The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Registry has concluded the first day of sensitisation activities at Kigumba Farm Prison and Masindi Main Prison ahead of a Plea Bargaining Camp scheduled for July 8 and 9, 2026.
The exercise is part of the Registry’s efforts to promote plea bargaining as an effective mechanism for expediting criminal case disposal, reducing prison congestion and enhancing access to justice.
The sensitisation team, led by HW Godfrey Kaweesa, Deputy Registrar at the ADR Registry, and HW Daniel Bwambale Busathiro, Senior Principal Magistrate at the ADR Registry, engaged inmates and prison authorities on the plea bargaining process and encouraged eligible inmates to enrol for the upcoming camp.
At Kigumba Farm Prison, the team was received by ASP Pius Kamanya, the Officer in Charge who welcomed the officials and facilitated the engagement with inmates.
The team later proceeded to Masindi Main Prison, where the Officer-in-Charge, SP Vivian Nabulya, highlighted the severe congestion facing the facility.
She shared that the prison currently houses 1,297 inmates despite having been designed to accommodate only 260. Of the current population, 407 are convicted prisoners, while 655 remand inmates have already been committed to the High Court and are awaiting trial. The remaining inmates comprise debtors and female prisoners.
SP Nabulya noted that the prison is operating at nearly five times its intended capacity, underscoring the urgent need for interventions that can accelerate the disposal of criminal cases and ease congestion.
Despite these challenges, inmate response to the upcoming plea bargaining camp has been overwhelmingly positive. By the close of the first day’s sensitisation, 102 inmates from the Hoima High Court Circuit, who are currently held at Masindi Main Prison, had enrolled for the exercise, alongside 53 inmates from the Masindi High Court Circuit.
During the interactive sessions, inmates actively engaged the sensitisation team, seeking clarification on various aspects of the plea bargaining process. Many appealed for additional time during the Camp to enable all interested inmates to have their case files processed, reflecting growing confidence in the programme.
The ADR team responded to the inmates’ concerns by explaining the legal framework, eligibility requirements and procedural steps involved in plea bargaining, while emphasizing that participation remains voluntary.
Following the sensitisation, a team led by HW Juliet Nakitende, Assistant Registrar of Masindi High Court at Masindi, remained at the prison to continue registering additional eligible inmates ahead of the Camp.
The sensitisation team also briefed the Resident Judge of the Masindi High Court, Lady Justice Mary Babirye, on the preparations for the exercise. They informed her that the plea bargaining camp will benefit inmates from seven districts served by the Hoima and Masindi High Court Circuits, namely Hoima, Kikuube, Buliisa, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Masindi and Kiryandongo.
Justice Mary Babirye welcomed the initiative, describing plea bargaining as an important justice delivery mechanism that promotes the expeditious resolution of criminal cases. She encouraged the ADR Registry to conduct such sensitisation activities more regularly and pledged her continued support for initiatives aimed at improving access to justice.
The Plea Bargaining Camp, scheduled for July 8 and 9, is expected to further advance the Judiciary’s efforts to reduce case backlog, decongest prisons and promote timely and efficient criminal justice through ADR mechanisms.
Posted 1st, July 2026
