloting the daily hearings strategy for criminal cases where litigants won't have to wait for sessions as has been the culture. Further revealing that a Resident Judge for Luwero High Court circuit will be deployed by July, the same will be tentatively hosted at Luwero Chief Magistrates Court.
Hon. Justice Tadeo Asiimwe, pledged his commitment to handling all the cases that were cause-listed and those that would come up during the scheduled time. He further undertook that by the end of June all cases registered in 2019 will be concluded.
On his part, the Nakasongola Chief Magistrate, HW Kakooza Elias, expressed the need for more Judicial Officers and space to accommodate the court staff. He equally stressed the need to operationalize the other gazetted Grade One Courts of Kakonge, Rwempanga and Migyera in order to reduce the caseload.
According to the Officer in charge of Nakasongola Prisons, SP Abio Evans, the prison has a total of 1,247 inmates, of which 753 are convicts and 494 on remand. He attributed the high numbers to the over stay on remand and delayed committals, a problem he says needs to be addressed urgently.
After the launch, the Principal Judge proceeded to inspect the Luwero Chief Magistrates Court premises which were recently renovated in preparations of receiving a Resident Judge. During the tour, the PJ was informed that well-wishers had donated land for the construction of Luwero High Court.
The Plea Bargain Camp launch was witnessed by the Registrar High Court, HW Samuel Emokor, Deputy Registrar Criminal Division, HW Festo Nsenga and the Judiciary Technical Advisor, Mr Andrew Khauka. Others were the Deputy RDC Nakasongola, State Attorneys and advocates.
Posted 13th, June 2022
