Nakasongola. The Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr Yorokamu Bamwine, on December 8, 2017 launched Plea Bargaining at Nakasongola Government Prison.
Plea Bargaining is the negotiation between the prosecution and the defense - for a possible less severe sentence or for conviction on fewer offences than committed.
The first access to justice system targets accused persons who admit their guilt and are looking for a reasonable sentence.
He said, "In the spirit of The Constitution which calls for speedy trials of accused persons, we are introducing plea bargaining as a way of accessing to those sorry for what they did..."
However, some of the inmates faulted judicial officers for enhancing sentences.
Silas Mukobi, a convict, while reading out the prisoners memorandum said, "When we agree with the prosecution and the complainants and reach a consensus on the number of years to serve, instead the judges come and enhance them."
In turn, the Principal Judge asked for forgiveness on behalf of the judicial officers saying the initiative has been a learning process for them as well. He appealed to judges to honour the agreements.
He further advised, "If you are not happy with the sentence, you can appeal."
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner General of Prisons, Robert Munanura, and the Commissioner in charge of Custodial Sentences said Plea Bargaining targets at reducing the number of remand inmates.
He said, daily, the prisons authorities produce 1,300 inmates in court and added that with the launch of plea bargaining,prisons authorities will get solutions to overstay on remand.
He said the initiative "has come at the right time because there are already expectant clients".
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Hon. Justice Mike Chibita, promised to weed out or commit accused persons who have spent more than three years on remand.
He equally urged accused persons, who know that they are guilty, to embrace Plea Bargaining so that the innocent ones can undergo trial.
Nakasongola District Internal Security Officer, who represented the Resident District Commissioner, said the programme will help a great deal in rebuilding relationships in the community.
He urged the inmates to embrace it in order to benefit from the scheme. He welcomed the Plea Bargaining rules, brochures on Plea Bargaining as well as agreements that were supplied by the Judiciary to the prisons authorities for distribution to accused persons.
He said it was important for the accused persons to fully understand what the programme entails before they sign on the agreements.
He said as members if the Nakasongola District Chain-linked Committee, they are committed to ensure timely dispensation of justice.
Statistics
By the end of October, the programme which was introduced in 2014 had successfully concluded 4,979 plea bargains countrywide.
Between October and December 8, at least 979 accused persons had enrolled for Plea Bargaining. First piloted in the High Court for capital offenders, Plea Bargaining has since been rolled out to Magistrates courts for petty offenders.
Posted 11th, December 2017
