JUDICIARY Latest Features

Kampala.  On June 28, 2016 the Justice\r\nLaw and Order Sector held the second National Plea Bargaining Conference under\r\nthe theme "Justice for All”. The acting Chief Justice and Deputy Chief\r\nJustice, Hon. Justice Steven Kavuma, observed that 2,500 cases have been\r\ndisposed of since 2014 under the Plea bargaining programme. He said that plea\r\nbargaining programme as an alternative dispute resolution has taken root and\r\npossesses great potential to improve on the landscape for criminal justice in\r\nthe country.

The\r\nJudiciary in partnership with the United States based Pepperdine University\r\norganized the conference to assess the achievements and challenges as well as make\r\nnext step in the implementation of the plea bargaining programme in the\r\ncountry.

Hon.\r\nJustice Kavuma commended the partnership for supporting in implementation of\r\nprogrammes that are aimed at turning the judiciary into more effective\r\nmachinery for the administration of justice.

"Plea\r\nbargaining has already made tremendous advancements in reducing case backlog\r\nwhile at the same time it has promoted reconciliation amongst victims,\r\ncomplainants and accused persons. We have learnt that successful implementation\r\nof plea bargaining requires adequate training of the actors, sensitization of\r\nthe inmates and the community, patience in carrying out negotiations and\r\ngreater respect for a fair trial, as well as respecting the rights of the\r\naccused persons,” he said.

However,\r\nHon. Justice Kavuma warned that plea bargaining can easily be misunderstood and\r\nmisused if the agreements are not well made and or where the sentences imposed\r\ndefeat the cardinal rules of sentencing.

Principal\r\nJudge, Hon. Justice Dr Yorokamu Bamwine explained that plea bargaining\r\nprogramme was adopted to address a concern about the plight of remanded\r\nprisoners in line with the legal directive for speedy trial.

"Our\r\nappeal to the community and those offended is to forgive them if they come out\r\nto confess their sins. To the prisoners, we encourage them never to commit\r\noffences again, respect life, hard earned property and to save the infants,” he\r\nsaid.