Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo officially at the opening of Plea Bargaining Camp at Luzira Upper Prison
On Monday March 4, 2024, the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo officially opened a Plea Bargaining Camp at Luzira Upper Prison.
The Camp was held in partnership with Pepperdine University, California, USA.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of embracing Plea Bargaining, highlighting three key outcomes: reconciliation with God, reconciliation with oneself, and reconciliation with society. He urged those who are guilty of offences they are charged with to plead guilty in exchange for lenient sentences or lesser charges.
The Chief Justice expressed deep gratitude to the Pepperdine team for their dedication and efforts at Plea Bargaining camps and sessions.
Hon. Justice Musa Ssekaana, who represented the Principal Judge, cautioned prisoners against plea bargaining solely for the sake of obtaining freedom, urging them instead to do so solely out of remorse.
Hon. Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions, lauded the Chief Justice for his leadership in promoting restorative justice, emphasizing the importance of involving victims in the judicial process.
Commissioner in charge of Custodial Services, Mr. Jacob Kivumbi, representing the Commissioner General of Prisons, extended appreciation to the Judiciary for its initiatives aimed at delivering justice to prisoners. He expressed gratitude for the organized sessions and asked for more.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Hon. Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo thanked the Chief Justice for supporting the Plea Bargaining initiative. She urged the inmates to enroll for the programme from an informed point of view.
Prof Danny DeWalt, Vice President and Chief of Staff at Pepperdine University, commended the OC Upper Prison for their hospitality and praised the Chief Justice and his team for their leadership, which serves as an example for other African countries.
SSP Bryan Corr Mbaziira, the Officer in Charge of the Prison, noted that from 2019, a total of 594 cases have been concluded and confirmed.
He hoped to reach 1,000confirmations this year. He requested further sensitization on Plea Bargaining and thanked all involved in the process for their collaboration. The prison had a total of 2,974 inmates and of these 1,322 are convicts while 1,655 are remand.
Posted 4th, March 2024
