300 Enroll for Plea Bargaining in Mbarara
MBARARA: The Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr Yorokamu Bamwine, flagged off a hands on training on Case Preparation on Plea Bargaining at Mbarara Main Prison.
The training attracted actors in the criminal justice system as well as a team comprised legal experts as well as students from Pepperdine and Yale universities.
The team was led by Prof Danny DeWalt, the Associate Dean Administration and Leadership Development at Pepperdine University.
In a brief made by SP Innocent Draville, the Officer in Charge of Mbarara Main Prison 300 inmates had expressed willingness to take part in the exercise.
"Initially only 118 inmates had enrolled for Plea Bargaining but when the Mbarara Senior Resident Judge came and sensitized inmates, another 110 signed up...we also got 67 others from Kakyika and eight women," said SP Draville.
Mbarara Main Prison holds 1,820 inmates, of these 856 are remand committals and 655 are convicts.
The Regional Prisons Commander, Mr Frank Byamugisha, thanked the Judiciary for their efforts in decongesting prisons through innovations such as Plea Bargains.
The Principal Judge took the inmates through the process of Plea Bargaining -where an accused person pleads guilty in exchange for a lenient sentence.
He cautioned Judicial Officers against enhancing sentences. "The Judicial Officer should not reject or vary the proposed sentence in open court as doing so undermines the process."
The Head of the High Court said he had equally got reports that some Judges are refusing to conclude some cases on account of ridiculously low sentences proposed by accused persons. "...The purpose of a sentence is to act as a punishment, a deterrent and a measure of protection to society."
He added that bargains are not entered into merely to save court's time.
The Principal Judge cautioned accused persons who are innocent not enroll on the programme. "Plea bargaining is for those who are sorry for their conduct and as such should be taken seriously."
Plea Bargaining Focal Person
Speaking at the same function, the Director of Public Prosecution, Hon. Justice Mike Chibita announced that his office had appointed Ms Margaret Nakigudde as the focal person for Plea Bargains. "This appointment shows our dedication to plea bargaining programme because it delivers results."
He said he was looking forward to a time when plea bargaining will be included in Uganda's criminal justice jurisprudence.
Prisoners Memorandum
The inmates' representative, Mr Kassim Byaruhanga, said the inmates needed more sensitization on Plea Bargaining and Sentencing Guidelines because some inmates’prison terms had been increased after signing on the agreements.
Fast Tracking Bargains
Hon. Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo of the Criminal Division of the High Court has started handling the plea bargained files to expedite the process.
The Principal Judge was accompanied by a number of judges who included; Supreme Court Justice and Chairperson of the Case Backlog Monitoring Committee, Hon.Justice Richard Buteera; High Court Judges - Hon. Justice Dr Henry Peter Adonyo, Hon. Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, Hon. Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa and Hon.Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma. Others included the Registrar High Court, HW Tom Chemutai, and Judicial Officers from the Mbarara High Court circuit, a team from International Justice Mission as well as students from Uganda Christian University.
Posted 12th, March 2019
