Embrace Plea Bargaining for Certainty in The Legal Process - Lady Justice Mutonyi
Hon. Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi
As part of the processes to enlighten accused persons of the different court processes and initiatives at their disposal, on Tuesday September 27, 2022, Hon. Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi dedicated the day to enlighten inmates at Luzira prisons on Plea Bargaining.
The Judge reassured the inmates that Plea Bargaining was a win-win strategy for both the accused persons and Court. However, she quickly added that this was an initiative that can only be enjoyed by accused persons who are certain that they are guilty.
She defined Plea Bargaining as a process where an accused person agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lenient sentence and or lesser charges.
Hon. Lady Justice Mutonyi listed the following as some of the benefits that the initiative offers; removing uncertainty from the legal process, an effective negotiating tool, minimal costs, among others.
The Judge noted that in spite of the benefits, Plea Bargaining should be shunned by accused persons who are certain of their innocence.
During the sensitization, she donated a Bible to one of the convicts, Mr. Tamale Aloysius, a beneficiary of Plea Bargaining who is serving a 30-year jail term.
The inmates in turn, through their memorandum decried inadequate sensitization on plea bargaining, missing records and delay in delivering judgment.
Present at the sensitization was Criminal Division Deputy Registrar, HW Festo Nsenga, Assistant Registrar, HW Didas Muhumuza, Defence Advocate Ms. Kihumuro Sheila and Ms Kyomugisha Barbara from Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Posted 27th, September 2022
